Her voice shook. "You make me feel like I've made a mistake. And I understand that there might be things you're uncomfortable sharing, and I get it. But I don't like being called a plaything, or why this Sean guy keeps summoning you when he's got a reputation of a gang leader, or the mention of Ashley who can, apparently, kill for you.
"You say that I'm not safe with you and then refuse to explain. Either you communicate with me clearly or I leave. No games!"
She'd never seen such panic in his eyes before. He opened his mouth, then closed it and gulped. He moved to reach for her but she backed away.
He said, "Giselle, listen. You're blowing this out of proportion."
"Excuse me? You don't get to blame me for looking out for myself. You don't get to tell me how to feel!" She folded her arms, hating every second of this.
He ran a hand through his hair. "What do you want me to say?"
"You know exactly what I'm asking so please don't drag this out more than necessary. What's missing between us? What aren't you telling me?" A tear fell on her cheek, and she wiped it away angrily.
He closed his eyes. "I don't wanna hurt you."
She sighed. "I don't need empty words."
He looked at her and raised his hands in surrender. "Giselle, I don't want to hurt you."
"That's not an answer to my question!"
He shook his head. "I don't want you to leave me..."
Frustrated, she ran a hand over her face, then said, "I will if you don't tell me!"
"You will, especially after I tell you." His chest started heaving.
She stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. "These are all just excuses. You don't love me." Her lower lip quivered. "I'm so stupid."
He looked at her with more emotions than she'd ever seen on him as he said, "I love you more than I've ever loved anyone, Giselle. I love you more than I thought I was capable of loving. Don't make me do this. I don't wanna lose you."
She panted. "Then tell me."
His face scrunched in agony and he shook his head.
She nodded, the pain of their relationship ending pooled in her eyes. "Fine."
She turned on her heels to walk away, and took only three steps before Xavier wrapped her in his arms from behind and said, "Wait."
She let out a shaky breath as his chest pressed against her back. His right arm wrapped firmly around her shoulders and left around her waist.
She said, "Tell me the truth."Please prove my suspicions wrong.
He waited a few seconds, then said against her temple, "I'm an assassin."
She froze, her eyes widening. "A what?"
She heard him gulp. "An assassin."
A shiver crawled down her spine. "For the government?" He stayed silent, so she asked, "Then?"
"For the gang Wrath."
She gulped down the bile that rose to her throat. How could she ignore the signs?
Unable to make a decision, she stood bound in his arms as the darkness of the night spread around them. Her head felt lighter as her breathing got heavy, and a panic attack hit her.
He pleaded in her ear when she said nothing, holding her tighter with his shaking arms, "Please don't leave." He nestled his face in her hair. "Please, please, please."