Chương 5 - THE MAN WHO COULD NOT COMMAND HIS WIFE HOME
Adrian found me two days later.
Not because his security was better than mine.
Because I let him.
I sent Marcus a location.
A closed church outside Rockford.
Neutral.
Public enough.
Empty enough.
Adrian arrived alone.
That mattered.
He looked older.
Forty-eight had never looked old on him before.
Now it did.
He stopped ten feet away.
“Claire.”
I felt everything.
Love.
Rage.
Relief.
Humiliation.
Fifteen years of breakfasts and funerals and whispered arguments in dark kitchens.
I said:
“Don't.”
He stopped moving.
Good.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Were you followed?”
“Not today.”
His jaw tightened.
“Vincent's contractor?”
“Probably.”
“I'll—”
“No.”
He stopped again.
Learning quickly.
I looked at him.
“Say it.”
He knew what I meant.
“I kissed her back.”
Pain moved through me.
Still.
Even knowing everything.
He continued.
“She kissed me.”
“I saw.”
“I should have stopped immediately.”
“Yes.”
“I didn't.”
“No.”
“For a second, I remembered who I was with her.”
I hated that sentence.
But it was honest.
“And?”
“And I hated myself before you even turned away.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You didn't know I was there.”
“No.”
“So don't rewrite it into remorse because I caught you.”
His face tightened.
“Fair.”
I breathed.
“Do you love her?”
“No.”
“Did you want her?”
Silence.
Too long.
I almost walked away.
Adrian said:
“In that second?”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“Part of me wanted the memory.”
That hurt worse.
But truth often does.
“Not her?”
“I don't know if that distinction matters.”
I looked at him.
“It doesn't.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
Good.
No excuses.
Then Adrian told me everything Elena confessed.
Matteo.
Luca.
The trust.
Vincent.
I told him about Gerald.
His eyebrows rose.
“You went to Price?”
“Yes.”
“He hates me.”
“That's why I trusted him.”
For the first time, Adrian almost smiled.
Then:
“Come home.”
“No.”
The answer landed.
“Claire.”
“No.”
“You're still in danger.”
“I know.”
“I can protect you.”
“You couldn't protect our marriage from yourself for one second.”
He flinched.
Harsh.
True.
“I know.”
I continued.
“If I return now, I become your wife again before I decide whether I still want to be.”
“You are my wife.”
“Legally.”
Silence.
“Emotionally?”
He could not answer for me.
Good.
I said:
“We stop Vincent.”
“Yes.”
“We get Elena's son back.”
“Yes.”
“We stop Matteo.”
“Yes.”
“And afterward?”
Adrian swallowed.
“You decide.”
May you like
There.
The only answer I would accept.
