Forgotten Sins (Sin Brothers, #1)(36)
“I didn’t take those early pictures, it just doesn’t make sense.” He ran a rough hand through his thick hair. “Why keep them? Why leave you if I were some crazy stalker and I got you to marry me?”
She’d wondered the same thing. Hope was so freakin’ destructive. “If you didn’t take them, who did?”
“I don’t know. I assume whoever planted the other bugs in your house.” He focused on her, his gray gaze somber. “I need your trust, angel. You’re all I’ve got.”
The vulnerability from such a strong man tempted her far too much. The Shane she thought she’d known would’ve gone after anyone threatening her with a vengeance matched only by furious predators. But he had never shown her a hint of vulnerability. “What do you want from me?” Her voice came out weary. Exhaustion dragged at her limbs.
“You trusted me once.” He slipped his hands into his pockets. “Trust yourself and believe your instincts were on target with me. Give me the chance to figure this out.”
He was the only family she’d ever known. The only person she’d ever loved. How could she not give him the chance? Plus, she couldn’t escape him on her own—he was too good. Appeasing him seemed wise. “I’ll think about it.”
Triumph flashed in his eyes. “Good enough. We’ll move again tomorrow.”
She jumped to her feet, wincing as her toes dug into the rough shag carpet. Who knew what was in the ugly orange fabric? “I have to go to work. I’m in the middle of two audits.” He had to believe her. As much as she hated to admit it, she probably couldn’t get free on her own. “I like my life.” Usually. She’d missed him. So much. But work helped.
He scrubbed both hands over his face. “You’re not safe.”
“I don’t care.” She’d knocked him on his ass, hadn’t she? “I want to help you, I really do. But I’m not losing my life again because of you.” No matter what happened, he’d leave again. To pursue whatever was out there he needed to pursue. Right now that was her. But that would change.
His hands dropped. “Again?”
She breathed out. “Yes. It hurt so bad when you left, I had to leave, too. I couldn’t stay where we’d lived together, to see the places we shared.” Her voice caught. Tears pricked the back of her eyes. She was too damn tired to hide the truth.
His eyes softened. “I’m so sorry. I wish I remembered what happened.”
“What happened was that you needed more. More than me. Something else to keep you going.” He was always so driven. Looking behind them for a threat and ahead for… something. “I didn’t know you well enough. I never did.”
As his wife, she should have the answers he now needed. But she didn’t. “I can’t do it again, Shane.” Starting over would be too much. She’d given him everything, and he’d left… just like Arthur. And Claire. And Mona.
Everyone left.
She wouldn’t set herself up again. At one time, she’d thought Shane was different from the rest. So when he’d deserted her, it had hurt more than all the other times combined. Enough was enough.
The clock on the particleboard nightstand ticked into the silence. “I have a discrepancy in a couple of my accounts, they’re new, and I need to fix it.” Something in her needed to make Arthur proud. Sure, she’d never see him again, but he’d been an amazing accountant. He’d never made a mistake—at least he hadn’t until Claire’s death destroyed him—and he’d taught her a love for numbers. Plus, she had to save Billy. She hadn’t been able to help Mona, but Billy was here and now. She could help him and get that promotion she deserved.
“Please, Shane.” She held his gaze, searching for a way to convince him. “You want me to trust you, and you need to earn that. You can’t take me out of my life. I’ll fight you every step of the way, and you need to concentrate on whoever’s after you.”
Doubt had him shaking his head. “I don’t want to fight you at all.” He sucked in air, dropping to sit on the other bed. The minutes ticked by. “I can’t hide, either. Fine. I’ll take you to work and pick you up. No leaving the building. For any reason. You’ll need to tell Detective Malloy something. About why I released you.”
“I will.” She blinked to stay calm. Shane was trusting her. Not only to keep herself safe but to protect him. Hope flared hot through her. As well as caution. She needed to protect herself from having her heart broken yet again. Although the indecision in his eyes was new. “You’ve changed.”
“It’s been two years. I assume we both have.” He stretched out on the bed, closing his eyes. “Go to sleep. Morning will arrive way too soon.”
Less than a minute and his breathing evened out. She smiled as memories assailed her. He’d always fallen asleep so easily, almost as if he could control it. Almost as if he had to take rest when available.
The smile slid away.
When they’d met, they’d had a lack of family in common. She’d thought he was like her, raised in different foster homes, never quite fitting in. Then the nightmare, when he let the truth slip. He had brothers she’d never met. When she’d asked about them, Shane said they weren’t close, and that had been the end of the subject.