Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(106)

Pain stretches across his face. “Have you any idea how terrified I was when I saw him point that gun at you?” He palms my cheeks. “I knew I couldn’t get to you in time. My whole life flashed before my eyes. I thought I lost you.” His voice cracks. “I still don’t like Barron, but I will forever be in his debt, because I get to wake up with you every morning for the rest of my life, thanks to him.” He straightens up, whipping back the covers. “So, get that sexy ass up and into the shower.”

I hop up. “Only if you come with?”

Desire shimmers in his eyes. “I like your thinking, Mrs. Anderson.” He scoops me up. “A quickie in the shower it is.”





“Mr. Barron woke a few minutes ago,” the pretty nurse says, trying her best not to stare at my man.

Kai is looking especially hot today, so I’ll give her a free pass. He’s wearing a fitted black shirt, rolled to the sleeves, with skinny black jeans and unlaced boots, and he looks fucking badass, and sexy as fuck. My pussy aches as I remember the possessive way he claimed me in the shower, but it wasn’t enough.

It never is with him.

I always want more.

“But he’s been through two surgeries, and he’s going to be tired.”

“But he’s going to pull through, right?”

“The surgeon managed to remove the bullet, and it hadn’t hit any major arteries. He was extremely lucky.”

I’m not sure lucky is the word I’d use, but I’m just thankful he’s going to be okay.

“Thank you for looking after him,” I say, and her smile is genuine.

“It’s my pleasure. What time are his mom and sister due to arrive?”

“They should be here in five hours,” I confirm.

I called Elizabeth from the car on the way here and told her what happened. I don’t know how things are between her and Charlie now, but she had a right to know.

I also spoke to her about her husband’s death, pleading for forgiveness on Charlie’s behalf. My bastard father killed Charles Barron, and it wasn’t Charlie’s fault. And she needed to know her son saved me last night and that he’s not a monster.

He’s broken and hurting, but he’s not a bad man.

I would have called Elizabeth last night, but it was so late, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to charter the Manning Motors jet until morning. Drew arranged things with the interim CEO, and the pilot, and they should be up in the air now.

The nurse leaves, and we hold hands as we pull up chairs beside Charlie’s bed and wait for him to regain consciousness.

He wakes four hours later, looking around him in confusion. “Hey.” I lean toward him, lifting the cup of water by his bed. “How are you feeling? Do you need some water?”

“What happened?” he rasps, frowning.

“You don’t remember?” Kai asks.

Charlie’s predictable scowl is almost funny. “What are you doing here?”

“I came with Abby. She was worried about you.” Kai stands, glancing down at me. “I’ll grab some fresh coffee. Take your time.” He pecks my lips and turns to leave, stopping for a second and turning around. “You risked your life for my wife, yesterday, Charlie, and I won’t forget that. If there is ever anything I can do for you, you only need to ask.” His eyes glisten as he casts a glance at me. “She’s my everything, and I would never have survived if I’d lost her, so thank you.”

Charlie’s Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he nods. Kai quietly leaves the room.

“Here, drink this,” I say, holding the straw to his mouth.

He takes a few sips before pushing my hand away. “So, we were never actually married then,” he says after a few beats of awkward silence.

“I’m sorry I lied to you.”

“It’s okay, Abby. I betrayed your trust. I get why you didn’t tell me.”

“I care about you so much, Charlie,” I say, threading my fingers in his.

“But you don’t love me.”

I hate to beat on a man when he’s already down, but I can’t lie. And it’s not as if this is anything new. We’ve already had this conversation before.

“I love you as a best friend, and I’d hate to lose you from my life, but I don’t love you in a romantic way, Charlie. I am very much in love with Kaiden. He’s the only one for me.”

“He’s a lucky man, and I’m not bearing any grudges.” He squeezes my hand. “I want you to be happy, and I can see he makes you happy.” Pain slices across his face, and I hate that I put it there. “And I’d like to think we can regain our friendship one day, but I don’t know if I can do it.”

Now I’m the one hurting, but I can’t disregard his feelings. I don’t trust myself to speak, so I just nod.

“I love you so much, Abby.” Tears cling to his lashes. “And I got a taste of what my life would be like with you in it, and I loved every second of it.”

I’m tempted to bring up the woman he screwed the night of our fake wedding, but there’s no point dragging that shit up again. I think Charlie is in love with the idea of loving me, and it’s only when he meets the love of his life that he’ll realize that.