Her eyebrows rose. “I wasn’t expecting a sudden admission, or an apology. You were a dick. It’s nice to hear you say it.”
“Just because I was an asshole doesn’t mean other people should get hurt.” I lowered my gun to the ground, keeping my eyes on her. “See? I’m not interested in hurting you, Claire. I know that’s not really what you want. I’m unarmed.”
She sighed. “You already hurt me. You think a bullet could do more damage than your words?”
I swallowed. What the hell had I said? My relationship with Claire was short and it wasn’t serious. I dated women when I wanted. It wasn’t the time to tell her she wasn’t the only woman I slept with during that time. No one had a repeat invitation. She didn’t understand what it meant for me to be a single dad. She had no idea how I kept Avajean protected from another woman like her mother.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated.
She huffed. “I didn’t have a chance. I never did. You were never going to give me more than you gave her.” Her head rotated toward the limo. My throat tightened.
“It’s not her fault. It’s not yours either,” I added. “It’s mine. I did this, Claire. I made you feel like you weren’t there. Like I could look right through you. I compared you to Journey. I shouldn’t have done it. It was wrong and arrogant. It was cruel. I see that now. You’ve helped me see it.”
Maybe I never had the right to date another woman. Or fuck one. Not while Journey was buried in my heart the way she was. But I never made promises and I sure as hell didn’t promise anything to Claire. She saw what she wanted to see whether or not it was true.
“But you see me now? You notice me?” she asked.
I nodded. “I do. I’m paying attention. You have my full attention.”
She smiled. “And now it’s too late. I’ve gone too far. I know that.”
I shook my head. “No one else has to get hurt. I can help. You know I have connections. Resources. Let me help you.”
“God, you’re the ultimate liar. A fuckboy lying asshole.”
“Claire,” I warned. “This is your chance. Take it.” I stepped toward her. “I don’t make offers like this lightly. Take the offer. Let me help you start over.”
Her hands trembled. I noticed the tattoo on her wrist and remembered what it said. Follow your heart.
I hadn’t paid enough attention to the details. Details didn’t matter to me if they weren’t about Journey. It didn’t matter whether Claire’s pain was justified. It was still her pain. This was her response to it, and I had to deal with the consequences of how casually I had handled her.
“Here’s what I can,” I explained. “I can give you a fresh start. You choose where you want to go. Pick any place in the world, but not anywhere in the States.”
“What?” She balked. “You’re serious?”
“I’ll own this. I did this. So I’m making you an offer. Start your life over. But I’ll be watching. If you try to return, or try to make an appearance at any of Journey’s international events, the deal is off. I’ll turn you over to the authorities. Immediately. I will not go easy on you a second time.”
“Then I might as well shoot you now.” She clicked the hammer.
I shook my head. “Your picture has already been circulated within the legal authorities. They know who you are. But no one knows where you are. I’ll get you out of the country without a trace. I can do this for you.”
“Why would you do that?” she questioned.
“Call it my penance.”
“Just like that?” She looked confused.
“You’ll go to Westbrook Securities. You’ll be outfitted with tracking tech, and then planted in your new location. You can be on a tropical beach in a matter of days. Just say the word, Claire.”
She lowered the gun. I rushed her, kicking it to the ground and out of reach. It skidded across the pavement.
“I knew you’d go back on it,” she moaned. “I shouldn’t have trusted you.”
I pulled her to her feet, clasping her wrists together. “No. I’m not going back on the deal. If you want to start over, my offer still stands. But that doesn’t mean I want to pull that trigger.”
I looked toward the sky. My team should land any minute. “I meant what I said. You can start over. I’ll bring you in under my watch, but you have to play by my rules from now on. No matter what they are.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re doing this for her, aren’t you?”