Tough Love (Stripped 0.50)

“How is that too much? It’s the right amount. I care too much to leave you here. How is that wrong?”

He is silent a moment. “It’s not wrong. But I care too much to let you stay.”

His arms come around me, holding me in. They feel unbreakable. They are castle walls, his arms. They are a drawbridge rolled up and a moat. They keep everyone out. Only with him do I feel completely safe. Maybe I’d always known how much he’d do for me. He’d fight for me. He’d die for me.

And that’s what he’s

going to do. And at the end only rubble will be left.

“I’ll be fine,” he says, but we both know it’s a lie.

My hands clench in his shirt. “How can you be?”

“Just go,” he whispers fiercely. “You think this is about me sacrificing for you? No. I need you to do this for me, Clara. I need you to stay safe.”

I cry until his shirt is dark and wet. These are silent tears. They fall without my consent, while my face is solemn. I can be stoic for him. I won’t beg now. I won’t plead.

Not even when Honor comes in and tells me it’s time to go.

It feels like dying to walk away. Feels like dying to look back and see him watching me go. Feels like dying as I cross the dark lawn.

Honor holds my hand, but doesn’t say anything.

I think she knows. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever felt, to leave him behind. And it’s nothing compared to what he’ll go through.

We’re near the gate when we hear the explosion behind us. Fireworks.

Those are the fireworks that would have celebrated her engagement.

Only fitting that they’ll end it.

It’s not hard to find Gio’s beat-up Pontiac Grand Am parked down the side lane. The radio is broken. The gas tank is full. We drive in silence until the blasts fade to nothing.

There is only empty road in front of us and empty road behind.

I need you to do this for me, Clara. I need you to stay safe.

And so I do.

* * *

Thank you for reading Tough Love, the prequel novella to the Stripped series!

I hope you loved meeting Giovanni and Clara…

Find out what happens to sisters Honor and Clara when they go on the run! For a limited time I’m giving away the first full-length novel in the USA Today bestselling Stripped series, Love the Way You Lie, for FREE when you sign up for my VIP reader list! FOLLOW this link to get your FREE book >

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The sexy + dark Stripped series is best read in order, but most of the books also standalone. So if you really don’t want to wait, you can also skip ahead to the conclusion of Giovanni and Clara’s story in HOLD YOU AGAINST ME.

If you loved Tough Love, you’ll love the rough + sexy bestselling Chicago Underground series, starting with ROUGH, available for free! I never thought a man that rough could be my prince…

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