“Right.” I kiss her lips before each sentence.
“What do you know about Sorenson Walker?”
“My uncle?”
“Your uncle, Sorenson Walker,
is my mentor. He practically owns me. I need to be careful with you and anyone involved in my life.”
“I’m done being protected Lorand.”
“You say that now, but you don’t have any idea what that means. What that means to people who wouldn’t think twice about hurting you to get to me.”
“So explain it to me.” She punches the couch, tears brimming in her dark eyes.
“I’m trying too,” Jesus she made me frustrated at times. “Your little girlfriend just about offered you up to one of the biggest assholes in this town.”
“I’m blind, not an idiot.”
“Then for once shut up and let me do the talking.” She gasped and I’m immediately feeling contrite. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. Continue.” Subdued she urges me to keep going though that’s the last thing I want to do.
“All that travel he does, it’s to negotiate contracts for hired killers, assassins like me.”’
“I guess I never really thought his airplane parts job was completely legit.”
“Oh it is, but that’s his cover. I meet with him once a month, usually on a Friday and that’s how I saw you there with Ella.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“It kind of serves me right; I just wish she hadn’t set you up with Ken. That’s complicated things enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“Kenneth Halstad is Kendrick Halstad’s son.”
“Ella’s Ken?”
“Yes.” I can feel the veins in my body ready to pop and I’m glad in that moment she can’t see me.
“Can you forgive me?” Jude is looking down and our clothed bodies are a mess of limbs and twisted fabric.
“What on earth would I need to forgive you for?” She floored me saying this and guilt washed over me like dirty water.
“I let Ella do what she did to me because I was angry and spoiled I didn’t get what I wanted from you. I didn’t understand why you would pull me in and then push me away.”
“I tried to walk away from you, but I simply couldn’t. I was drawn to you in a way that terrified me. That’s why I would see you but then I would wait months at a time before I came back. You were still so young to me; you still are young to me and what I did back then. It was abominable.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t know.” I tapped her nose gently emphasizing my point.
“Tell me then.”
“You are something uniquely special to me and I’m afraid I am undeserving of your forgiveness.”
“I think we’ve both been so damaged by life and circumstances we’re afraid.”