“Max. He listened in on our conversation on the porch. I’m so sorry. He might use what he heard against you. For blackmail, he said. If you wouldn’t...if you wouldn’t...” she closed her eyes as though she couldn’t bear to look at him while she said what she had to, “he wanted me to get close to you so I could rob you, or something. I don’t know. I know I should have pushed you away. I shouldn’t have been talking to you on the phone or agreeing to anything. I lied to you. I kept things from you. But please, you have to know I would never have done it. I wouldn’t have let him blackmail you, either. I’m so sorry. Please, you have to believe me. Please.”
She was nearly hysterical as she stood there and begged him. Tears dripped down her pale cheeks, her eyes were wide and glassy. Still in shock. And here he was,
pacing angrily up and down the room instead of taking care of her as he fucking promised he would.
Fuck.
He strode to her and she flinched back. Shit. Shit.
“Baby, Abby-girl, I would never hurt you. Not ever.”
“I...I know. It was just reflex. Sorry.”
The sound of a car door slamming made her jump. “That will be my men,” Ed said. “I’ll go meet them and give you as long as I can. You’ll take care of this,” he said to Kent.
Kent just nodded.
Ed disappeared out the front door, shutting it behind him. Kent took in a breath then glanced around, searching for a place where he could sit. He gently took hold of the wrist that wasn’t bruised and walked with Abby into the dining room. The chairs in here were solid and still in one piece. He turned one upright and set it down. Then he sat and reached for Abby once more, pulling her over.
She went reluctantly, tears still spilling down her cheeks. He basically had to lift her onto his lap.
She sat there stiffly. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to comfort you,” he told her. “Lean into me. Put your face against my chest.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back in slow, soothing movements.
“Why are you being nice to me? You should be yelling at me. Telling me I’m a terrible person.”
“Should I?” he murmured. “Why?”
“Because I lied to you, kept things from you, because my brother wanted me to use you for money.”
“But you didn’t, did you?”
“No. Never. I wouldn’t ever. Please, believe me.”
“I do, sweetheart.”
“W-what?”
“I believe you. I know you wouldn’t do that. You’re too honest. Someone who could risk themselves to save another person they barely know, couldn’t turn around and blackmail someone. Not when I know how much you like me.”
She snorted. “Don’t get too carried away. I tolerate you.”
“Oh, tolerate huh?”
She nodded her head, but she gradually relaxed into him. He kissed the top of her head. “This doesn’t mean that you’re not in trouble for lying and keeping things from me. I distinctly remember telling you that you were to contact me if you needed me or were in trouble.”
“I was scared Max would hurt you.”
“He couldn’t hurt me.”
“You don’t know what he’s capable of.” A shiver rocked her body. “He doesn’t fight fair, Kent.”
“When something is important to me, neither do I.”
He wasn’t certain if she believed him or not and in the end it didn’t matter. Because it was the truth. And he had no intention of letting her brother hurt either of them.
“There’s going to come a time when you and I will have a chat about all of this, keeping promises, telling me when you are in trouble so I can take care of you. Not telling me when you’ve been hurt or threatened or forced to pay off a debt you don’t owe. But that time is not now. All I want from you right now is to trust me.”