Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,123

on countless times. I couldn’t help the image that chose to barrel in, but I did feel a smidge guilty about it all the same.

“Here you go.” I handed her the glass, her finger resting over mine for a moment longer than necessary before she tipped the edge of the glass to her lips.

“I bet you’re wondering what I’m doing here.” Her eyes dipped from mine, a nervous smile curving her lips.

“Kind of.”

She was seated on the couch before she continued speaking, taking a few more sips of her water. I didn’t know whether to keep standing or sit beside her, and she must’ve sensed my hesitation because she patted the cushion next to her.

Facing each other, all I wanted to do was drink in more of her beauty. Her face was clean of makeup, and upon being closer to her now, I could see the faint scar on her cheek. It looked a thousand times better than the last time I unfortunately saw it, and I was sure if she wanted to cover it, then it would disappear completely. But something told me she left it exposed on purpose, although I could be wrong.

“I wanted to see you and apologize for the way I treated you. I never meant to hurt you. You didn’t deserve that. I was so lost and terrified I’d never find my way back that I shut myself off from everyone.” Her emotion trickled from the corner of her eye and I instinctually cradled her cheek, wiping the tear away with my thumb. Before I could chastise myself and drop my arm, she nuzzled into my palm and closed her eyes. More tears followed but she smiled. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“No.” Her eyes popped open, but before she could move, both my hands were on her face, my finger running over the faint tip of her scar. “You have nothin’ to be forgiven for, baby.” She didn’t flinch at the term of endearment, which was a good thing. “I should’ve protected you and I failed.” She moved back and my hands fell to my lap.

“No, you didn’t.” I shook my head, but she covered my mouth with her hand when my lips parted to argue. “You tried to protect me, Brick, but I didn’t listen, and I should’ve. I just didn’t know.” Now it was her time to shake her head. “The only blame lies with those men who hurt me. Only them.” Her hand slowly slipped from my mouth, her thumb running over my bottom lip, her eyes dipping to watch as my tongue peeked out right before she dropped her arm. She stared at me for several beats and I racked my brain trying to figure out what she was gonna say next.

Did she only come here to apologize and then she’d be gone? Was she trying to assuage me of the guilt I felt every single day? Because she’d fail if that was her motive for coming here.

“Do you still love me?”

There was a spark in my chest but no hesitation in my response. “Always.”

Zoe curled her fingers around mine. “I love you too. I did even then, but I couldn’t stay.”

“I know.” And I did know. I understood soon after she left that she had to go, that staying here was too painful for her. That didn’t stop me from getting drunk off my ass every day, but I understood why she had to leave. “Are you going back to London?” I held my breath waiting for her to answer, and it was as if my life hung in the silence.

“No.”

A rush of air passed my lips. “Do you wanna be with me?”

“Yes.”

Another sigh of relief. “Is there a but in there somewhere?”

“No.”

A rush of emotions came over me, but I remained composed, and it was hard to maintain that illusion of calm. All I wanted to do was grab her and kiss her. I wanted to hug her tight and never let her go again. But I refrained because I realized she was still fragile, even though I saw a glimmer of life behind her beautiful eyes. The same light that drew me in in the beginning.

As I battled with myself on what to do or say next, Zoe moved from her seat on the couch and crawled into my lap, linking her arms around my neck, and snuggling into me, her lips resting against my neck.

“I feel safe in your arms,” she confessed. “I don’t want to be