Five Dates with the Billionaire - Alyssa J. Montgomery Page 0,61
by scornfully. ‘Mia was born and raised in England. Mia had two loving parents who tragically died in a plane crash.’ She bit down on her lip as tears threatened again. ‘I wish I was Mia—that I didn’t have to keep my secrets by telling lies. I wish I didn’t have to keep looking over my shoulder in fear of discovery, but that’s not my reality.’
‘Come back here.’ Connor held out his arms, but she shook her head.
‘This isn’t something a hug can fix.’
‘I’m offering you more than a hug, Mia. I’m going to stand by you, whether you like it or not.’
‘Why?’ She angled her head as she regarded him. ‘Why would you do that and potentially place yourself in the firing line?’
‘Because I care,’ he said impatiently before he used a hand to gesture back and forth between them. ‘There’s a tangible thread linking us together. It’s real and it’s strong and I have no inclination to cut it and walk away. I won’t do it, so don’t ask me to.’
His support meant everything to her, but there was only one thing that would give him the right to support her. Not an obligation because she was his lover, employee or his even his grandmother’s friend.
No.
The one thing that would earn him the right to offer his support wasn’t on offer.
Connor might desire her.
He might admire and respect her.
But Connor didn’t love her.
Keeping that fact front and foremost in her thoughts was the only way she prevented herself from running back into the supportive warmth of his embrace.
She didn’t belong there.
Chapter Eighteen
Rejecting Connor’s support, Mia walked to the opposite side of the room on legs that were suddenly too heavy. It was as though she fought a traction beam that pulled her back to him.
Then, against all good sense—compelled by a force she didn’t understand—she found herself turning back.
She loved and trusted this man.
‘I was born Callie Buckley.’ The words were instantly accompanied by a huge sense of relief.
‘Callie.’ He turned the name over on his tongue. ‘It suits you.’
‘It’s not who I am anymore.’ She shook her head vigorously, desperate for him to understand her identity crisis. ‘I left Callie behind when I was driven from the police station to the safety compound. When I got into the bulletproof vehicle, it had darkened windows to stop outsiders seeing in. Ever since, I’ve had to stop everyone from seeing the real me—everyone except Violet and Stanley.’
He got up from the bed and closed the distance between them. ‘You were completely uprooted.’
Mia resisted the urge to lean into him as his hand stroked over her hair. ‘I had to be. The most important rule for those in protective custody is never to contact former friends, associates or family members.’ She willed herself to keep the emotion from her voice. ‘I was told I must never return to my home town. Apart from the agent you’ll meet shortly, I left everyone else from New York behind.’
A tender kiss landed on her temple. ‘It must’ve been unsettling, particularly as you were so young.’
Don’t lean into him.
You must keep standing alone.
‘It was a leap into the unknown, but I had no choice.’ She took a deep breath and willed her voice to be steady. ‘Even with the completely new identity and life story, I kept looking over my shoulder. I was afraid to make friends in case I slipped up and revealed too much of myself. Since the day my mother was murdered, I’ve wanted to keep to the shadows.’ She pulled herself up as the truth hit her. ‘No. It was even before then.’ God, she’d been doing it all her life. ‘I made myself scarce whenever Giovanni or one of his men were at our house.’ A distressed sound emerged from the back of her throat. ‘I was hiding myself away even before Mum was killed.’
‘I’m not surprised.’ Connor’s arms wrapped around her. ‘Now I understand why you didn’t want to attract media attention.’ He shook his head. ‘Gran knew about your background and yet she persisted with her plan. I can’t believe she’d put you at such risk.’
‘Violet convinced herself I’d never be recognised.’ Her voice was hoarse. ‘I need some water.’ She pulled out of Connor’s arms to get a glass of water.
Don’t let him comfort you. It’s only bringing you closer together and you have to keep your distance.
‘Surely you went a bit overboard with the disguise?’ he asked as he looked her over.