feeling about what I did, off your plate. You saw what that monster wanted you to see. That’s not on you, babe. That’s on him. That prick’s allegations don’t hold water, and the truth is going to come out. People are not going to think differently about you because he tried to hurt you or because I flipped a shit and knocked him out.”
Her thoughts came to a screeching halt. “You knocked him out?”
His jaw clenched. “Don’t get lost in the details. Listen to me, Chloe. You are a brilliant, strong woman who worked her ass off to make something of herself. Do not let that pathetic excuse of a man destroy your confidence and all that you’ve achieved. You were not helpless. You got out of there in one piece, and he had a pretty bad shiner that I have a feeling came from you.”
“I hit him with a stapler.” The panic she’d felt came rushing back, making her dizzy. “I think I need to sit down.”
He led her to the bed and sat beside her, running his hand soothingly down her back. Sampson ambled over and rested his chin on Chloe’s lap.
“Justin,” she said, absently petting Sampson. “I’m scared.”
“I know you are. We’re going to get through this together, babe. I promise.” He touched her chin, bringing her eyes to his, and said, “And you have to know that you will never lose me.”
“But you could go to prison.” The word felt like a death sentence.
“Believe me, I’m fully aware of that. I’ll do whatever time I have to, because he deserved it. But even behind bars, Chloe, I’ll still be yours. I’ll always be yours.”
“And our life together? Our future?” She shook her head.
“Nobody’s going to take that away. It might be delayed a little, but we’ll get it.”
“This whole thing scares me. It affects so many people. What if they pull the funding for Madigan’s trial? Then her plans are ruined, too, and anyone she might have helped will lose out. And what about the Junior/Senior Program? I wish this had never happened.” She rested her head on his shoulder.
He put his arm around her and said, “Me too.”
“You and I are supposed to be a team. Partners. Part of me feels like if I say I need you and that I’m going to do something like report the attack, I should be able to count on you to be there for me and help me do what I need to do. On the other hand, I get why you went after him, and you made sure I was taken care of by an army of men and women, and you even called my sister. I don’t know why I feel so lost, conflicted.”
“Because you’ve been traumatized, and it’s not in your nature to condone violence.” He hugged her to him and kissed her temple. “I’ll always take care of you, sweetheart. Always. But I don’t have the answer about how to handle this type of situation differently. I made a promise that I’d never let anyone hurt you, and that fucker got to you. I snapped. I take full responsibility for that. I wish I could say I’d never do it again, but the truth is, I would, baby. I can’t lie to you about that.”
“I know you would, and I can’t be mad at you for saying that, either, because you’re being honest.”
“We are a team, baby. I will walk beside you, and I will let you lead when you need to, like honoring your request not to claim you in public in certain ways. But I can’t give you this. I can’t promise you that I won’t go after someone who hurts you. I love you too much.”
“I know,” she said softly. “I love you, too.”
“Can we find a compromise? A middle ground we’re both comfortable with?”
She lifted her head, meeting his hopeful gaze, and said, “I think we just did.”
He slid his hand to the nape of her neck and touched his forehead to hers. “I love you, baby,” he said in the most relieved voice she’d ever heard, and pressed his lips to hers.
“I’m so tired,” she whispered. “I can’t wait to sleep in your arms again.”
“Why don’t you get comfortable and I’ll join you after I shower.”
She took his hand, leading him toward the bathroom, and said, “I’ll wash jail off you if you’ll wash yesterday off me.”
He lowered his lips to hers, and in that slow, sweet promise of