Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
She couldn’t stop herself from swinging around to face him. “Did you, Gideon? Did you tell them because you were trying to help me? Or were you afraid for that woman and her child? Did you tell them because you thought that terrible man sent me to do something horrible to all of you? I dare you to tell me the truth. Look me in the eye and tell me the truth. Say it out loud so I can hear.”
She’d been reasoning out why he would tell his friends. What would be his motives? She’d concluded that he thought she was a threat to all of them.
Gideon didn’t stop until he stood right in front of her. “Rory, Whitney builds traps.”
“It’s an easy enough question, Gideon.”
“No, it isn’t. Once you remember, you’ll understand what I’m saying about him. At least let me help you get your memories back.”
“I find it very interesting how you manage to avoid answering any question you’re certain I won’t like the answer to. Your motivation in telling your friends wasn’t to help me at all, Gideon. Had it been, you would have consulted me first. There is no chance of a relationship between two people when there is no trust. You proved to me that there is no safety with you. No trust with you.”
“That isn’t true.”
“You proved to me it is the truth. You have your friends and family, and they come first in your life. That’s fine. The next woman you find, I suggest you don’t lie to her like you did me. I’m not a threat to any of you. If that horrid man you’re so afraid of sent me or programmed me, he didn’t do a very good job of it. I meant what I said about calling the police and filing charges. I want to be left alone. There’s no reason for any of you to come near me.”
It hurt just to look at him, and she turned away, no longer able to be near him.
“I have to make sure you get back to your apartment safely.” There was despair in his voice.
She didn’t answer. She wasn’t going to worry about his wounds. That was on him—choices that he made for himself. Then he was gone and Javier was pacing behind her. She should have known. His friends and family would never allow Gideon to put himself in danger any more than he had allowed them to be in danger from her.
Javier was silent for nearly a block. “Rory, Gideon was worried you might take what he did the wrong way. He was trying to get you help.”
She sighed. “I’m not discussing this with you. I’m staying away from you people, and I want you to stay away from me. I mean it. I’ll leave the city as soon as I can.”
“What about Gideon? I thought you cared about him.”
As much as she wanted to stay silent, she was so upset that she couldn’t help snapping at him. “You don’t have a relationship with someone who breaks trust with you, Javier. You of all people know that. You would never, under any circumstances, trust that person again. Over and over, he told me I was safe with him. He assured me anything I told him was safe with him. That wasn’t the truth. He didn’t tell you my most intimate secrets to save me. He told all of you to save you.”
She knew he couldn’t deny the truth any more than Gideon could have. She didn’t try to hide the pain in her voice or on her face. She didn’t even dab at the tears filling her eyes. They didn’t spill over, and she turned her head straight to face toward the apartments.
“Look, this all appears bad. Really bad. I know it does. We can’t talk about things that go on in our lives, and that makes it hard for Gideon to share the things he wants to with you about himself. He’ll be able to when you get past this.”
She had to hand it to Javier. He hung in there and kept trying when she knew instinctively he wasn’t a man to bother. He was the type to just walk away.
“I appreciate you trying to fix things for your friend, Javier, but there isn’t going to be a resolution for this. You already know it, so please just let it go. My apartment building is right there. I can cross the street on my own and get inside.”
“The last time didn’t end so well. You went up to your place alone last night, and it was trashed. I’ll just go in with you. Where are you sleeping?”
“Lydia’s apartment. I have her key.”
“Just so you know, I’ll be escorting you all the way inside. Hopefully, her kid is a sound sleeper. I’m not taking any chances this time.”