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His eyes close at htly "No, Em, I don’t expect you to just believe ht--it doesn’tto fight hard enough for both of us now, angel It’s tiive ht for us"

I gasp, tears for over ive them a chance to fall before he takes his hands and fra each one as quickly as he can

"Please don’t give up on A deep sob bubbles past ht

Our grips on each other don’t weaken My tears soak his shirt and his breathing never slows, his heart beating rapidly against my cheek I want so desperately to believe him, to take this lifeline that he’s thrown my way, but I’m scared

The doubts and fears of what happens when he stops believing in us are alet h I want to beg hi, I have to take this tiure out once and for all if this is a road I can continue down

Pulling back, I ht now "I need tiive , Eument, but I know that, if he really ive a little and not take it all

"You really don’t have a choice right now, do you?"

His eyes darken, but I press on

"Just a few hours ago, I cried ive you up I had talked ht for That isn’t so I can just turn off with a feords Even if they’re words I’ve craved I meant what I said earlier in ht now, you need to go ho against everythingI do to make you believe me to just leave," he pleads

"Unfortunately for you, Maddox, right now, you don’t have a say I need this tiive in so fiercely that I have to move out of his hold and take a step back His face drops within, and asive ive you tonight, angel, but I’ll be back When the sun coht back at your door, and I hope to God you will see then that I’et soo…because I’ivestowardsit downhis hand overI can to have it" He gives et one one

Then I cruht there--but will I be able to take a chance knowing that I es his mind?