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She just looked atto, and others I hated She doubted ht we’d moved past that

"Harloon’t let you leave me"

She wiped at the tears on her face "You will," she said with a sad, defeated sound I hated it

"Sweet girl, ain’t no aonna sendas I have you"

Harlow shook her head and looked away from me "You say that now But you don’t know It isn’t worth it"

She orth anything and everything that could be thrown at me

"I’ll take you back, but I won’t leave your side I won’t let you deal with this alone, and I’ anywhere Do you hear me?"

A sad smile touched her face "I know you think that, but it’ll be too much You’ll know soon It isn’t what you think Stuff will come out, and you won’t be able to deal with it And I’ll understand"

She didn’t trust anyone I was losing this fight I was gonna win her heart, da I could to prove to her she had h Words eak I had to show her And I would

•

I kept Harlow tucked beside me We didn’t listen to the radio I was pretty sure it was already being talked about on every station I didn’t want to upset her This wasn’t going to be easy, and I was liable to beat the shit out of someone before it was over, but I’d show her I meant it That she was it for me

When we rolled back into Rosemary, TV station vans and cars lined the streets I turned around and headed forup and looking at the paparazzi already surrounding Nan’s house They were taking pictures of her car and the house

"Taking you to my place," I inforet worse I want theo back to normal"

"Harlow, if I let you out of the car and they colanced atsnap That’s why"

"Oh," she replied She let me drive to my apartment without anya sigh of relief I was afraid they had already figured out who I was and would be waiting here, too

My phone rang when I stopped the truck, and I grabbed it Rush’s na the truck door I wanted to hurry and get Harlow safely inside

"Where’s Harlow?" Rush asked

"With ot toleave," Rush barked

"Already ahead of you," I told hiht he needed to protect as mine

"She knows?" Rush asked

"Yeah Kiro called and warned her"

"Did she know about her mother?"

"Yeah, she found out ent to find her dad in Vegas I was there"

"They’re already talking about Harlow Keep the TV off," Rush said

"Planning on it I’ me how the fuck to keep my woman safe"

Rush was silent a moment "Okay Fine But if--" he paused "Neverup and I took Harlow from the truck and slippedfor the door There was no one here, and I wanted to fucking keep it that way

When I had her safely inside, I closed the door and locked it

"You okay?" I asked her

She nodded and stood there and stared atbut I could tell she was battling so

I took a step toward her and she threw herself into ht her and held her I realized this was the first time in her life someone had made her the priority The relief in her body as she pressed againstI needed to know My overprotected Harlow had never been protected for her sake, but for the secrets in her family and a woman she didn’t knoas alive