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He took a deep, steadying breath, trying to regain control of his raging emotions Her eyes were round and ith absolute shock Maybe he was finally getting through to her

"As for ad, exasperating, brave, tenacious and loyal person I’ve known in my life Other people can’t hold a candle to you I don’t think there’s another person like you on this earth And by God, you’re et over whatever problem you oing anywhere except wherever you go Is that clear?"

He took his finger from her mouth and her lips parted and dropped open as she stared at him in wonder Her et out what she wanted to say Then finally she spoke, her words hushed, barely above a whisper as she stared at hi emotions reflected in her eyes

"You care for me?"

"I think I’ve covered that point," he said dryly

"But you hate istered and she shook her head in denial of the truth staring her right in the face "You can’t stand to be in the same room as me You act like I’hed in exasperation "And why do you think that is, Eliza? Think hard here Does a man who hates you come for you when you’ve been abducted and tortured and hold you to reassure hiht? Does aincluded in the takedown you insisted on being a part of because he wants to make damn sure you’re protected and unhar bullet for you?"

"Oh ets it," hehis eyes heavenward "Swear to God you are the most hardheaded, stubborn woman in existence and dale part of you and that stubborn mind of yours Do you honest to God think I made love to you out of pity? Or worse, to extort inforotten your story withoutlove to you"

"I don’t knohat to say," she said, desperation and bewilderers to her lips "You don’t have to say anything Only understand Understand that you are not alone Never again That you aren’t doing this alone Over my dead body will you confront this bastard and sacrifice yourself for me, the people you love or anyone else"

SIXTEEN

"TELL ," Wade said quietly

Silence had descended in the aftermath of Eliza’s emotional outburst and Wade had seehts and to process the bomb he’d dropped on her She’d been shocked when he’d declared he had feelings for her Stunned It was the very last thing she’d expected hilanced up at him in question She was still wrapped solidly in his ar security and warth She wasn’t sure she could withstand any more of his unexpected confessions and she hts

He was regarding her intently, but no judgaze Somehow she found comfort in that when she had so little else to draw reassurance from

"Did you ever have sex with Tho, but did you eventually?"