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He needed her gone

For good

“I do hate you,” he said with a cal his blank cop expression so she’d have no idea of the battle raging inside him

As soon as the words were out of his ht as well have backhanded her

The color drained froe his words caused

Her blue eyes were bright with agony

Every instinct in him was to reach for her, pull her into his ar, that he didn’t mean it, that he was sorry

And Michael was sorry, but he wasn’t sure it was a lie Because he didn’t get it He didn’t understand how she could stay away from him all these years if she cared about hiest

Thankfully, before he could take it back, Dahlia lifted her chin and strode slowly past hiave away her upset almost as et out of the room

The sudden fear that so would happen to her while she was distracted by his words, by the apparent turmoil they’d caused, washed over him Michael’s feet moved before he could think about it too hard and he followed her out However, shebecause she was already out of sight Hurrying to catch up with her, he turned the corner, saw no sign of her in the office, and picked up the pace

When he came out into the main reception, he pulled up short Dahlia hurried down the steps to the precinct doors and a rabbed her ar her to a stop

It was her brother Dermot

Whatever he saw in her face , and she shook her head frantically and pulled at her arm

Der else

His sister seemed to slump into him, and to Michael’s relief, he watched as Der care of her