Chapter Twenty-Four

Dayne hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.

Who was he kidding? Of course he had. Although he wished to hell he hadn’t. Every one of his senses was numb—no, make that mashed to a pulp—as if he’d been run over by a truck.

Colin was a prick, but he was also a shrewd attorney. The bastard had made his case and won. Kat hadn’t caved. Dayne had.

“Didn’t you hear what I said to Colin?” she cried.

The stark anguish on her face about killed him. “I did.” Every word had been a knife slice to his guts. She’d stuck up for him, and he couldn’t have been prouder. But he’d also heard the doubt in her voice. Doubt she had every right to feel.

She touched his arm, and his blood sizzled with need and so many emotions he couldn’t name. But he had to let her go.

“I don’t understand what’s happening here.” Her brow furrowed. “Are you angry with me?”

“No. I’m not.” It was all he could do not to take her in his arms, but that would only put off the inevitable.

She cupped his face and he turned into it, loving the softness of her fingers on his cheek and knowing he would never feel her touch again after today. “Colin was wrong. So we have a lot to work through. We can do it. I know we can.”

Gently, he tugged her hand away, wishing she were right. Knowing now that it wasn’t possible. “I know you think so, but it’s too much to ask. We are too different. We could never make it work.” He’d been crazy and selfish to think otherwise. It was just that he wanted her so badly. Wanted to be part of her life.

She planted her fists on her hips. “How can you believe anything Colin said? You heard how he tried to manipulate me. Don’t let him manipulate you.”

Dayne shook his head, feeling more miserable than he’d ever felt in his life. “He made valid points. I don’t know how I feel about never being able to buy you anything because you already have everything money can buy.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t have you! You’re all I want.” Her eyes clouded with so much despair, he nearly fell to his knees. “Don’t do this.”

“I have to.” The pain and hurt on her face were killing him faster than any bullet could. “We’d only wind up hurting each other. I don’t fit in here. It’s better to end it now.” Before he lost more of his heart to her.

“You fit in just fine last night,” she insisted.

He had, but it didn’t change a thing. “You shouldn’t have to defend my honor or explain anything on my behalf, and I don’t want you to. The price is too high.”

“What does that mean?” she cried.

“It means there will always be someone out there accusing me of being a thief or a gold digger. Of only wanting your money and of being nothing more than your ‘pet.’”

“I don’t care about that.” A single tear trickled down her cheek.

There was only one thing he could give her. Her freedom.

“It’s not about living in your shadow,” he continued, barely able to get the words past the enormous lump in his throat. “It’s about us being able to just be us, and that’s something that can never happen. You’re the most generous, kind, and compassionate person I’ve ever met. I was being selfish. All I’ve done is turn your orderly world upside down. Today’s headlines are proof of that.”

With an angry swipe, she flicked that lone tear away and gritted her teeth. “I don’t care about the headlines. I never did.”

“You should. The kind of publicity you got last night could damage your reputation and every business dealing you have. I don’t want to be responsible for that. I can’t go through that again.” The last time he had, his family had nearly lost everything. He couldn’t allow that to happen to Kat.

Her mouth fell open and she took a step back. “That’s what this is about. Not me. You. You have so many insecurities and fears about your past. About what Crystal did to you and your family and that woman who wouldn’t marry you because you weren’t going to be a rich doctor. That’s why you’re so easily swayed by Colin. You’re afraid it will happen again and you’re afraid to give us a chance.”

Remy and Angus padded into the foyer, their heads hung low.

Some of what Kat said was true. Hell, all of it. Christ, he hadn’t meant for things to come to this but they had, and now he had to reap what he’d sown. What they’d both sown.

“I’m sorry, Kat. One day you’ll see this is for the best.” So why did it feel like his entire world was imploding?

Her eyes went wide with a mixture of shock and outrage. “That’s bullshit. How can you end this so easily? Don’t you feel anything for me?”

More than you’ll ever know. His throat clogged with so much emotion and regret he had to look away. Anywhere but at the heartache written all over her face. And as for this being easy on him, walking away from her would be the hardest thing he’d ever do in his life.

Her lips quivered until she pressed them together. “If that’s the way you feel then get out!” She pointed to the door.

A surge of protectiveness so fierce and ingrained soared to the surface. “Not happening.” Not with a killer out there. Their future wasn’t together, but he damn well intended to make sure she had one.

“This is my house and I don’t want you here.” Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, each one like acid burning through his heart.

“You may not want me here, but you need me. In case you’ve forgotten, someone may be trying to kill you.”

“I haven’t forgotten. I’ll hire more security to take your place. I’ll hire an army if I have to. Just get out. Please, Dayne,” she implored on a choked sob. “Go. I can’t take this anymore. It hurts too much.”

Jesus. He didn’t think there was anything she could have said that would convince him to leave her. That did. He couldn’t hurt her anymore. But he wouldn’t leave her alone, either. “I’ll make arrangements for Kade or another FBI agent to take my place tonight.”

Somehow, and against every instinct and fiber of his being, he forced his legs to move. Numbly, he went to his room and packed his and Remy’s things. His only recourse was to do everything in his power to catch this guy before he got to her.

When he returned to the foyer, Kat was nowhere in sight. Before opening the front door, he stared at the spot on the floor where she’d been standing.

Sure enough, she’d eviscerated him. Left his guts in a bloody heap on her pricy Italian marble floor. He didn’t know how his heart was beating, not when it was shattering.

It was his own damn fault. He’d gone and fallen in love with the last woman he should want. And could never have.

…

Kat lost track of how long she cried. Hours probably. The pillowcase was damp beneath her cheek, as was the wad of tissues clutched in her hand. The early evening sky outside her window had turned gray and dreary.

True to his word, Dayne had arranged for another agent to stay at the castle in his place. Special Agent Beth Shanahan. The woman seemed pleasant and capable enough, but it wasn’t the same. She wasn’t Dayne.

“Oh, Angus,” she said to the puppy. After Dayne had left with Remy, Angus had cried nonstop for twenty minutes. Only after she’d tucked him to her side did he settle down. “He should have given us a chance. How could he do this?”

Angus didn’t answer, just watched her from soulful puppy eyes.

Her belly shook with renewed sobs. The ache in her heart was so deep and raw. She hadn’t known she could hurt this badly. Was this what love did to a person? If so, the pain was too great to bear.

She gripped the sheet tighter. It felt like she was dying inside. Maybe she would be better off settling for a good match, instead of holding out for true love. That way she could never be hurt this badly again.

She hadn’t expected to fall in love, hadn’t been prepared for it. But he was gone, and she had to accept it. People she loved—her parents—had left her before, and she’d survived. Somehow. She’d busy herself with work, maybe go into the city more often. Perhaps get back into the nightlife scene.

Her stomach roiled at the thought. That kind of life hadn’t been for her before Dayne, and it wasn’t now. She’d only be fooling herself. Trying to become something she wasn’t so she could forget him.

“I can’t forget him, Angus.” The puppy snuggled closer and licked her nose. It didn’t matter that she’d only known him a fraction of the time she’d known all her other friends, because she knew him, and they were connected in a way she hadn’t known existed. She was completely in love with him and without reservation. Nothing would ever change that.

Isolation and gut-wrenching grief washed over her in painful waves, and her body quaked with renewed sobs.

All her money and the power that came with it… She’d told Dayne the absolute truth. None of it mattered. The one thing she wanted in the entire world—she couldn’t have.

Him.