She had no idea how much this was tearing me up, not knowing where she was, not knowing if she was safe or on the verge of a breakdown. My imagination galloped ahead, and I envisioned her in a bathtub full of blood with deep gashes in her wrists. I didn’t think she was suicidal, but I couldn’t wipe history from my overactive mind. I should have never left her six months ago.

The knob on the front door turned, and I tried to calm the sudden flow of adrenaline rushing my veins. I shut off the light over the stove. It was the only light I’d switched on after gaining entrance to her house with the key Jax had supplied me with months ago. The one she’d never known about.

I heard the door open and close, then the latch of a deadbolt. Moving into the foyer with light steps, I aimed to take her by surprise, but her words stopped me cold.

“I know you’re here, so there’s no need to sneak up on me.” She flipped on the light by the door, and her eyes met mine. She’d known I was waiting, yet she’d come inside anyway.

I let out a breath. “You’re not fucking running from me,” I said, keeping my voice even. But I must have hit a nerve.

“You’re the one good at running,” she snapped. “Zach is the only reason you came back, isn’t he?” Tears welled in her eyes, and for once, I didn’t want to pounce on them.

I was guilty. Zach’s escape had been the precipitous event that sent me careening toward her, but it wasn’t the only reason, and the fact that she didn’t know that pissed me off.

It also made me kick myself.

She wiped under her jade eyes, and her burning gaze flagellated me with hurt and indignant anger.

“I want you to go,” she whispered. “Do what you need to do in that stupid barn.”

“I’m not leaving you here—”

“Just go away!” she screamed, hurtling her purse at me. I ducked, and the thing hit the wall behind my head. A bang went off, and we both jumped. I let the expletives fly then gaped at the remains of her purse.

“The fuck, Alex?”

“Oh my God…the gun…” she sobbed, covering her face with shaking hands. She whirled and reached for the doorknob as if she couldn’t believe what she’d nearly done and needed to run from it.

I sprang forward and pulled her against me, shackling her in the cage of my arms. She shook with unrestrained sobs.

“I’m s-sorry,” she said with a hiccup. “I didn’t mean it.”

“I know you didn’t. Stop fighting me.”

“Just let me go.”