The father of my daughter was dead.
But it was the wrong man. It was the kind and decent one who’d put his life on the line to save me—and Tessa.
And I’d killed him.
A tear escaped my eye, and I quickly swiped it away for fear of Walt noticing. I had a million reasons to blame it on after the last few days of drama, but I was all out of lies.
I couldn’t help Roman anymore, but there was one man I could still save. I’d selfishly told Luke everything, putting his life at risk to make myself feel a moment of relief. I needed to stop him from repeating any of it before he was gone, too.
“I’m going to the gym this afternoon. I’ll figure out dinner when I get home,” I said as Walt started up the stairs to his office.
He stilled, one foot on the bottom stair. “I don’t want you going back to that gym.”
My heart leapt into my throat. “What… Why?”
“Why?” he asked incredulously, changing direction and heading back to me.
I steeled myself for an explosion and glanced to the kitchen, where Tessa was sitting at the table, playing with a giant ball of Play-Doh.
I stayed silent as Walt approached.
His knee landed beside me on the couch. The smell of his cologne made vomit rise in my throat. His hand went to my throat, sliding up and tilting my head back so I was forced to look at him.
My gaze flashed back to Tessa as panic ricocheted inside me.
Then, much to my surprise, he bent, kissing me chastely before saying, “Because, after the last few days, I don’t want you out of my sight. There are men out there who think they can put their hands on my wife and still wake up breathing. You gotta know, sweetheart, that that shit does not fly. You’re a Noir.”
And I hated it more than anything else in the world. Carrying his last name was a punishment worse than any he’d ever doled out with his fists.
He gave my throat a gentle squeeze and trailed his other fingers down my chest, between my breasts, and down my stomach before stopping just short of between my legs.
I fought off the dry heave and did my best to control my breathing.
Walt was like a bear in the woods. He wanted dominance, and he demanded that you gave it to him. But, if you showed him fear, it only fueled him. He fed off the power.
I knew this game well. He wasn’t going to hurt me—at least, not right then. But he wanted me to remember that he could.
However, victims often became the smartest players in the game of survival.
Puckering my lips, I silently asked for another kiss. He gave it to me then smiled menacingly.
I lifted my hand and teased the bare flesh at his stomach. “I’m yours, Walt. They touch me, they touch you.”
“They touch you, Clare, they die.”
“I’m yours,” I murmured.
His eyes heated, so I kept talking.
“No one would be stupid enough to challenge you again.”
He licked his lips.
Raking my nails up his sides, I pushed further. “You’re Walter Noir. And I’m your wife. I’m untouchable, and I dare them to try.”
“Fuck,” he breathed, dropping his forehead to mine.
“It’s just the gym, honey. A couple of hours on a treadmill to get my mind off the last few days.” I slid my hand over his shoulder and into the hairs at the nape of his neck and whispered, “Don’t let them win.”
He stared at me, his eyes becoming soft at the corners. His stiff body uncoiling under my affection.
“Please,” I added for good measure.
He gave in on a huff. “One hour. And Brock drives you.”
It wasn’t ideal. But it was something. And I needed to get to Luke and make sure he kept his mouth shut about everything I’d unloaded on him. Both of our lives depended on it.
I faked a grin. “Okay.”
His hand tightened at my throat. “You run into any trouble whatsoever, I’ll be there in a blink.”
“I know.”
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, breathing an, “I love you,” on his exhale.
I fucking hate you. “I love you, too.”
The ride to the gym that afternoon was a silent one.
Brock pulled up in front. Then he got out and opened the back door so I could get Tessa out of her seat. When I had her on my hip, he slammed the door and grunted, “One hour.” He then pulled around to a parking spot with clear visibility of the front door.
At least he isn’t coming in.
“Hey, Clare!” the front desk girl, whose name I could never remember, chirped.
“Hey,” I said, glancing around her toward the row of offices. “Luke in the back?”
“Uh,” she stalled. “Actually, Luke didn’t show this morning, but don’t worry. I called in—”
The world stopped spinning.
I interrupted her on a nearly desperate cry. “What do you mean he didn’t show?”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I mean…he didn’t show up this morning.”
My hands began to shake, and I shifted Tessa onto my other hip in order to lean my elbow on the counter for balance. “Did you try calling him?” I snapped.