Fire scorched his skin and burned his insides. He tossed one way then the other. His lids fluttered open only to see the bright flames leap at him.
A face appeared before him, stern in its expression, black eyes shuttered. Cool water poured over his body. “Am I in hell?” His voice was rough, his throat raw.
“Nay. Not hell, but close to it.”
She shook her head, but the words wouldn’t come to deny the charges. The nightclub would be an excellent cover for a drug operation.
“I’m not dealing drugs, Madelaine. I’m not involved in anything illegal,” he said sadly.
She winced at his tone. She didn’t mean to hurt him. “Then what?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Something far bigger and far more evil than drugs. But not illegal. At least in the eyes of the law.”
“Unethical?”
“Possibly. But I’m on the side of right here. You have to trust me in this.” He stood and paced to the windows. The bright sun shone behind him, creating an aura of light that surrounded him. Like an angel. Her angel.
What was she thinking? Of course he wasn’t doing anything illegal. This was Christien. The idea of him dealing drugs or negotiating arms with terrorists was ludicrous and she’d been an idiot to think it in the first place.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I know you would never do anything illegal.”
Sharon Cullen 267
He laughed, but the sound was cynical. “Don’t be so sure. At times I’ve done what I had to.”
“You had your reasons.” Just like he had his reasons to believe she was in danger. Proven twice now.
“I’m humbled by your faith in me,” he said sarcastically.
His words bit, but she absorbed the pain. It was no more than she deserved for doubting him when he’d done nothing but take care of her and try to protect her.
“Forgive me.”
“Ah, Madelaine. There’s nothing to forgive, mon coeur. You have every right to your doubts after what you’ve been through. I never meant for you to get hurt.”
She stood again to join him at the window. Her legs wobbled a bit. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known.”
He touched her cheek, his thumb grazing her jaw. “But I did know. From the moment I saw you in my club, I knew you were special and I knew nothing good would come of this.”
She swallowed, suddenly nervous. “This?”
His hand dropped and he turned away from her to stare out the window. “Us.”
What was he saying? They had no future? Surely he hadn’t brought her all the way to France to break up with her.
She stepped away and raised her chin. “What do you mean?”
268 Her Dark Knight
His harsh expression softened. “Only that I should have walked away when I had the chance. But I never had the chance. One look at you and I’d found the other half of my heart.”
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