Bound to my Enemy novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110: Chapter 110.

Up close, I can see the faint bruise along his cheekbone. Yellowing at the edges, half-hidden under his glasses.

Guilt slides into my stomach, knowing exactly how he got those bruises.

That’s from Zane and from when I ran away.

"You got hit because of me," I say quietly.

His expression doesn’t change, but his shoulders shift slightly.

"That’s not your concern, I was just doing my job ma’am ."

Ouch so we are back to him calling me ma’am.

"It is." I say trying to ignore the hurt from him calling me ma’am.

Silence.

"I’m sorry Aaron, for real" I say.

He finally takes off his sunglasses.

His eyes meet mine fully now.

"For what," he asks.

"For running, for putting you in that position, for making it look like you weren’t doing your job."

He exhales through his nose.

"You did put me in that position."

"I know and I’m sorry."

"You know Zane he doesn’t react well when he thinks he’s losing control."

"I know," I repeat.

There’s a pause.

The wind moves lightly through the trees lining the driveway. Somewhere in the distance a car passes.

"You scared him," Aaron says after a moment.

"I wasn’t trying to."

"That doesn’t change that you did."

"I was scared too."

He studies me.

"I’m not your enemy," he says.

"I never said you were."

"You don’t have to say it, you kinda act it."

I look away briefly.

"When you left," he continues, "do you know what that did?"

"It caused chaos?," I admit.

"It caused risk."

I nod.

"And I had no answer to your disappearance."

His voice stays calm, but there’s something underneath it.

"Zane kept asking me where you were."

My throat tightens.

"I didn’t know."

"I know."

"And not knowing where you were meant I couldn’t protect you, do you know how that feels?"

"I dint want anyone’s protection," .

"That’s not the point El." He says softly.

"Then what is?"

"The point is, if something had happened to you while you were out there alone, that would’ve been on me and on my conscience."

I look back at him.

"I didn’t think about that."

"That’s clear and evident ."

There’s no cruelty in his tone... just clear honesty and somehow that makes it worse, I would prefer his anger to thi, anger I can handle..... this... this I don’t know how to handle.

I step closer.

"I didn’t mean to cause you trouble, seriously."

He watches my face carefully.

"I know you didn’t mean to," he says. "But meaning and impact aren’t the same."

I nod slowly.

"I’m sorry," I say again, not being defensive.

A long silence passes.

Then he sighs.

"I forgive you."

Relief flickers through me, small but real.

"But don’t do it again," he adds firmly.

"I won’t."

He studies me like he’s trying to measure whether that’s true.

"You promise?"

I swallow.

"I promise I won’t run from your protection again."

His eyes narrow slightly.

"Not from my protection," he corrects. "From his protection."

"I don’t belong to him."

"That’s not what I’m saying El."

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