I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Atlas POV

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The cops showed up fast, sirens, flashlights, the whole thing, like they hadn’t just missed the part where I almost sent that asshole to meet his creator.

They hauled what was left of him out in cuffs, still groaning, still bleeding.

Lucky bastard.

If they’d been five minutes later, they would’ve been carrying a corpse tonight.

Wrigley walked up beside me, face tight, eyes full of that professional guilt.

“Sir.”

I didn’t look away from the doorway until the guy was fully gone “Make sure his sorry ass stays in jail. I don’t want him breathing free air anytime soon.”

Wrigley nodded quickly. “Yes, sir. And… I apologize.”

I turned then, brows pulling together. “Apologize?”

Wrigley’s jaw tensed. The man was old enough to be my dad, and I’d always respected him. He was the building manager, but he’d been running my property for years, long enough that respected him. He carried himself like an old-school professional, the kind who took pride in doing things right.

So I clenched my teeth and forced my hands to stay at my sides, even though my blood was still boiling. Because if I let go of my restraint for even a second, I’d say something I couldn’t take back, and tonight wasn’t the night I wanted to become that kind of man.

I took a slow breath through my nose. “Fire them.”

Wrigley blinked. “S-sir?”

“All the security team on duty tonight,” I said, voice calm but sharp. “They’re fired. Immediately.”

Wrigley swallowed. “Yes, sir.”

“And make sure they’re paid,” I added, because I wasn’t trying to be Steve. I wasn’t trying to be cruel. “Give them what they’re owed.”

“Yes, sir.”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice, every word heavy. “And I want a new team. Trained. Experienced. Professionals. I don’t care if it costs more. Raise the pay. Whatever it takes. But nobody an I mean not a fucking soul breaks into this building again.”

Wrigley nodded, eyes steady now. “Understood, sir. I’ll handle it immediately.”

“Good.”

He hesitated. “Anything else?”

My jaw clenched again as I pictured Emery’s face, the way her body went still, the way she tried to act fine like fear hadn’t just wrapped its hands around her throat.

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O

13:04 Mon, Feb 23 AA.

Chapter 144

“Make sure this doesn’t reach the media,” I said, voice turning cold. “Whatever you have to pay. Pay it.”

Wrigley nodded once. “Yes, sir.”

“Thank you,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.

He gave a small smile, tired but respectful. “You’re welcome, sir. Please… try to get some rest.”

I didn’t answer that.

Rest wasn’t even on the menu tonight.

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I watched him leave, listened for the click of the door shutting behind him, and only then did I let out a breath that felt like it had been trapped in my chest for hours.

My hands still hurt.

My knuckles throbbed. My wrist was bruised. There was dried blood under my nails.

But none of that mattered.

I turned and walked straight down the hall to Emery’s room.

I paused outside her door, forcing myself to breathe, to slow my pulse, to loosen my jaw. Like that would stop the shaking in my hands.

Then I knocked.

“Come in.”

I opened the door slowly.

She was still in her robe.

Hair damp. Skin pale. Eyes a little too bright like she’d been fighting tears and refusing to let them win. She stood by the bed like she didn’t know what to do with her body anymore.

Still acting like she was fine.

My chest tightened.

“Oh thank God you’re here,” she said quickly, voice cracking at the edges. “What took you so long?”

I didn’t answer.

Couldn’t.

I just stood there staring at her, taking her in like I needed proof she was real. Like I needed to see with my own eyes that she was still standing.

“Atlas,” she started, trying to sound normal, trying to put that brave mask back on. “Like I said, I’m fi…”

She stopped.

Her eyes dropped to my hands.

“Fuck,” she whispered, and she crossed the room fast, gently taking my hand like it was something fragile.

“This must hurt so much,” she said, voice thick with worry.

2/4

O

13:04 Mon, Feb 23 AA ·

Chapter 144

It did.

But it didn’t compare to what I felt in my chest.

The ache. The rage. The guilt.

The fear of what could’ve happened if I hadn’t walked in when I did.

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She guided me to the edge of her bed like she didn’t even think twice about it, then disappeared into her bathroom.

When she came back, she had a first aid kit in her hands.

She sat beside me, careful, and lifted my hand like she was handling glass.

Her fingers were warm. Gentle. Steady.

And I couldn’t stop watching her face.

Every inch of it.

Her eyes. Her mouth. Her cheekbones. The way her brows pulled together when she saw the bruises.

I had to be sure.

I had to know she wasn’t hurt.

That there wasn’t a scratch on her anywhere I couldn’t see.

She dabbed antiseptic onto my knuckles. I barely flinched.

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