She wasn’t expecting me to pounce like a jaguar. Jackie lost her breath for a second when I knocked her to the pavement in the surprise attack, but as soon as I rolled off her she pointed a gun at me. Mine was in my hand, ready to shoot. But for now she had the first shot advantage.

“Jackie, what are you doing?” We both eased off the pavement, standing slowly.

We were behind a warehouse. I knew we were still in Hollywood. I had TS ping our location. I just had to keep her talking for nine more minutes before my backup arrived.

I had no idea how she had hijacked my driver, but it didn’t matter. She had pulled it off. The other cars had gone in different directions and we were here alone.

“Are you starting to take me seriously now, Reid?”

“I always took you seriously.” I lowered my hands, keeping the gun at my side. I could tell she wasn’t ready to shoot. She had too much to say to me.

“I wish that were true.” She kept both hands on the gun.

“You made your point. I was a dick. I fucked up. I should have been more honest. I’m sorry for that.”

Her eyebrows rose. “I wasn’t expecting a sudden admission. You were a dick. It’s nice to hear it.”

“It doesn’t mean other people should get hurt.” I lowered my gun to the ground. “See? I’m not interested in hurting you, Jackie. I know that’s not really what you want.”

“You already hurt me. You think a bullet could do more damage than your words?”

I swallowed. What the hell had I said? My relationship with Jackie was short and it wasn’t serious. I dated women when I wanted. It wasn’t the time to tell her she wasn’t the only woman I slept with during that time.

“I’m sorry.”

She huffed. “I didn’t have a chance. I never did. You were never going to give me more than you gave her.” Her head rotated toward the limo. My throat tightened.

“It’s not her fault. It’s not yours either,” I added. “It’s mine. I did this, Jackie. I made you feel like you weren’t there. Like I could look right through you. I compared you to Abi. Not her. I shouldn’t have done it.”

Maybe I never had the right to date another woman. Or fuck one. Not while Abi was buried in my heart the way she was. But I never made promises and I sure as hell didn’t promise something to Jackie.

“But you see me now? You notice me?”

I nodded. “I do. I’m paying attention.”

She smiled. “And now it’s too late. I’ve gone too far. I know that.”

I shook my head. “No one else has been hurt. Nothing happened tonight. I can help. You know I have connections. Resources. Let me help you.”

“God, you’re the ultimate liar. A fuckboy lying asshole.”

“Jackie,” I warned. “This is your chance. Take it.” I stepped toward her. “I don’t make offers like this lightly.”

Her hands trembled. I noticed the tattoo on her wrist and remembered what it said. Follow your heart.

I hadn’t paid enough attention to the details. Details didn’t matter to me if they weren’t about Abi. It didn’t matter whether she was justified in her pain, it was still her pain.

“It can be your fresh start. You choose where you want to go. But not anywhere in the States.”

“What?”

“I’ll own this. I did this. So I’m making you an offer. Start your life over. But I’ll be watching. If you try to return, or try to make an appearance at any of Abi’s international events and the deal is off. I’ll turn you over to the authorities.”

“Then I might as well shoot you now.” She clicked the hammer.

I shook my head. “Your picture has already been circulated. They know who you are. But no one knows where you are. I’ll get you out of the country.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Call it my penance.”

She lowered the gun. I rushed her, kicking it to ground and out of reach.

“I knew you’d go back on it.”

“No. I’m not going back on the deal. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to avoid you pulling that trigger.”

I looked toward the sky. “I meant what I said. You can start over.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re doing this for her, aren’t you?”

I heard the helicopter buzzing overhead. I led Jackie to the chopper as it touched down.

“You should know this about me by now. Everything I do is for her.”

I handed her over to my agents with a set of instructions. Jackie glared at me from the window, surrounded by agents.

When the helicopter was safely in the sky I tapped on the door and opened the limo.

Abi leapt into my arms. Her tears smeared my cheeks as she sought my lips.

“You’re ok.”

I nodded, kissing her. “I’m fine.”

“And Jackie? Where is she?” She searched the ground around the car.

“She’s not coming back.”

Abi’s eyes darted. “Did you? Is she d—”

I held her hand. Ralph had ducked his head out of the limo. “I didn’t kill her, but I offered her a deal. I don’t think you’re going to like it. I’ll explain in the car. Come on. We have to get you to that dinner.”

She rubbed at her eyes. “My mascara is ruined. And the side of my dress is torn. I can’t go like this.”

Ralph held up his phone. “I’ve got this. Emergency crew is on the way, babe. They’ll meet us outside the hotel in five.”

She smiled. “You’re a lifesaver, Ralph.” Her eyes landed on me. “So what is this deal I’m not going to like?”

I wrapped my arms around her and drew her to me. “Just remember when I tell you we’re all alive.”

She pinched her lips together. “It’s that bad?”

I helped her inside the car. I was going to have to drive the rest of the way.

“You’re going to hate it.”

I closed the door behind her. But it didn’t matter. She was safe.