T he moment I heard the front door open, my eyes fell shut .

A feeling of fear stirred deep within, threatening to bring up the wine that I had just drank .

I wasn’t looking forward to this moment since seeing Kelly parked outside the Madam’s. What she suggested he did to Nora only amplified my feelings of wanting to flee .

His heavy feet clacked against the floor, causing my insides to jump after each step .

Without having to turn and look, I knew it was him. I could feel his gaze staring into the back of my head .

The lights were dimmed and it was dusk. And despite the soaring temperatures of the day, my flesh prickled against the cool air swirling around me .

There was so much on my mind, I didn’t even know where to begin. Feeling dizzy and lightheaded, I wasn’t discrediting the chance Kelly was upset with me for not answering his calls from the office. But I needed this time alone to process all that had happened to me today .

Unfortunately for me, the wine—and alone time—only seemed to complicate matters .

“I’ve been looking all over for you.” His voice was sexy deep and I hated how it could reassure me that I was safe when I was filled with so much doubt .

“Found me,” I replied without turning to face him, unsure whether or not I should admit that I saw him at the Madam’s today .

“Kendra?” He hovered behind me and I wondered how much he knew about my day .

Pulling my feet out from under me, I leaned forward on the couch and set my nearly empty wine glass on the coffee table. And though I wanted to tell him everything that I saw at Madam’s new salon, I thought better of it—afraid of how he would react when learning of my deliveries .

Kelly set his beefy hand on my shoulder, and when I thought I would jump in response, I did the opposite. Melting into his warm comfort, I crossed my arm over my chest and blanketed my palm over his knuckles. “How was your day ?”

He sighed and when I twisted around to look up into his strong jawline, I fixed my eyes on his. After this morning, I was afraid to see the torment of his dream still wreaking havoc on his emotions. But instead of seeing depression, I found light .

“I’ve missed you,” he said .

Extending his arm, he managed to hang onto my hand while stepping around the couch before falling into the cushions, filling the empty void next to me .

Snuggling up next to his side, I toyed with the buttons on his shirt before murmuring, “I’m sorry I missed your call .”

His fingers threaded through my hair, tucking it behind my ear .

“I was in the shower.” When his head fell to the back of the couch, I cupped his face inside my hand, stroking the five o’clock shadow filling his face .

“I don’t like not knowing where you are,” he admitted .

Dropping my gaze to the hand pressed against his rippled abs, my brows pinched. “I’m fine .”

His chest rose as he took a deep breath in through his nose .

Biting the inside of my cheek I struggled, knowing I couldn’t mention anything about the delivery and what I’d seen. No matter how much I tried to deny it, the raw ache of having to keep a secret from Kelly was eating me alive .

He deserved to know. He’d earned the right to be the one to help me through this .

Lifting his head off the back of the couch, he angled his gaze toward me. The crease between his brows deepened as he searched my soul for what I knew he could feel boiling up inside me. “What is it ?”

Turning my head away, I dropped the balls of my feet to the floor, reaching for my glass. Bringing it to my lips, I tossed what little liquid remained into my mouth before moving to the kitchen and pouring myself another .

Not once did he take his eyes off of me .

He watched me float through his apartment, his forehead wrinkling with concern as he watched me down another half a glass before pouring another. “Bella, is something wrong ?”

I was afraid to tell him—frightened to see where it would take us—but I caved. “Today I was being followed .”

He shifted his weight on the couch and draped an arm over the top. “By who ?”

Casting my gaze into the white wine I took a minute to mull over my response, not wanting to pick a fight with him. From beneath my brow, I fixed my eyes on his and said, “I think it was paparazzi .”

Kelly rubbed his face inside his hand before standing and finding me near the island counter. Standing behind me he wrapped me up inside his large arms, swallowing me whole. Together we swayed like the wind—back and forth, holding each other as if our lives depended on it .

“This is my fault.” His breathy words swirled over my ear, making me feel loved. “I did this to you and I’m sorry .”

Shaking my head, I breathed, “No. I agreed to go to that party with you .”

“But I demanded it.” His lips brushed my neck as he kissed me .

Desire slowly replaced doubt. Feeling emboldened by the trust radiating off of him, I twisted around inside his arms, hooking my hands around his muscular neck. Staring into his gorgeous eyes, I loved how I could believe in us even after a day that made me think that I couldn’t .

Stroking my hair and smoothing his hands down both my arms, Kelly searched me for wounds. “Did they hurt you? What did they say ?”

“Kelly, I’m fine.” Palming the back of his skull I stood on my toes, pressing my lips against his. “Really. I think they only managed to take a couple of photos .”

“Until these charges go away,” his forehead rested against mine, “I’m afraid this won’t stop .”

Thinking how strange it was for them to find me at the new salon—which wasn’t even opened—I asked Kelly, “Should I be worried ?”

“If they come after you …”

Tucking my chin into my neck, I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. “Like, threaten me ?”

Kelly tightened his grip as he cleared his throat, nodding .

Freeing myself from Kelly’s arms, I turned my back and stepped away. “I just want this to go away .”

“I know you do. I do, too .”

Hugging myself, I felt paralyzed knowing I could no longer completely control what happened to me. “I don’t like being followed.” Kelly rolled his neck as if it was sore. “It reminds me of when I kept seeing my uncle last week .”

A cold breeze filled the air and I could see the hurt rolling through Kelly’s dark eyes. He didn’t like this any more than I did. But at least I knew he was listening to what I was saying. He was taking into account my fears and concerns .

“Kelly,” I inched closer to him, “you can make this all go away .”

He turned his head and I watched his gaze fall to the bottle of wine. There was a glimmer sparkling in the center of his eye that made me think that he wished he could have a drink, that he wanted to forget the feelings of having the world close in on us and all that we tried to accomplish .

Reaching out, I pinched his suit jacket between my fingers and tugged him closer. “Tell me this will get better .”

He couldn’t look me in the eye. Instead, he stared over the crown of my head, deep in thought. “I was told the media may intentionally be trying to escalate the feud between me and Parker to increase ratings.” His eyes darted across the room. “I’m afraid that this will only get worse before it gets better .”

Without wanting to judge too quickly, my heartbeat raced to tell Kelly what I swore I wouldn’t. Then, when his eyes fell to mine, I finally gave in. “I think Timothy Parker is working with the Madam .”

His eyes hardened and he began breathing fast. “How do you know this ?”

My head fell forward, hitting his chest. There was no turning back the hands of time. I couldn’t retract my statement. He knew, and now I had to tell .

His strong fingers curled over my shoulders as he pushed me back. “Kendra, how do you know this ?”

My throat closed as if being strangled. I could feel my eyes beginning to swell, but I refused to cry. If I was to get out from Madam’s tight grip, then telling Kelly about the deliveries would hopefully be what would make him angry enough to try to help me .

Glancing toward the windows, I began to feel trapped .

Then again, telling Kelly my secret could also do the exact opposite and come to bite me in the ass, possibly ruining everything I loved about who we were .

Shaking me, Kelly growled, “Tell me, Kendra. What makes you think this ?”

“Angel’s friend was there,” I cried. “With Parker. She’s Madam’s girl .”

Leaning closer to my face, Kelly asked, “You saw Madam today ?”

Unable to hide it any longer, I yelled, “But I thought you knew .”

His brow quirked as he flashed me a questioning look .

“I saw you there.” I furrowed my brows, confused about how he didn’t already know this. “In the SUV .”

“Shit.” He stepped away and turned his back .

“You don’t have to spy on me .”

With one fist rooted into his hip, he held his forehead in his other hand. “You were there .”

“Madam said you were the reason Nora killed herself.” My fingers extended out, reaching to touch him. “Why would she say that ?”

“That wasn’t me you saw.” Kelly turned to face me, his eyes grey .

Shuffling my feet, I thumbed my ear .

“It was Maxwell.” He sighed .

“Maxwell? What was he doing there ?”

“He called me. Told me I needed to see something. I arrived not long after .”

My heart thrashed between my ears, my eyes darting over the floor. I glanced at Kelly, but I couldn’t hold my gaze for long .

What was he saying? And why was he also at Madam’s ?

Remembering Jerome rushing in and hearing him say it was “time” I could only assume Kelly was the reason my meeting was cut short. He was the meeting after me. The meeting Madam didn’t want me to see .

“But …” I stammered. “Why ?”

Clamping my wrists inside his impenetrable grip, Kelly said, “It’s about Nash .”

“No. Stop it!” I thrashed against him. “This is about why Nora killed herself .”

But before I could say anything else, Kelly crashed his lips over mine .

And, silently, I begged him to take me away. To make it stop .