Chapter 32 Lachlan #2
A tickle caused a shiver down my nape and then I felt it again, more, as Robyn stroked her fingers through my hair.
“I’m sorry I scared you,” she whispered.
I squeezed my eyes closed.
Fuck, but I never wanted to care this much.
Lifting my head, I took hold of her wrist and pressed a kiss to it, feeling her pulse beneath my lips. Our eyes locked, and it was as if she could see right through me. See my torment.
“I’m so sorry,” Robyn insisted.
“I know. It’s not your fault.” I kissed her palm. “But there’s something I need you to do for me.”
“Anything.”
“I’m going to book you on a flight back to Boston.”
Her hand jerked in mine, but I held on.
“Robyn, you’ve nearly been killed twice. It’s not safe for you here. I want you in Boston until we’ve caught him.”
“I can’t.” She frowned at me, seeming shocked. “Lachlan, this is my case.”
“No, this is Police Scotland’s case.”
“And a fine job they’re doing.”
“They haven’t much to go on. Neither have we. Now they have a truck, which is something we didn’t have before. He’s making mistakes now.”
“And I want to be around when he makes his last one.”
“No,” I commanded. “You’re leaving Scotland tomorrow. End of discussion.”
Robyn ripped her hand out of mine. “You can’t order me to do that. You can’t order me, period.”
I took a deep breath. “Fine. Then do this for me. For my sanity and peace of mind. Because if you don’t—”
“If I don’t, then what?”
“It’s me or the case, Robyn.” My gut clenched at the ultimatum, but it was the only thing I could live with. I wouldn’t get myself in any deeper with her when the risk of losing her was so high.
Her lips parted, and she made a noise as if I’d winded her. “Are you serious?”
“More serious than I have ever been,” I replied grimly. I could live with hurting her, deal with soothing that hurt after, once this was over and I could fly her back to Scotland from the States.
But she didn’t give in like I’d dementedly hoped.
Instead, an alarming flatness entered her eyes as she stared at me. “You don’t know me at all.”
I reached for her. “Robyn—”
“No.” She jerked back from me, the flatness obliterated by her rising fury.
“Robyn, I’m asking you to do this for me. If you care about me, please.”
“If I care about you?” She gaped at me, disbelieving.
“Lachlan … if you care about me, you wouldn’t dare ask me to do this.
It’s not about asking me to run away from this coward, to let him win—it’s not about that.
It’s only slightly about you trying to wrap me up in cotton wool when we both know it’ll suffocate me.
What it is about is you giving me an ultimatum.
Asking me to be someone I’m not, just to soothe your fears.
” Tears filled her eyes, gutting me. “That’s not love. That’s emotional blackmail.”
Suddenly, it felt like rocks were piled on my chest. My breaths were shallow through the restriction.
“I can’t … I can’t get in any deeper with you if I’m constantly worried about your safety.
It’ll drive me mad.” Understanding dawned.
Robyn was the worst kind of woman I could have fallen in love with.
Her courage would always put her at risk.
I stood up, pushing my chair back with force.
“I’m sorry. This isn’t going to work between us. ”
Her tears escaped as she stared up at me in shocked hurt.
I couldn’t stand it.
Cursing under my breath, I marched from the room. Every footstep that took me from her, I prayed she’d call out and change her mind, that she would prove to me she could be low risk when I needed her to be.
She didn’t.
And I didn’t stop walking away.
So.
That was that.
“Lachlan?” I heard Mac call my name, but I kept on going.
I stormed out of the hospital and into chaos.
Camera lights flashed in my eyes as I was immediately set upon by bodies. “Adair! Is it true your stalker killed another woman?”
“Look this way, Adair!”
“Lachlan, can you tell us what happened? Who is the victim and what does she mean to you?”
“Is it true her name is Robyn Penhaligon? Who is she to you?”
Seconds from punching the bastards out of my way, they were forced back by Mac and Ada, and I was hauled into the safety of the reception area as hospital security ordered the paparazzi to remain outside.
I spun out of Mac’s grip, searching the hospital for the nurse. “She told them,” I spat, ready to take my rage and frustration out on anyone who would use me like this. They had Robyn’s name!
“Lachlan, calm down, calm down.” Mac guided me forcefully into the men’s restroom.
“Get off me!” I shrugged off my friend.
Mac checked the stalls to make sure we were alone and turned to me, grim-faced. “It’s very unlikely it was the nurse, Lachlan. There are a dozen people in that waiting room who heard you declare yourself for Robyn.”
That was true. It didn’t make me feel any calmer.
“I’ll call security to come collect you.”
“Put them on Robyn. They have her name.” I considered something. “They’ll connect the two of you. They’ll harass you too.”
“I don’t care.” Mac scowled at me. “What happened?”
Deducing his meaning, I turned away. “I’m not discussing it with you.”
“I’m her father, Lachlan. Tell me or I make you tell me.”
I looked back at him, eyebrow raised. “I’m your boss.”
Mac narrowed his eyes. “Don’t give me that bullshit.”
“We broke up. All right? It’s fucking over. You want to leave me, fine.” It wasn’t fine. None of this was fine.
It was so bloody far from fine, I felt like I was coming out of my skin.
“Explain.”
I gave him the gist of it.
“Ah, Lachlan.” Mac leaned against the wall, scrubbing a hand down his face.
My gut twisted in knots, and I glared at the restroom’s tile floor. “Call the team. I need to get out of here. Put however many men you need on Robyn.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
Exhausted, drained, and aching with misery in every part of my body, I stared unseeing at my friend. “It’s my mistake to make. Now can you just do your job?”
With a heavy sigh, Mac pulled his phone out of his pocket to call the team.