Page 60 of Wade’s Wrath

“Like what?” he asked.

“Like you're worried I'm going to break,” she said.

Wade stepped closer. “I don't think you're gonna break.”

“You keep treating me like I might,” she said.

“No. I'm treating you like someone is trying to fucking hurt you, and I want to keep you safe,” Wade said.

“There's a difference?” she asked.

“Big fucking difference,” he said. Harlow looked away, and Wade sighed. Then his fingers brushed beneath her chin, barely touching her, but just enough to turn her face back toward him. He'd gotten good at that—giving her time to pull away, but she didn't.

“Sarah needs help,” she whispered.

“I know,” he breathed.

“I should've known something was wrong,” she insisted.

“How could you have known?” he asked.

“She wouldn't have just quit,” Harlow said.

“You believed what you were told,” he said.

“I should've called her,” Harlow countered.

“Maybe.” The answer surprised her, and Harlow frowned.

“You're supposed to tell me it wasn't my fault,” she insisted.

“Would you believe me if I had?” he asked.

“No, I wouldn’t have,” she admitted.

“Then I'm not wasting my breath,” he said. Her mouth fell open, and Wade shrugged. “You should've called her.”

“Wow,” she breathed.

“But you didn't know what you know now,” he insisted.

“That doesn't make me feel better,” she whispered.

“Wasn't supposed to.” She glared at him, but he continued. “You can spend the next ten years beating yourself up because you didn't know Sarah was in trouble, or you can help us with what you know now.”

Harlow's anger disappeared. “What if what I know isn't enough?”

“Then we find more information that will help us,” Wade insisted.

“We?” she asked.

His expression softened slightly. “Yeah, runaway bride. We.” She should have complained about the nickname, but she didn't.

Wade dropped his hand. “You need to stay here where it’s safe.”

She sighed. “I still hate that plan.”

“Don't care,” Wade said.