“What are you singing?”
Raising her head, she looked up at me. “A song my mother used to sing to me.” She looked away and shook her head. “I think so, at least. Maybe it’s just something I’ve dreamed up because I know so little about her.”
The memories of the hours I’d spent in her father’s storage unit surrounded by the only things left of Diana Edwards’ life flooded back as I watched Nina’s wistful expression. It was time I told her that I’d found some good in that ten by ten room.
Gently, I pushed her up until she sat next to me and I began. “I think I need to tell you some things. We’ve spent enough time with me hiding the past from you. I don’t want to do that anymore.” I saw the concern in her eyes and softly touched her shoulder. “For once, it’s not bad.”
“Oh? Well, I’m all ears then. I just don’t think I could have handled hearing you say you had a wife you hadn’t told me about or something like that,” she said with a forced smile.
“No, it’s nothing like that.” I took a deep breath and continued. “I found your father’s notebook in a safe deposit box, but he has a storage unit right outside Philly that I searched. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I was hoping that I could find out why my father had done what he did and bury that in the past and then someday take you to see the storage unit.”
“A storage facility? I know nothing about this. Did Kim know?”
“I don’t know. Your father stored your mother’s things there after she died and visited it the last time just before his death. I think it might be nice if you took a look at what’s there.”
There was pain in her eyes as she smiled at me. “I’ve always wished I could know my mother better. My father never really wanted to talk about her after she died. I don’t blame him. Losing the one you love is like losing a part of yourself. It hurts so much that you just want to curl up into a ball and push the world away.”
I heard in her words that she wasn’t just talking about losing her mother or father. She was talking about losing me all those months. Pulling her toward me, I wrapped my arms around her and whispered what I’d wanted to say since the first day away from her. “I’m sorry I left. I didn’t think there was any other way. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Nina. I thought you’d be safer without me around.”
She sniffled once and then again, signaling she was crying. “I might have been safer, but I needed you and you weren’t there. Then when Jordan left, for the first time in my life, I was alone. Every night I’d scroll through my messages to you, forcing myself to believe that you got every one and wanted to respond, even though you didn’t.”
I tilted her head back, cradling her face in my hands. “I did get every one and every time my phone vibrated, another piece of my heart was cut out knowing that you were unhappy. I know I fucked up, but I promise if you give me the chance, I’ll be the man you deserve. Maybe not right now, but I won’t give up until I’ve become that man.”
Nodding, she smiled. “Okay.”
“But you need to accept that life with me is going to be hard for a while. I stayed away because I’m a target. I don’t know why yet, but Karl is playing some deadly game and I’m the prize. That means you’re in danger too. We may have to leave home and hide out in places that are nothing like the hotels I own until Daryl and I figure out what’s going on.”
“I don’t care how hard life is with you. All I know is it’s impossible without you. You’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, Tristan. So what if that means we have some rough times? Every couple faces those.”
“Not every couple has to deal with someone wanting to kill them, Nina. I need you to understand that things could get rough. I’ve made sure that if anything happens to me, you’re taken care of for the rest of your life. I promise you don’t have to worry about that.”
A look of horror crossed her face. Jumping to her feet, she cried, “Don’t say that! I just got you back. I can’t think of you being gone again.”
Taking her hand, I looked up into those eyes so sad and worked to fix my blunder. “Baby, I wasn’t saying I was going anywhere. I never want to leave you again. It’s just that I need you to know I’ve taken care of everything.”
“Well, now I need you to take care of me. Money and everything else you have don’t mean a thing to me, Tristan. All I want—all I ever wanted—was you.”