His body is tense under my touch. His voice sounds pained. “We decided leaving was for the best,Belle.”
“And since when do I do what’s best for myself?”
“That’s the problem.” He holds me at arm’s length. “That’s why I have to make the hard decisions.Because if it’s up to you, you’ll get yourself killed.”
“This decision was hard for you?”
“It’s not like I imagined marrying you and then sending you away.”
“So don’t.” I grab his arms and wrap them around my waist for him. “Howard can take care of Elise.And I can stay here with you.”
“Sending you away isn’t what I imagined, but it’s what is right.” Nikolai grits his jaw and startspushing me back down the hall. I try to fight, but it’s hopeless. He’s so much bigger than I am.
“I’ll be on a plane back to you the moment th
