Page 149 of Forged

“Lars, he lied,” she says, concerned.

I look into her eyes. “I thought about it, Vi. He wanted to come clean. He wanted to give us everything he knew to take down Sera. What if he was telling the truth to save our relationship?”

“Oh, my love.” She cups my jaw. “I know this is hard, but you need to think this through.”

I take a deep breath, then shake off the emotion. “You’re right. I’ll work on it.”

She taps my cheek. “Now, you need to shower and go home. I’m kicking you out.”

“Did Neomi leave?”

“She did. She went back to the penthouse about an hour ago with three guards. And yes, I told her everything. She kept asking where Gabriel was and why no one was answering their phone. I couldn’t lie to her. I must tell you, she’s pissed at you for leaving last night.”

“Fuck.” I shove my hand through my hair in frustration. “I was an asshole for leaving. Damn it, I love her so much, Vi.”

“Then act like it and don’t be a fucking idiot. Get your shit together and go care for your wife, Lars. Respectfully.”

After a showerand a change of clothes, I went home.

When I walk into the penthouse, the tension under my skin returns. Neomi sits on the couch with a cup of coffee in her hands. She notices me the instant I walk into the room, her lips forming a thin line.

“Hey,” I say cautiously.

“Hey,” she echoes sarcastically.

I step further into the living room, dropping to my knees in front of her.

“I’m so sorry,” I say.

“For what?”

“For disappearing last night.”

She sets the mug down on the table before her eyes settle on me.

“No one told me what happened. I just woke up alone and when I went looking for you, the whole house was in an uproar. I had to hear it from Vi.”

I close my eyes, regret coursing through my veins. “I know, I’m so sorry, Neomi.”

“I know you were hurting, but fuck, Lars, that was not a healthy way to handle things, and you leftmeto deal with the aftermath on my own.”

“I know and I shouldn’t have done that. My pain isn’t an excuse for not being there for you.”

“No, it’s not,” she agrees gently. “But it’s understandable. You have to remember that we’re a team, you can’t run when things get rough and we work through things together.”

I nod, tears stinging my eyes. “You’re right.”

I rise to sit beside her on the couch. For a moment, neither of us speaks, then she reaches for my hand.

“I love you,” she says quietly.

I cover her hand with mine. “I love you, too.”

“I need you to promise that the next time the world crumbles that you will come to me for strength and not a club or a bottle to drown it.”

I look into her eyes. “I promise, Neomi.”

Her fingers tighten around mine.