WICKED INTENTIONS { Completed}

Chapter 21

"I can explain," Nathan racked his panicked brain to come up with a fast excuse for what she'd heard. "I swear it's not what you think it is."

She stared at him.

"Yes, I had someone watching you..." He rubbed the back of his neck in exasperation. "...but I swear I was only trying to protect you"

Her eyes cut into his, bright, glassy and unblinking.

"I mean I started off suspecting you because of the conning thing but eventually I figured out that you weren't lying. I only wanted to know..." His words drifted off as he realized that there was no way to make himself look good in this situation. "Kira, I'm sorry."

She glared at him

He wished she'd say something; cuss him out and tell him how hurt she was. He wished she'd do something; hit him and show him how much he'd hurt her. But she only stood there looking at him, the hurt, disappointment and betrayal pouring out of her in thick waves.

"I'm sorry," he tried again this time reaching for her. His forward movement stopped when her palm cracked over his cheek. Slap!

Nathan flinched with the force of the smack. He drew back his head and closed his eyes with the immediate pain that spread through his face. Fuck! Behind that dainty hand was strength he didn't know she even possessed. When he opened his eyes it was to meet Shakira's back as she crossed the foyer.

"Shakira, Shakira, Shakira." Working his jaw, he chased after her.

His calling her name only seemed to accelerate her pace and in seconds she was out of the house. Nathan almost crashed into the door as it slammed behind her. By the time he yanked the door open and followed her outside, Shakira was already in the car and revving up the engine.

"Shakira, Shakira, Shakira." He raced towards the driver's side. He tried to open the door but it was firmly closed to his efforts. The car growled and then started to crawl away. Nathan slapped his palm on the window repeatedly to draw Shakira's attention. "Shakira, Shakira, Shakira." But she stared straight ahead and accelerated the car.

"Shakira, Shakira, Shakira." Nathan raced after the car, slapping the passenger window, the trunk and then finally thin air as it zoomed away.

His body and mind numb, and his hands clasped over his head, Nathan watched the car retreat towards the gates.

She's gone. His heart crushed at his feet with the realization. She's gone.

He closed his eyes doing best to hold onto her image rigidly. His mind etched her face clearly but instead of a laughing Shakira, all it gave him was her disappointment and hurt.

What the hell had he done?

* * * * *

SHAKIRA HAD NEVER felt this kind of pain.

It felt like there was a hand inside her chest, gripping at her heart, squeezing it painfully and trying to rip it out of her body. It hurt. It hurt so bad.

I won't cry. I won't cry for him.

Her eyes stung with unshed tears as she stared at the road in front of her. Her fingers clenched over the steering wheel in response to the pain whipping like a violent tornado inside her and her stomach churned nauseously clogging her throat with bitter bile. In her purse, her phone rang incessantly. She didn't pick it up.

She knew it was him and the last voice she wanted to hear with his.

She knew he didn't trust her but this was so much more than anything she'd ever imagined. Private investigators, stalking, sneaking...who knew what else he'd been up to. Did she even want to know? She'd walked away from his bullshit apology before he could confess all his sins because she was afraid that his confession would tell her the one thing she didn't want to hear.