Page 36 of The Monster’s Weakness

She narrowed her eyes, looking into his.

“That’s when things changed. When I stopped caring.”

Gemma shook her head. “No, you care. Pain can feel like that, but you’re a good man, Caleb. I’ve never felt safer and more heard than when I’m with you.”

They kissed. Softly.

“Pembroke was innocent,” he blurted out.

She pulled back slightly. “What do you mean?”

“His wife had been stealing from the company. When he found out, he panicked. He cut the medical plan to try and replace what she stole. He was going to sell their house and summer home and she got greedy and took out the contract.”

“Wow, that’s crazy.”

“And now she thinks you know too much and wants to clean up loose ends. Since I refused the contract, it went wide.”

“But those guys at your safe house are dead.”

“The contract will be up for grabs again,” he said.

“What’s that mean?” she asked.

“It means anyone looking to cash in can take the hit. No exclusivity. No rules.”

She swallowed hard. There was a look on his face, something unnerving.

“Caleb?”

“You’re right about me. I killed an innocent man.” He spilled her to the side as he stood up, pacing in front of the windows. “You deserve better than whatever it is I am.”

“You didn’t know he was innocent.”

“Doesn’t matter, does it? I’ve done it for the money from day one. Everyone knows me for being cutthroat, over the top, no questions asked. And do you know why I did it? Because money equals freedom. It equals safety and security. If I’d had money back then, I could have bought the meds my mother needed. Now I have money. But what the fuck does it matter?”

He was near tears, ranting and self-loathing. She didn’t want him to feel this way. He’d gone out of his way to save her, to pay for her meds, to love her. He wasn’t the monster he was portraying.

“Caleb...”

“The worst of it ... I enjoyed it. It felt like fucking vengeance to smoke Pembroke. For my mom, for you, for everyone screwed over by Big Pharma. But I was wrong.”

She realized now how much pain he’d gone through as a little boy, how much he’d been holding onto. He truly believed money and power would erase the pain, but that was impossible. Gemma wished she could take away the conflict brewing inside him.

“You’re different now, Caleb. People make mistakes. And we can always start over.”

He came over to her and got down on one knee and took both her hands.

“You don’t understand.”

“What?” she asked.

“I haven’t changed. Because all I can think is about is killing everyone coming after you. And I know nothing will stop me.”

He knew he was waiting for her to reject him, to give him permission to be emotionless once again. But she wasn’t giving it to him.

Instead of pushing him away, she pulled him closer. “Kiss me.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Gemma, don’t you see what I am?”