Page 235 of Snaring Emberly

“Let go of that drape,” I command. “Now.”

She finally releases the velvet and plummets with a scream. My heart thunders. My adrenaline surges. My stomach lurches as though it’s me who’s just made the jump. A heartbeat later, I catch her trembling body and crush her to my chest.

The agony ripping through my shattered rib cage fades with the euphoria of having her safe in my arms. I bury my face into her curls, inhaling her sweet scent, my heart soaring with gratitude.

“You caught me,” she whispers.

“Emberly,” I murmur into her hair. “I will never let you fall.”

She gazes up at me, her green eyes shining with tears. My companions draw back, leaving us alone beneath the balcony.

“Did you see Tommy?” she asks, her voice breathy.

“He’s filled with bullets in the back seat of my car,” I say.

“Dead?”

I chuckle. “He wishes.”

Her eyes flutter closed, and she exhales a long sigh. “He’s a monster. You don’t even want to know what he planned for me and the baby.”

My jaw tightens. “Did he touch you?”

“I’m fine. It was mostly threats, but the man is unhinged.” She pats my chest in the universal sign to let go.

I release her legs, letting her feet touch the lawn. Emberly glances up at the balcony and then down at me as though she can’t believe she’s still alive.

“Roman,” she says, her voice breathy. “Thank you for coming. Tommy said you were going to sacrifice yourself?—”

“Stop,” I murmur.

Her eyes widen.

I swallow hard and lower one knee on the ground, followed by the other, and clasp my hands to my chest.

“Emberly, I’m sorry,” I say, my voice hoarse, my chest tightening with regret.

I gaze up into her beautiful features, knowing I don’t deserve her forgiveness, but I keep talking because being without her has been hell.

“Sorry for manipulating you before we even met and continuing to manipulate you after I realized you were nothing like Capello. I took advantage of your dreams, your fears, and your good heart to keep you under my control. What I did to you was unforgivable.”

“Roman,” she whispers.

“If you want to leave me, I’ll let you go. I’ll annul the marriage and continue donating to the woman’s shelter.”

Her lips part. “What?”

“Even if you don’t want me, I will still love you from afar.” My voice wavers. “But if you take me back, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

She places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes.

My heart races. My gut tightens to brace myself for words of scorn or a slap.

“Tommy said you were going to sacrifice your life for me and the baby,” she says, her eyes shining.

“That was the plan,” I rasp.

“Why?”