She waited for them to argue. They both stayed silent, and Lacey had her answer. “No one is keeping me from him.”
Lacey went toward the door, opening it. Lash was standing outside, waiting for his woman.
“Where’s Whizz?”
“He’s down at the gym in the basement. Killer’s with him, and believe me, you don’t want to see him.”
“I need to see him.” She made to move away, but Lash stopped her by gripping her arm. Instinct forced her to pull away from him. “Do not touch me.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it. Go and sort out our boy.”
She nodded, making her way downstairs.
No one stopped her on the way down to the basement. She found Whizz pounding on a punching bag that Killer was holding. The split lip Killer was sporting also let her know that Whizz had attacked the other man.
“Man, you’ve got to stop.” Killer had already clocked her.
Lacey stayed silent as Whizz unleashed hell onto the punching bag.
“No!” He growled out a response. This was not the man she loved. This man was hurting, angry, and so damn broken that it made her heart ache to witness. “I hurt Lacey. I can’t stop. I should be fucking shot.”
“You didn’t mean it.”
“It doesn’t make it any fucking better, Killer. If Steven hadn’t been there—shit, I could be looking at a dead woman by my side.” Whizz lowered his fists, shouting the words back at Killer.
“Don’t yell,” Lacey said. Her voice echoed around the room.
Whizz whirled around to look at her. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I’ve got no choice but to be here,” she said. “Get out of here, Killer.” She kept her gaze on Whizz.
“He can’t leave.”
“Why? You’re not asleep anymore.” She glanced toward Killer and nodded at him. “Go.”
Seconds later they were alone in the basement. The sound was eerily quiet. She licked her lips as she pushed away from the wall. Lacey moved to stand in front of the punching bag.
“You need to get the fuck out of here.”
“No.”
“You shouldn’t be around me. I’m a fucking monster.”
“You’re not a monster.” She rounded the punching bag, gripping the edge of the bag. Whizz was unreachable.
“I almost killed you.”
“Almost.” There was no point in lying. He did almost kill her, but he didn’t.
“It’s over,” he said.
Tears sprang to her eyes. She forced the tears down. There was no way she was going to let him leave her because of one incident.
“It’s not.”
“Are you fucking crazy or stupid?” he asked.
“I guess if the cap fits I’ll wear it.”
“I’m not going to do this with you. You could have fucking died because of me.” He dropped his face, moving away from her. She released the punching bag, watching him as he made his way toward the weights. Whizz started pumping weights, ignoring her.
“I’m not dead.”
“Get the fuck out, Lacey. Get out and get gone.”
She took a deep breath. “No.”
He glared up at her. “Do you have a fucking death wish?”
“I’ve not got a death wish, but I’m not going to let you hurt yourself because of what happened.” Whizz dropped the weight. The sudden sound made her jump.
“I could have fucking killed you and you couldn’t do anything about it.” Whizz stepped closer to her, trying to be threatening. She didn’t believe him. His anger was not directed at her. Lacey knew he was angry at himself.
She placed a palm on his chest, feeling him flinch yet stay for her to touch him. “You didn’t mean to do it.”
“How do you know?”
“You were shouting at Alan, Whizz. You weren’t shouting at me.” She stared at her palm, moving it up to rest against his beating heart. Tears filled her eyes at the joy that consumed her from touching him. “You were dreaming, Whizz. I wasn’t there in your dream. You were alone back in that abandoned warehouse where Alan was torturing you.”
“You’re fucking insane and delusional.”
“If you could have killed me, Whizz, you’d have done it already. You can’t kill me. You don’t want to kill me, and I don’t want to leave.” She took a deep breath, letting the tears spill. “I can’t leave you. I’m in love with you, Whizz.”
He cupped her cheek. “You’re in danger when you’re with me.” His hand moved down to her neck, cupping her over the bruises. “I did this.” Whizz pulled his hand away as if he’d been bitten by her flesh alone. “No, I’m not going to let you put yourself in danger.”
“Tough!” Lacey shoved him hard. His words were causing her a lot more pain than him strangling her in his sleep. “You don’t have a choice.” She kept shoving him as she yelled back her pain. “You’re not getting rid of me.”
Whizz gripped her arms. “Stop this. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“I don’t care. Everything hurts if you leave me, Whizz. I can’t let you leave me. I love you too much.”
“I’m going to hurt you.”
“I don’t care.” The tears she’d tried to keep at bay fell down her cheeks. “I don’t care if you hurt me or what happens. I’d rather risk moments like tonight so I can keep all of those moments in between. Please, Whizz, don’t break up with me. I want to be in your life. I love you. Please don’t leave me.” Throughout the whole of her life she’d never once begged another man to stay with her. She was used to everyone leaving her. There was no way she’d ever let Whizz leave her or be forced away from him. “I can’t lose you. I don’t want to carry on if you’re not going to be with me.”
Lacey broke down as the emotion clawed at her from the thought of him pushing her away. She fell to her knees, pressing her hands to her eyes. After so long of keeping everything locked inside, Lacey finally broke, sobbing out her heartache.
Whizz’s arms surrounded her seconds later. “I’m not going to leave,” he said.
“I love you, Whizz.”
He picked her up and settled down on the floor with her in his arms. Stroking her hair, Lacey began to calm down.
“I love you, Lacey. I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”