Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“I didn’t kill Nina or her mother.” I force her gaze back to mine when she tries to turn away. “I did kill William. That was the only reason I went there that day.”
“I saw your car,” she whispers. “I know it was you.”
“Did you see me shoot them?” I challenge.
“No, but—”
“You saw my car, but you didn’t see what happened. Everything else… all the decisions you made after that were based on an assumption. Your assumption was wrong.”
“I’m not wrong.” Her lip quivers. “You put the scarf in the desk to taunt me. It still has her blood on it.”
I brush away her tears with my thumbs and smooth the hair away from her face. She is so fucking beautiful. I remember when she looked at me like I was her hero. Now, I’m the enemy, and it feels like a betrayal. A hot knife in my back. I don’t know how to make her understand.
“Do you think I took enjoyment in what happened to your friend?” I ask her. “Is that really your opinion of me?”
She hesitates, her brows pinching together in confusion. It only lasts a moment, but that uncertainty is there. She just isn’t willing to admit it.
“Do you want to know what I think, Katya?” I graze the length of her arm with my palm. “I think you continue to tell yourself this story so you can hate me. So you can feel better about what you did.”
“What I did?” She glares up at me. “Are you seriously trying to tell me I’m the one in the wrong here?”
“You ran from me without waiting for an explanation. You took my child. And for four goddamn years, you left me to wonder if you were safe.”
Her eyes cloud with emotions, too many to recognize. She still wants to keep her secrets, but Kat will come to understand there can be no more lies between us.
“You said you were done with me,” she reminds me. “That I’d never see you again.”
“I came for you,” I tell her. “I came to protect you.”
“Or to kill me,” she supplies.
“Don’t you think if that’s what I wanted, it would already be done?”
She doesn’t answer, and the room falls silent. The truth is, she isn’t going to trust me. But her trust is irrelevant right now. Perhaps it is time to show my hand.
“Let me tell you how this is going to go.” I stand and drag the phone from my pocket when it signals another text. Vasily is losing his fucking patience as far as I’m concerned. It’s a problem I will need to contend with sooner rather than later.
“That drive you have stored on your computer at school?” I stuff my phone in my pocket and return my attention to Kat. “It’s going to disappear. Tonight.”
She blinks, her features pinching with frustration as she realizes the only source of protection she had against me is worthless now.
“It’s time to cut the bullshit,” I continue. “We’re going to have an earnest discussion about your past. I want to hear it from your lips. The truth. No more secrets. Keep in mind I already know a great deal about you, so if you’re thinking about lying to me, you may want to consider that.”
“Why does my past matter?” she bites back.
“Because I want to know you.”
My words shatter the anger in her eyes, but only for a second.
“Lev, this is crazy. You can’t just come in here and tell me what to do. That’s not how life works.”
“I live in a different world, sweetheart. And now, you do too.”
“What does that mean?” she demands.
“It means we have a child together, and if you think for one second you’re taking him away from me now, you’re delusional.”
“So, what then?” Her voice rises. “You’re just going to keep me chained to the bed and demand I do whatever you say? Is that it?”
Her attitude makes my cock twitch, and despite the seriousness of the conversation, my lip is already tilting up into a smirk. “I don’t see a problem with that idea.”
“This isn’t a joke,” she hisses. “I have a job. Responsibilities. Josh has school and his friends…”
“Your job doesn’t matter anymore. I’m here to take care of you now. I’m going to take care of both of you. Josh will have everything he needs and more.”
“Are you trying to tell me…?” She stumbles over the words. “Do you think you’re going to live with us?”
“Well, I sure as fuck can’t let you out of my sight, now can I?” I narrow my eyes at her. “You’d run the first chance you got, and then I’d have to track you down and do this all over again. As much fun as I’ve had hunting you, this game has grown tiresome, Kat. You’re caught. That’s it. It’s time to accept it.”