Page 88 of Lord of Vice

I pulled her against me once again, pressing my hand against the back of her head. And for the first time in my life, I said a silent prayer.

That I wouldn’t need to end my pretty Penny’s life.

CHAPTER 26

Penny

Little lamb to a bloody slaughter.

That’s all I’d thought about since he asked me about Sheila.

And when he learned what Sylvester had done. I don’t why I hadn’t told him other than I’d fought to put it behind me. I closed my eyes briefly, scratching the scars on one arm, jerking my hand away a minute later. No, I refused to succumb to the old me. I was much stronger now.

Still, what in the hell was going on? Why had he acted as if he couldn’t trust me yet wanted to slaughter the men who’d threatened me? My emotions were like a boomerang, and it was jarring.

Kraven had barely touched Remington the way he had just hours before, acting as if he did, he’d fall into some crazy kind of trap I’d set. Shivering, I wasn’t certain what to think any longer. My pup remained inside the house, dutifully peering out one of theglass panes nearest to the spot he could see me. I’d never seen him look so forlorn.

But I had a feeling it matched the expression I continued to wear.

Trust.

I’d meant what I said in that it was earned and not just given. I’d started to trust Kraven yet he’d thrown a monkey wrench into our evolving relationship.

Whatever he’d been told, whatever atrocities he’d learned had changed things between us. There was a wall he’d built around himself and I knew why because I was the master of doing the same. He was trying to protect himself from horrors and possible truths.

Whoever the men were, they’d tried to convince him that I was his enemy. I wasn’t certain how to dispel the theory, but I knew instinctively my life depended on it.

It had been his suggestion that we go outside, enjoying the afternoon sun. I’d changed into a swimsuit and he’d made drinks, the man also putting on swim trunks. It shocked me that he even owned a pair.

I was almost certain he’d added poison to the drink and that horrified me. I was falling hard for the man, so much so that my heart ached for him.

And for us.

But I told myself he wouldn’t do that. If he wanted me dead, he’d put a bullet into my brain.

Not that the thought was any more comforting.

He remained on the lounge chair while I was in the water, drink in hand, doing what I could to relax, but the tension shared was deplorable. I had no clue what to say or what condolences he would believe. To learn your parents had been murdered after so much time had obviously been a horrific blow. What was going on in his dangerous world?

It was tough to see his eyes behind the dark shades he was wearing but I could tell he was watching me intently. When he jerked up, the sound of his phone buzzing in my ears, I cringed and turned away.

My heart was racing, my mind spinning about the reason he was questioning everything. I couldn’t imagine his world and in truth, I wasn’t certain if I wanted to be a part of it. What was I thinking? He was rich, powerful, and indifferent to love. He should enter into an arranged marriage like so many of the alpha romance novels I’d read. The woman could bear his children so his legacy could continue and he wouldn’t need to give a shit about anything.

Love?

Ha!

I doubted he knew the meaning of the word.

Only the inner voice reminded me that I’d experienced that with the way he’d acted with his brother. Was it possible the man I… adored was still hiding so much of his personality? And why did I care at this point?

He was speaking in Russian, which I’d come to accept was his way of doing business. But it pissed me off. Was I that untrustworthy?

I was angry, so much so I almost tossed the glass of champagne he’d insisted I have against a piece of furniture. At least I had the common sense not to break the glass around the pool, placing it on the side instead. Christ. I rolled my eyes and shifted my way through the water toward the set of concrete stairs, doing everything in my power to ignore the seductive draw to the man.

Why was I so into the dude when he obviously couldn’t care less about anyone?

Yet I continued to tingle all over, my pulse so pronounced I pressed my fingers against my neck as I climbed from the water. I did what I could to ignore his scent and the fact I loved studying his chiseled features, grabbing a towel and fortifying myself against his magnetic pull.

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