Page 25 of Deceitful Promises

“That makes two of us,” I whisper, leaning back, my gaze automatically flitting around to look for the bathroom.

“You’re staying right here with me,” he tells me. “Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to keep playing the game.”

Translation: he won’t ask me to eat anymore.

“What happens now?” I ask with my hands over my belly.

“We finish this and then return to the lodge.”

“How about after, with … Molly?” I almost saidMom, but calling her that feels ridiculous after what happened. How can I think of her as my mom when she wants nothing to do with me?

“I don’t know,” he says gruffly.

“Maybe you should just take me home. We can pretend this never happened. My brothers have both recently gotten married. They’re the happiest they’ve ever been. Now they have to deal with me disappearing.”

“Your brothers are?—”

“My brothers are mybrothers,” I hiss. “So stop putting them down. Stop thinking you know everything.”

His lips contort into a frown, but then he reaches over and places his hand on mine again. This time, he squeezes tightly, almost like he’s trying to tell me he’ll always be here for me. Where do thoughts like that come from? It’s just so silly.

“I’m sorry,” he says.

I gasp. That’s the last thing I expected to hear from him.

“I am,” he goes on. “I don’t know the relationship you have with your brothers.”

“Yet you seem to hate them.”

“They’re criminals,” he says, as if that explains everything.

“They’re good people. They don’t do the nasty, evil things the others do. They actually would rather be poor and have no power than do any of that crap. Believe me.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m being serious. Don’thmmme.”

The second I snatch my hand away, regret tries to scream at me.What the hell are you doing?I have to be strong. When I stand, he does, too, looking down at me like he’s getting ready to grab me. My body tingles in all sorts of ways it shouldn’t at the thought.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

“Ania—”

“I need toreallyuse it. Stop assuming you know what I’m going to do, especially if you think the worst all the time.”

“I’ll need to come with you.”

“How will that look, huh?”

Before he can reply, I march across the diner. The waitress gives me a sideways look, and I almost bark at her. Something stops me, though. It might be because it would be the most over-the-top thing to do. It would only draw attention to me, which is the last thing I need right now, especially if I want my plan to work.

Walking down the hallway, I pick up the pace, dart to the left, and push open the fire door. An alarm immediately blares. I can’t afford to stop and think or worry about all the commotion.

I run onto the street, my heart pounding, not letting myself think. If I let myself think, my instincts will probably try to lead me back to him. I’ll end up running into his arms like some damsel in distress. I refuse to be that person. I can’t live my whole life scared.

Taking a quick turn, I dash down an alleyway. I need to get away from Aiden—even if I don’t want to—and find a phone.

CHAPTER 11

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