Page 47 of Penalty to the Heart

“If you’re curious as to why I’m not married, the simple answer is… I used to be. Once. But not anymore.”

“Interesting,” he muses, getting up from his seat again, just so he has a better vantage point to stare deep into my eyes. “See? That wasn’t so hard, now was it, Doc? You can ask me your question now.”

His penetrating gaze is so unnerving that I have to check my notes to get back on track.

“Why didn’t it feel good after the fight?” I ask once I’ve pinpointed where I am.

“I haven’t the foggiest.” He shrugs. “One second, I’m running on pure adrenaline, and the next, I’m…”

“Numb?” I finish for him, his expression turning once again lethal when I get it right.

“My turn,” he says, leaning forward in such a way that our knees almost touch.

My spine goes ramrod straight as I try to push away, only to have Caleb invade my safe space by grabbing the arms of my chair and pulling me in closer until his face is but a hairsbreadth from mine.

“How did it end? Your marriage?”

I stare deep into his green eyes, not liking where this interrogation is going. Not wanting to go into detail, I say the only thing I can, “He could no longer stay with me.”

“Ah.” Caleb smiles. “You made it that hard for him, did you?”

“It’s my turn to ask the questions,” I snap.

“Nah. Whatever question you have in mind will be pointless. You already figured out that I’m an unfeeling, shallow bastard. Why keep digging when the truth is right out there? I don’t feel a goddamn thing. Not anymore.”

“Because of your brother?”

“You must have been an only child. You are fucking terrible at games.” He tsks, his peppermint breath fanning my face.

“Correct. I am an only child. Now tell me, did you start feeling that numbness after the car accident or before?”

“I haven’t asked you a question yet,” he replies coldly.

“You did. You asked me if I was an only child,” I counter, frustrated.

“No, Doc, I simply made an observation,” he explains, leaning in even closer. “Not a question.”

I thin my lips , hating that he’s got the advantage now.

“So what happened? What could you have possibly done to make your man leave? Was he bored, like I am? Is that it? Did you bore him with all your little mind games and incessant questioning? I can see how that would be tiresome. I can see why he left.” He tilts his head to the side with a mocking grin.

Rage—unlike any I’ve ever experienced before—starts coursing through my veins, forcing me to remain silent at the risk of losing my temper. But I underestimated Caleb’s determination of wanting to get under my skin. Rather than interpreting my silence as a signal to stop this twisted game of his, he takes it as an incentive to continue to poke at the scab of a wound that has not yet fully healed.

“Did he get so tired of you always needing to know his every thought and mood that he found himself a little side piece, just so he could get some fucking peace and quiet? Is that what happened? Did he cheat on you with a younger model? Someone to fuck some fun into his life?”

“Get out,” I whisper under my breath.

“I’m sorry? I didn’t quite catch that, Doc,” he taunts, placing a hand around his ear.

“I said get out!” I shout, pushing him away from me and springing to my feet.

He stands up and stares at me from the briefest moment, his goading smile stretching on his lips but never fully reaching his eyes.

“Good talk, Doc. So glad we’ve finally gotten to know each other.”

“Get out,” I seethe, pointing to the door.

“Gladly.”

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