Page 102 of Darkest Deception

I can’t believe I am here.

Flat ceilings, panels of wooden frames, glass walls that are tinted, grey marble steps leading up to wide double main doors. A balcony sits on the second floor with a glass railing. A faint hint of a bedroom is visible from my position in the clearing in front of the house.

Forest surrounds the whole area perimeter, and the sun setting behind the home is painting a beautiful orange colour while Helia’s house sits tall and dark.

His green Porsche is parked to the left, a black bike right next to it.

I didn’t know he rode a bike too.

Taking careful steps towards the house, my feet softly thump on the marble stairs as I reach the front door.

I ring the bell beside the door with a pounding heart.

Why am I here?

Shaking my head to rid the unnecessary thoughts and questions, I wait patiently.

A lock softly clicks before the door opens.

And there stands Helia.

Black sweatpants ride low on his hips, and he wears an open sweatshirt with nothing under it. His tattoos are on display, and I instantly spot a small crow near his rib, a snake wrapped around an arrow just above his hip bone, and a small spider on the other side of his hip. My eyes trace his extremely sculpted body, every line and bump of his six-pack so clear that I would be able to count them blindly if I were to put my hand on his stomach.

The V-line of his hip leads down into his sweatpants, his jet-black hair falling into his darkened forest eyes.

“Ambrose?” He lifts a brow, stepping aside and letting me walk into his home.

I open my mouth to answer, to give him an explanation, anything. But nothing comes out.

My throat closes, and I am once again reminded of my past and exactly why I am here.

I turn around, my fingers unclenching, my body slowly relaxing when I look into his eyes.

“I had… nowhere… I didn’t know what—where to go,” I whisper, feeling absolutely helpless.

If I think about it, I truly had no one.

What the fuck am I even doing here in my enemy’s home where he could easily kill me?

Helia tilts his hand, taking a step closer to me, and another, then another until he is right in front of me.

Strengthening my resolve, I wait.

Is he going to kick me out?

Keep me?

What will he do?

“You had nowhere to go?” he says carefully, observing me.

I nod.

“So you came here?”

I nod once more.

Helia doesn’t say anything more. His eyes move to my forehead, to my black zipped-up hoodie with black leggings. I didn’t bother changing. Everything is still covered. Every single scar burns in reminder, but I stand still in front of him.

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