Page 98 of Obsession

“I don’t owe you an apology.”

She leaps to her feet, and I half expect her to smack me upside the head with the cudgel, but I’m quicker than she is. In one quick movement, I’ve swept her off her feet and I’m carrying her back up to the house.

“Put me down! Put me fuckingdown!”

“No. I have to show you something.”

“You can’t show me while I’m on my own two damn feet?”

I don’t say anything for long minutes while I carry her back to the house.

“Violet.”

Sometimes the sound of my voice when I call her name is enough for her to settle down. She sighs, a little of the fight draining out of her. “What?”

“I asked you if you trusted me.”

She nods, again trying to look away. Her face turns away from mine. “Yes.”

“And do you remember what you said to me?”

We’d sat in bed, her curled up on my lap after target practice, a week after we found Skylar. “Do you trust me?” I’d asked her.

She blows out a breath. “I said there’s no one in the world I trust more. But that was before.”

“Before what?” We’ve almost reached the top of the hill. The bright beam of yellow light from the kitchen casts a welcoming glow on the path before me.

“Before I… knew you would take so long.”

I almost laugh at that. I would, if she wasn’t so damn serious.

“Do you trust me now?”

She thinks before she speaks, but it doesn’t disappoint me. I like that she only speaks the truth. It gives strength and merit to her words.

“I do.”

I wasn’t ready to show her anything. I wanted more information before I let her in, because I don’t want to give her false hope. But it’s time.

We reach the back door. I settle her to the ground and take her by the hand.

“Then follow me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Violet

Damnright he should’ve talked to me.

He’s got to go and play the damntrustcard on me.

No fair.

Of course I trust him. There’s no one in the world I trust more than him, but I’m not a patient girl. I’ve never even pretended to be any different than I am.

I don’t trust people easily, but when you’ve been through what Cain and I have together… things are different.

I knew it the first time I looked into his eyes after he’d killed a man. There was a stark honesty and fearlessness I’d never seen in another human.

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