Page 87 of Dare To Live

It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to get up and follow her when she flees from the table. Miles must have seen the battle on my face because he stands.

“I’ll go.”

He pats Ivan’s shoulder as he passes him. I lean back on my chair and take a sip of bourbon.

“You’re not what I expected.”

My eyes lift to meet Ivan’s. “How so?”

“You must know of the whispers surrounding the artist, Sin. The reclusive artist who doesn’t go out in public because of the hideous way he looks.”

I snort. “Last I checked, I wasn’t Quasimodo. I’ve also been present at a few shows.”

“Ahh yes, but you’ve never stepped forward and acknowledged who you are.” Ivan taps the stem of his wine glass. “Why do you keep your identity a secret?”

“There’s really nothing nefarious about it. I just like to be left alone.”

“Arabella said you live in the middle of a forest, surrounded by bears.”

“I’d hardly say I’m surrounded by bears, but there are bears in the forest, yeah. We generally leave each other alone.”

“To hear her talk, the bears have more reason to be scared of you than you of them.”

“Depending on her mood, I’m responsible for every bad thing that happens.”

“I was very surprised when we set up your show at my gallery in L.A. Seeing her and Miles in your paintings was unexpected.”

“I don’t broadcast their names.”

“From the way she reacted when I showed them to her, you didn’t tell them either.”

My fingers clench on the glass. “You showed her?” I think back to what she said about the showing she attended. She mentioned seeing a picture of her. I just didn’t connect the dots.

“Of course. I had fifteen paintings by a famous artist with images of the man I live with in them, albeit a younger version, yet still recognizable and his best friend. Since neither of them mentioned having any knowledge of Sin or his art, I was curious.”

“That must have come as a shock to them both.”

“A little, yes.” His lips curl at one corner. “But it also forced Miles to open up about his past a little more. I knew something dark had happened. He was resistant to even the idea of a relationship when we first met. He still doesn’t say a lot, but I know he lost someone he loved.”

“Kellan.” Saying his name out loud feels strange.

“Is he the other boy in the images?”

I nod. “He was the second student who died. The reason Churchill Bradley closed.” Or one of the reasons, anyway.

“Who was the first?”

There’s a distinct lack of humor in the laugh that escapes me. “My other best friend, Zoey.” I take a large swallow of bourbon and lift my hand to attract the roving server’s attention. “Another bourbon, please. Make it a double.”

“Both the kids who died were close to you?”

I nod. “Didn’t your research tell you that? They were murdered by someone who had become hyper-obsessed with me, although no one, least of all me, realized it at the time.”

“Evan Ridley.” Miles says from behind me.” Of all the people I would have pinned as a psychopath, it wasn’t him.” He slips back into his seat.

“Where’s Ari?”

“Just freshening up. She’ll be back in a minute.”

---