Page 20 of Wanted

Where is the girl code? Chicks before dicks, doesn’t she know?

After a few more minutes of discussion with Jackson, I finally agreed to go to a hotel that he has booked. They’ve won this time. Lionel has bought a few hours of tranquility, but my husband needs to prepare and get ready for war. Tomorrow I’ll return with my batteries recharged and my armor in place.

Be wary, Lionel Kral, because you’ve awakened the warrior who’s been asleep inside me.

Chapter Eight

No matter how elegant this hotel room is, it still feels like a prison.

I don’t care that I was laying on seven hundred thread count sheets or that they were imported from Egypt, as the little label says. I couldn’t get a wink of sleep.

The same image kept replaying in my mind over and over again.

The way Lionel looked at me like he didn’t know me, while speaking so harshly.

When the sun begins to appear on the horizon, it hits me directly on the face, last night I left the curtains open. The room faces east, toward the hills. I get up to go to the small balcony, the view is beautiful. I wish I were in the mood to enjoy it, but I can’t with everything going on.

Right now everything seems gray, devoid of color.

Devoid of sense.

I thought that when Lionel woke up, we would be able to talk about the situation until it was sorted. He would tell me his reasons for lying, and we would start walking in a new direction, but first things first, I’m still left with questions I need answers to.

What is he hiding?

If it’s about the money, I can sign one of those complicated agreements rich and famous people do before getting married, in our case, it would be after, but I think it’s still possible.

I’m a goal digger, not a gold digger.

All I want is for the man I fell in love with to come back to me. Was he even real?

A cool breeze begins to blow, and I close my eyes, leaning on the railing, asking the force that saved him to help me solve this mystery.

Dad, don’t leave me alone, I beg in a whisper, my words are like a small prayer. I need you, you are with the one who sees everything, please help me.

The wind lifts the long strands of my hair on my back. I feel almost embraced by his spirit, comforted by his presence.

Dad.

And before I know it, warm tears are rolling down my cheeks like a river I can’t contain.

I want to scream, I want to run, I want to curse this situation.

However, I don’t do any of that.

I’m stronger than this chaos.

I didn’t come here to let myself be defeated. If Lionel wants me to leave, then I’ll return home—to the place where I belong.

Where I’m wanted.

But first, he will have to give me answers, that’s the price I intend to charge him for his freedom. I’m not going to keep a man by my side who doesn’t want me, one who doesn’t really love me.

But he’s going to have to pay for his freedom. They say the truth shall set you free, don’t they?

That’s my price.

I wipe my cheeks with the backs of my hands, telling myself enough, no more tears for him. He doesn’t deserve them.

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