“What do you think about this Maksim?” Zel asks walking over to us so that we can speak without being overheard by the guards.
Maksim places one hand over his chest and rubs his chin with the other. “I’ve always known that Dominique hated Corbyn. I should’ve known when his name appeared on that order it was something like this.”
“Can we trust him?” I ask. I didn’t care who did or didn’t like Corbyn. I was going to kill him anyway. This just expedited it for me.
“Dominique has always been a man of his word. He does exactly what he says.”
“Good,” Zel says. “Because if he fucks us over, I’ll kill him myself.”
Not long after, Priest walks out of the office. He doesn’t say what they spoke about. He just said that Dominique can be trusted.
Later that night, I walk out of the gym after a long workout. Lately, I spend hours down here at night until I’m sure the rest of the house is down for the night. I shower, and then camp outside of Summer’s door.
However, tonight, when I step out of the gym, I’m greeted by Maksim. He leans against the opposite wall, his arms folded over his chest.
“We need to talk.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “About what?”
“Summer.”
I freeze, my body going rigid.
“You should cut off his tongue and stuff it down his throat,”the demon says.“He wants her for himself.”
After the last talk I had with my brother about Summer, I didn’t expect to have another one. He assured me he had nothing but brotherly love for her.
“Your concern with Summer is starting to rub me wrong.”
“And you questioning my intentions is doing the same,” he replies.
We stare at each other for a long moment. I have to fight the voice in my head to not kill my brother and leave his corpse at Summer’s door.
“What do you want, Maksim?”
“Are you sleeping with Alicia?”
All the earlier anger fades away. Confusion has my brows nearly touching. “What? No.”
He watches me for a moment before dropping his arms down by his side. “Then maybe you want to make that clear to the mother of your child.” He turns and walks away without anything else to say.
Does Summer truly think I want anyone else but her? Has she questioned this? I forgo a shower and walk up the stairs taking them two at a time. This time when I get to her door, I don’t pretend as if the locked barrier deters me. Over the door sill is the generic bedroom door key. Priest has one over all the doors. I use the key to unlock the door and step into the room.
It’s dark and quiet. Underneath the mound of covers is a slumbering Summer. Walking over to the bed, I look down at her. The only light is the moonlight streaming through the blinds from the two windows. I stare down at her sleeping form. Her silk bonnet covers her braids. Her mouth is parted slightly. The dusting of freckles that scatter over her nose draws my attention.
She is the most beautiful being I have ever seen. How could she ever think I wanted anyone other than her.
“She doubts you because you failed her. Slit her throat so she can no longer question you,”the demon cackles in my head.
As quickly as I entered, I back out of the room. Placing space between us. If Summer has to believe I am interested in Alicia in order to keep her distance from me, then that is what I will allow her to believe. I will do anything to keep her safe, even if I am the one she needs to stay safe from.
chapter Twenty
Boils Over
Priest
It’s been three days since my private talk with Dominique.