Page 77 of Dark Truths

"For what?"

Leaning back, I cup her face, staring into her beautiful face, entranced by her honey eyes like a bee. “My name is not Dimitri Volkov. It’s Special Agent Dimitri Clark of the FBI.”

29

Gabriella

“Gabriella!” Dimitri shouts, but I’m already through the front door and rushing outside. “Stop!”

I don’t know where I’m going, but anywhere is better than here right now. The door to the cabin swings open and then slams shut behind me. I can feel him following after me. He’s always had this kind of gravity about him that draws me in, and now I know why.He was trained to be that way. Trained to be charismatic enough to gain someone’s trust. Just like he did to me. Everything I know about him is a lie.

“Leave me alone, Dimitri!” I yell. “You fucking lied to me.”

“I never lied to you,” he answers.

Anger surges through me, and I stop on a dime, swinging around to face him. He’s so close, he has to stop suddenly or risk running into me. There’s a visible struggle on his face as he wrestles with the urge to reach out for me before he ultimately decides against it.

“You’re lying right now,” I hiss at him. “Lying about not lying!”

“Gabriella, please come back inside so I can explain. It’s not what you think.”

“So you’re not an FBI agent?”

He sighs. “No, that bit is true.”

I forcefully push him back, watching the shock register on his face when he loses his balance and stumbles backwards.

“Leave me alone,” I order before spinning back around on my heel and resuming my walk to nowhere.?

“Gabriella, where are you going to go?” he asks.?

“Away from you.”

“There’s nothing but woods for miles.”

“Then I guess I’m walking for miles.”

“It’s too dangerous,” he continues. “There are snakes and gators and bears out there. Not to mention it’s dark.”

“All of that sounds better than staying here with you.”Not really, but I just need to think without him lingering nearby, distracting me.

“Gabriella, do not go into those woods.”

“What are you going to do, agent? Arrest me?”

“Don’t tempt me,” he growls back.

My mind replays the memory of when we used handcuffs one night. I remember thinking they looked a little too authentic to be a bedroom prop. Instead of anger, the memory sends a rush of excitement through my body. God, what is wrong with me?

I throw him one last glance before I dart into the dark forest and ignore his shout of protest. He’s right—it’s absolutely dangerous to be running through the woods at night without proper clothing or protection with a sprained wrist while also pregnant. Let’s not forget that. The reminder is enough for me to slow down to a brisk walk, holding my good arm out as a pathetic excuse for a barrier as I stomp my way through the underbrush. The movement and sounds should be enough to keep anythingdangerous from me. Except Dimitri. I can hear him following behind me and he’s gaining ground.

“I said leave me alone, Dimitri.”

“Do you even know where you’re going?”

“Away from you.” If I stay going in this direction, I should eventually reach the road we turned off of. After that, I’ll walk to the closest house and call my brothers. And after that? Well…I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

“Gabriella, enough of this. You could hurt your injured arm even more or something worse might happen.”

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