Page 22 of God of War

"I…" I shake my head, my tongue cloven to the roof of my mouth. How am I supposed to answer him? What am I even supposed to say? Sorry, but I think my family just screwed you over again while you had your fingers buried inside me? But please, let's do it again soon?

Hopelessness surges through me as the reality of the situation sinks in. This is an impossible situation of my own making. No matter what I do, I'm betraying someone who matters to me.

I'm betraying my family by being here with Naz, by giving in to the magnetic pull between us. By letting him touch me, shatter me in ways no one else ever has. And I'm betraying Naz by walking away now, by leaving him in the dark about whatever Niall and my father have done this time.

I'm caught between two worlds, two loyalties, and I don't know what to do. How can I possibly choose? How can I turn my back on either one of them?

"Brynna," Naz murmurs, tipping my face up to his with his fingers beneath my chin. "Talk to me,princesa. Let me fix it."

"You can't," I choke, shaking my head miserably as tears well in my eyes. "I'm sorry, Naz. I have to go."

His gaze drifts over my face, seeking some explanation, some answer. But I don't have one. I'm stuck, unable to tell him the truth, but equally incapable of lying to him. If hell exists, I think this is it.

I'm walking a tightrope, caught between duty to my family and desire for this complicated man. And I can't help but wonder if I'm strong enough to keep my balance…or if I'm destined to fall. If we're all destined to fall.

Naz's expression softens as he steps closer, leaning down to brush his lips across my forehead. "Go,cariño, do what you must. But this thing between us doesn't end here, not even close."

I'm not sure if he'll still mean that tomorrow, but I allow myself to lean into him for a moment, breathing him in.

"Be safe," I whisper. It's the only warning I can give him. I don't know if it's enough, but it has to be.

Please, let it be enough.

"Sweet, sweet Brynna," he whispers, his lips brushing my forehead again.

I wrench myself from his arms, my bottom lip quivering. And then I turn and hurry out before I lose the will to do it all.

Chapter Seven

Naz

"Príncipe." Nicolas meets me at the elevator as soon as I step off, his expression grim. "We need to talk."

"Can it wait?" I growl, already striding toward my office. "I've got something to take care of this morning."

All I've been able to think about since Brynna ran off yesterday was the guilty, ashamed look on her face. It's driving me up the goddamn wall. I need to see her again, if only to reassure myself that the feeling of dread clawing through my fucking veins is my own imagination.

I don't know what her brother said to her, but it took every ounce of control I possess not to hunt the bastard down and put my fist through his face last night. She was right there with me, in my arms, her walls crumbling.

With one phone call, he sent them flying back into place. And I'm not entirely sure I'll be able to tumble them again this time. That's how shaken she was by whatever he said.

I know it wasn't just the call that rattled her. It was the fact that he called while I still had my fingers buried in her tight little body. She was still dripping around me, that perfect pussy gripping me like it never wanted to let go. Her sweet little pleas still rang around the shop.

He snatched away what should have been a moment of bliss for her and turned it into one of regret. I want to kill him for that.

But I fucking can't. Because if I do, I lose her for good. The little prick deserves to suffer, but if I make him pay, the only one I really hurt is the one least deserving of the pain. It's a moral quandary to end all moral quandaries.

Because I can almost fucking guarantee the prick is up to something. I knew it as soon as I saw her face. She may have been born in this world the same as I was, but she didn't come equipped for war. Her eyes don't lie. They're expressive windows right to her innocent little soul. And whatever her brother told her had to do with me.

Be safe.

Was she trying to warn me? Telling me the only way she knows how that her fucking family is up to something?

"It can't wait, Nazario."

I pause midstep, glancing over at Nicolas. His lips are compressed in a thin line, his jaw clenched with anger.

Dread washes through me.

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