Page 81 of Dissension

Reluctantly, Kara steps backward, allowing him within her home for what she hopes is the final time.

With ease, he commands the space, walking around her kitchen as if he belongs there. After a moment, he continues saying his piece. “Gale is preparing your final paperwork. I suppose I don’t need to remind you of the contracts you signed under my employment? Or the fact that I can have you found, wherever you are?”

The fact that he doesn’t even say it with any menace is what makes it even more horrifying. He’s assured of his victory no matter the outcome. None of it matters to Dieter Bittinger. His perfect rich life keeps moving on, as if she never stepped into it.

…and she can’t even fully step out of it. There is no stepping out of his life or his center of gravity. He has his fingers in all the right pies and men buried deep in his pockets. There is no convicting him. There is no turning him in for crimes. He isimmuneand he’s reminding her of that fact.

She nods her head in understanding. Hating the futility of it all, Kara says bitterly, “You don’t deserve this. Living without consequences. You deserveworse.”

“So, this is a morality thing, is it?Disappointing. I had hoped you were made of stiffer stuff, that you would be strong enough to weather this. But I’m afraid such is life.” His mouth quirks as he looks her over. “Fine. Go back to your mundane life with a mediocre paycheck. You best focus on the monsters you can stop, chickadee. You’ll be happier that way.I promise.”

Her eyes shut briefly in pain. “Don’t. Don’t call me that anymore.”

He drifts past her, brushing against her side like a cat as he utters, “I will call you whatever I want.”

Kara’s mouth twists and she squeezes her eyes shut. There’s nothing she can do, there are no cards she can play.

“You know, I’ve heard Nick and dear Claire called it off,” Dieter continues on sweetly, with a hint of mocking. “Do you think he’ll be there to pick up the pieces of your fucked up life? You’ve made this mess all your own.”

Kara won’t allow herself to hope his words are true. “You’re the one who messed up my life, not me.”

“I did nothing of the sort. I gave you a splendid opportunity.” Amusement vanishes from his features. “You decided to ruin it.”

“I am not you,” Kara says, shaking her head, backing away from him. “I can’t ignore the suffering of others and pretend it isn’t there. Especially not when it istied to the man I’m supporting.” Her eyes prick with unshed tears and she wrinkles her nose, looking away. “I wish you weren’t what youare. I wish I didn’t know.”

He reaches out to cup her cheek, but Kara flinches away from him. A bitter grin touches his lips. “So, there is no convincing you to stay on, is there? None at all? More money, a better retention fee-”

She shakes her head. “My conscience isn’t for sale, Dieter.”

For a moment, he’s quiet, just assessing her face. He stands there, reading all the pain in her eyes, and knows she won’t back down. That’s what he always liked about her, after all.

“You’ll have to tell me someday if you fix him.” He runs a hand through his hair, looking at himself in the mirror briefly. “You can tell me all about it. I’m a good sport, you know that.” A strange look crosses his features. “But, I don’t think he can be fixed-”

“I know he can be, if he wants it. The same way I can be.”I hope.

“You aren’t broken,” Dieter says calmly with that annoying self-assured way of his. Effortless and so utterly authentic. “You don’t need to be fixed.”

It hurts to look at him. So much of her wanted him to bereal. To have the way he made her feel be something better than what it was.

“I won’t call you. Wewon’tbe talking again. I’ll forget all about you.” The words feel like sharp rocks leaving her mouth as she speaks. She’llneverbe able to forget him. He’s burned into her bones.

There’s barely a flicker in his gaze and a part of her wishes she could rip off his mask and see inside of him. Only, there is no seeing within, there is only what he allows and when he allows it, simply to draw prey in.

A part of her wonders if this is what it feels like to be in love and to lose it all. She doesn’t want to let him go, but her humanity demands that she does. Nick is a man broken and twisted by those who failed him. Dieter knows right from wrong and simplydoesn’t care.

Her conscience can wrap itself around Nick…but it cannot do the same for Dieter.

Stepping up to her, Dieter walks carefully into her space. He looks down at her slightly before he speaks with a certain hint of confidence glinting in his eyes. “Goodbye, chickadee.” His nose brushes hers and she forgets to flinch away.

She should have flinched; she should have shown him how he disgusts her-

His voice is soft, like a hidden dream. “Remember this if you change your mind; I’llalwaystake you back.”

Before she can formulate a thought, he’s sauntering away, waving his hand dismissively over his shoulder as he steps out her front door, leaving her.

He’s there and then he’s gone, leaving her broken even though he told her shewasn’t.

Chapter 30

---