Page 127 of Cruel Promise

“Because the more you see of me, the more you’ll hate. It happens to everyone who gets close to me. The only reason Edmund and the others stay is because I pay them. But you have no obligation to stay. You could leave and never come back. And I don’t want that. Not one fucking bit.”

Tears hit my eyes for a reason I don’t even understand. “Why do you care for me? I need to know.”

“You’re kind and smart and just plaingood. You make me want to be a better man. No one has ever made me feel that way before.”

His honesty sends chills down my body. This is what I’ve been waiting for with him. For Nikolai to open up and allow me in.

“I’ll be here, Nik. I’m not going anywhere.” And I mean it with every fiber of my being.

He lets out a loud breath. “I want to believe you.”

“Then believe me.”

He grabs my face and kisses me deeply. It lingers. There’s a strange amount of pain in it that makes my tears come.

“I’ve never made a woman cry from a kiss before,” he says as he pulls back.

“I just want to make this work.”

“So do I.”

My school day passes the same. Same teachers, same classes, similar lectures, I love it. The routine, it calms me.

So, when I see my father sitting on a bench outside one of my lecture buildings, I know my day will not remain the same.

I know my day will turn to ruin again.

“What do you want?” I snap.

“I want to talk. There’s something I need to tell you.”

“You don’t have anything I would want to hear. We’re done.” I start to walk past him, but then he says something that stops me dead in my tracks.

“Your mother is alive.”

For just a moment, I let myself believe him. I let the weight of his words soak into me as I remember my mom’s face. I remember the safety she made me feel. I remember it all.

But it’s only for a moment.

I turn back to him. “She’s dead. I saw her die. Someone did something to her body.”

“No, Ava.” He whips his head back and forth. “She’s alive.”

“How? How could she be alive?”

“I’m not sure. But she is. I can take you to her.”

I don’t believe him. I can’t. Because the alternative is too painful.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Please, Ava. I know how much you want to see her again. I can take you to her.”

“If she were really alive, she would have found me herself. She wouldn’t send you to come and get me.”

“You’re right. She didn’t send me. But she’s alive, and I can take you to her. My guess is she doesn’t know about you and Nikolai Petrov. She probably doesn’t even know where to start looking for you. But I know where she is. I can take you to her. Please.” He holds his hand out to me.

“Why should I believe you? You’ve deceived and betrayed me too many times.”

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