Page 39 of Cruel Promise

His stare is intense and long and makes me breathless. “Yes, I suppose there is.”

Chapter

Six

AVA

Nikolai keeps stealing glances at me on the drive home.

It seems I really did surprise him. Honestly, I surprised myself. I, too, thought I would’ve been long gone by now, but Rosemary needed my help, and I knew in my gut I had to get her to the hospital. She went out of her way to save me from those men. Without her, who knows what would’ve happened?

Well, Nikolai probably would’ve happened.

He had his guards following me without me even knowing. That fact sends a shiver down my spine. I knew Nikolai was powerful, but this is the first time I finally understand what that means. I will probably never be free of him.

But I have to keep trying.

My mom would be so disappointed in me if I didn’t continue to fight. She fought my father for years and, for a brief moment, won. But she lost to him in the end. I don’t want to lose myself to Nikolai. I think deep down, it would be so easy to do that.

“If Rosemary hadn’t helped me,” I say, “what would have happened to those men who were harassing me? You said you had your guards following me. Why didn’t they step in?”

He sighs deeply, his hands clenching the steering wheel. “Because I told them not to approach you and just observe.”

Fear settles in my stomach. “So, if those men had kidnapped me, would your guards have let them?”

“No. No, they would’ve gotten involved. It seems Rosemary stepped in to save the day before they could help you.” He shakes his head, a small smile on his lips. “An old woman saving the day. I’ve seen a lot in my life, but I’ve never seen that.”

“You’d be amazed at what women could do.”

He slants his eyes at me. “I guess so.”

I hesitate to ask, but I need to know. “Nikolai … if you’d shown up when those men were harassing me, what would you have done?”

He keeps his eyes straight ahead as he answers. “They wouldn’t be here today.”

“You … you would have killed them?” I whisper. I’m asking because I need to know what kind of man I’m married to. Ihaveto know.

“I would have,” he answers without a hint of shame in his voice.

And now I know what kind of man I’m married to. A truly dangerous one.

Nikolai doesn’t leave my side until we’re back in my bedroom. Once again, he doesn’t take me to his, and I wonder if we’ll ever share a bedroom. That’s the last thing I want because that wouldmean I’ve giving in to him. I have to stay strong against Nikolai. It’s the only way to survive any of this.

“You are to remain in here the rest of the night,” he orders.

“I know. You don’t want me running again.”

He cups my face, and the act is more gentle than I would’ve expected from him. “I don’t want you running at all. I want youhere, Ava. With me.”

“Then why do you keep distance between us?” I’m not sure why I’m asking. It’s not like I want to get to know Nikolai.

At least … I don’tthinkI want to get to know him. But deep down, maybe I do.

He lets go of my face. “You ask a lot of questions.”

“I haven’t asked them all.”

“What kind of questions do you have?”

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