Page 97 of About Love and Revenge

A conflict unfolds in me, but I opt for the truth. “Never.”

I don't know if it's my expression, but she takes two steps back. “Was the fire that killed your parents accidental?”

“No.”

Her mouth opens and closes again, and I can see her mind putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

“My father . . . Did he have anything to do with it?”

I feel my jaw clench. “Our conversation is over.”

She's not talking to me.

Yes, I know our last interaction didn't end well, but I couldn't lie.

How could I say that I won't stop until I kill her father?

Despite what she has told me, family is family. I know this better than anyone.

Talking to Elina about my past made me remember everything, including what my rescuer said on the day he died. I really want to read her the letter he left me, but I’ll never break my vow to him.

Given what Elina revealed earlier today, I don't question for a second that Leandros is responsible for more deaths than I thought, although my investigations haven’t revealed any direct link between him and the murders that took place in Greece.

It's all just rumors.

After what the islander told me about the missing girls and the police being on his payroll, I’m sure he will never be brought to justice in the usual way.

I've been thinking a lot about the young girls who never came back to see their families again. A quick search was all it took to guess what happened to them.

They were all in high school, and in theory it was really an excellent opportunity to win a scholarship with the future possibility of entering a university.

But of course, that never happened. The daughter of the islander who came to see me, for example, has never been seen anywhere else.

I've sent Grigori to take care of it himself, but I don't have muchhope of finding her. Three years is too long for a girl to survive sex slavery, and I think that's what he wanted them for. To sell them.

Every time I think I can't hate Leandros anymore, I discover another one of his sins. It's as if fate guides me along the path of justice, not allowing me to deviate from my mission.

A voice in my head says that I must end things with Elina before I hurt her further. I have no hope that she will accept the situation when I finally finish my reckoning with her father.

Despite all these certainties, however, I can't seem to let go of her. No, actually, I don'twantto get away from her.

I want more and more of everything we have. Far beyond what I had planned in the beginning.

I'm sitting in front of the fireplace wondering if I should go look for her. We've never been this far apart with both of us at home at the same time, and it feels so fucking uncomfortable, as if I'm missing some piece of me.

Me, who has always been a loner.

I hear footsteps and I know she's back. The bodyguards would never enter here without being called. I stare at the entrance of the room, not knowing what to expect, but as soon as I see her standing still, my first instinct is to go after her.

Long ago, I would have waited for her to make her way to me, but I haven't touched her for over an hour, so to hell with pride. Not even knowing if I'm welcome, I pick her up and kiss the mouth I long for every day.

“I don't wanna fight,” she says, pulling back a little and cupping my face with both hands.

I try to give her something in return. “I'll never lie to you. Don't ask me what I can't answer.”

“Why can't you answer?”

“Because if I tell you the truth, you'll leave.” Before she can say anything else, I add: “Don't you think we've dealt with plenty of bad things today? Enough for now. I have an idea.”

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