Page 125 of Dmitri

“We have to pretend we don’t know,” I say carefully. “We need to keep acting like it’s business as usual. Give me my cell.”

Dmitri hands it over without question.

Dialing Corrinne, I keep the nervousness hidden in my voice when she answers on the second ring. “Hey, Corrinne, just checking in. I tried calling Addie this morning, but her cell must be dead.”

“Oh yes, she mentioned needing to charge it last night, but I bet she forgot. They’re with Saul on a charter boat right now. If she charged it, she might not have reception where they are. Too far out from mainland.”

“Oh wow!” I taste the fakeness on my tongue like sugary poison. “A charter boat, huh? That sounds fun.”

“It sounds like seasickness waiting to happen to me. I wouldn’t be caught dead on a boat in the ocean.”

“Well now you get to kick back and relax on your own for a while, mama. Good for you.”

“Living the dream. I’m currently staking out my spot on the beach for the day. I plan to read a spicy book, drink some chilled wine, and live my best life till they all come back later this afternoon.”

“I wanna be you when I grow up.”

Corrinne’s laugh is beautiful. “Next time, we’re going to kidnap you and bring you with us. Addie’s so happy here, Dae. Beach life suits her. Bet it would suit you too.”

I think I’m going to throw up. “Sounds like a plan. Hey, thanks for bringing her.”

“Thanks for sharing her. We absolutely adore Addie.”

“Same.”

After we hang up, I dash into the bathroom and shut the door. I can’t feel my cheeks. I’m not even sure if my feet are on the ground. Gripping the counter, I stare at myself in the mirror, nausea swirling in my belly. I feel like I’m in another dimension. I can hear Dmitri in the other room, talking to someone, and I hang onto his voice to keep myself semi-grounded.

“Hey, get me all you can on Kaleb Brent Calloway. And I mean everything, Vault. Address, how many shits he takes in a day, the color of his fucking toothbrush. I want all there is on that cocksucker.”

I sink to the floor.

You wanted the bigger, badder monster, Daelyn. You did this to yourself.

I don’t know what Dmitri is going to do to Kaleb, and it’s terrifying. Betrayal swirls in my heart, infecting me with regret. How can I feel guilty about what I’ve just done? Kaleb deserves this. He’s a bad, bad man.

He’s also the only one who’s stuck by my side all these years.

“It’s you and me forever, babygirl.” I shut my eyes and try to block out Kaleb’s voice. “No one knows me like you do. You’re the only one I trust.” I clamp my hands over my ears, like that’s going to help me not hear him. “See you soon.”

“Daelyn?” Dmitri knocks softly on the door. “Can I come in?”

I’m too scared to tell him no. What if he just busts the door down if I do? That’s what Kaleb would do. No, scratch that. Kaleb wouldn’t even ask permission. He’d just barge in like it’s his right to invade my privacy.

“Listen,” D says from the other side. “For what it’s worth, I’m really proud of you. Speaking out is an incredibly brave thing to do.”

It’s not brave. It’s suicide. I climb to my feet and somehow make my way to the door and open it. Dmitri stands back a little, his expression guarded but soft.

“I’m a bad person,” I say, letting more tears fall. “I can’t turn off my guilt for this.”

It’s going to eat me alive.

“Then feel it, Firefly.” He hugs me tight and kisses the topof my head. “Feel every emotion that bubbles up. It’s okay.”

It’snotokay.

“I don’t know why I ever loved him.” I need to get all this shit out of me so I can hopefully think straight again. “I don’t even know what love is. But… he was there for me when everyone else only hurt me. He was there when I needed someone.”

Kaleb loves me, he just doesn’t show it like other people. He’s incapable of being soft because his life has always been hard.

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