Page 146 of Coerced Queen

“I love you,” I say, the words coming out all wrong, angry, because my chest is too fucking tight to speak.

Her smile is even sadder than those mesmerizing eyes are.“Don’t do this.Please.If nothing else, I deserve your honesty.”

“I am being fucking honest.”

“No, Sav.You were honest in the Jacuzzi.You’ve been honest with me from the start.I simply chose not to listen.”

“No,” I say again as if the word alone can stop her.“That ship has sailed.You made your choice.”I point at the floor.“You’re staying right here.This is your place.”

“I’ll always be there for you when you need me.You can count on me anytime.”Her expression is serene, as if she’s already made peace with her decision.“You’ll be fine.”

Her gentle words are meant to be soothing, convincing, when I know deep down that nothing can be further from the truth.

“Anya, I beg you.Do you want me to go down on my knees?”

She holds up a hand, her voice close to breaking.“Don’t make this harder than it is.”

With that, she turns around and walks from the room, taking everything I care about in this world with her.

ChapterForty-Four

Anya

Nicole shows up a short while later, carrying a doctor’s case onto the backyard terrace where I’m overseeing the dismantling of the gazebo.The rental company doesn’t really need my assistance.My help is just an excuse to escape a conversation I don’t want to have with Saverio.I said what I had to.So did he.Only, he said his part a long time ago.There’s nothing left to discuss.

“Hey,” she says, touching my arm.

She looks snazzy in a fitted, long-sleeved halter neck top and sexy cargo pants.

I smile.“Hi.”

“How are you feeling?”she asks with a sympathetic light in her baby-blue eyes.

“Not great.You?”

“Much better after a greasy breakfast.”

I shiver at the sound of that.

“Still nauseous?”she asks.

“The mention of your breakfast almost had me vomiting again.”

“I’ve got something that will help.”She tilts her head toward the house.“Study?”

Sav may be there, and I’m not ready to face him.“Let’s go to the bedroom.”

“How’s Claire?”she asks as I lead her back into the house.“Did Sav tell you the good news?”

I stop, my heart thrumming in my chest.“The tests?”

“There are traces of a mild sedative in Claire’s blood but nothing serious.”

Relief sweeps through me.I place a hand over my heart.“Oh thank God.I was so worried.”

She frowns.“Didn’t Sav tell you?”

Continuing toward the staircase, I avert my gaze.“We, um, haven’t had much time to talk yet.A detective came around.He left not long ago.”

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