Page 120 of Cruel Honor

“I could stop you, you know,” Dimitri threatens.

Juno scoffs. “You’d have to kill me, and you’re not going to do that. That’s how much I love my daughter. I’m willing to die for her.”

I stare at Juno in shock. Does she really mean it? I want to believe so.

“I’m willing to die for her,” Dimitri says.

“Then you understand. My daughter is coming back with me.” She turns me toward the hallway, but I give Dimitri one last look.

It looks like his heart is breaking.

I never even knew Dimitri had the kind of heart that could break.

The sight of my old house makes me feel slightly sick to the stomach. It has too many memories of my dad in it. Too many memories of Juno expecting me to dote on her at every second.

“I’m glad you’re home,” she says once we get inside. “Now, you can start on dinner.” She smiles and pats my cheek. “Great.” Then she heads to the living room and takes a seat in her favorite chair.

I stand there, stunned. “Juno, did you only guilt trip me back here so I could make dinner for you?”

“I didn’t guilt trip you, Evelyn. I missed you. Speaking the truth is not guilt tripping anyone.

“No,” I say the word before I can stop it.

Juno looks at me for a long time. “No?”

“No. I’m not going to make dinner for you. You wanted me back. You should make dinner for me.”

She’s deadly silent for so long that I think she didn’t hear me. Then she laughs. “Why would I make you dinner? It’s your job to make me dinner. Now, get to it.” She turns on the TV, effectively ending the conversation.

But I don’t want it to end.

I walk right over to her and rip the remote out of her hands.

“Hey!”

“No,” I repeat. “You wanted me back here because you said you missed me. But I don’t think you missed me at all. I think Dimitri was right. You just want me to be your maid like I used to be. I never said anything before because I didn’t think I had any other choice in life. But Dimitri showed me that I do. So, if you’re not going to respect me, Juno, I’m going back to him. This was a mistake coming here.”

“You seriously think that husband of yours actually cares about you? He’s just trying to control you!”

“No!” I shout, making Juno jerk back. I’ve never yelled at her before. “I know who my husband is. I know, despite his flaws, that he has goodness within him. I know he’ll make sure I’m safe over anybody. So, I’m going back to him. If you come back to me, Juno, and try to guilt trip me again, I’ll ignore you.”

“It’s funny. You didn’t say any of this to me when your husband was around. Why is that? Is it because he makes you weak? You belong here, with me, Evelyn. So, go into the kitchen and make me dinner. I wouldn’t want to have to get the scissors.”

I touch my hair. I feel like I’m transported back to the first time Juno ever threatened to cut my hair. It was just a week after my dad died.

Then I remember—I have a husband now I can lean on for help. I don’t have to stay here and listen to Juno’s threats any longer.

“I’m going,” I tell her. “You don’t need me. Don’t come back.”

“But I will, and you’ll just return home with me. You wouldn’t want that brute of a husband to hurt me. You couldn’t stand the guilt.”

Tatiana’s face flashes through my mind.

No. I’m past that. I killed Dima for god’s sake. I don’t have to listen to my stepmom.

“You know the sad part is,” I say. “For just a moment, I believed you. Back at the hotel, I really thought you missed me. I really thought you wanted to keep me safe. But you just want to use me like you’ve always used me. I’m tired of it. I have a new life now, and I’m going back to it.”

“To a life on the run? To a life that’s going to get cut short when that Abram man finds you? Because that’s what’s going to happen, Evelyn. But if you just stay here and go back to the way things were, then we can all be happy again.”

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