Page 174 of Kiss the Villain

“Did you lie to me?” His voice is so quiet, I can barely hear it.

“What?”

Surely Mom Jina wouldn’t have talked to him already. She said she’d give me time.

“Are you married?”

Fuck.

How did he know? My moms wouldn’t have said anything, right…?

Summoning my calmest tone, I say, “It’s not?—”

“Yes or no,” he cuts me off, his voice turning deeper, more guttural.

“Yes.”

“Am I a side hole? Are you cheating on her with me?”

“No, fuck. She’s dead. She died two years ago.” I run a hand through my hair. “How did you know about the marriage?”

Who the fuck gave him this information? It’s surely not the PI.

“What was her name?” He completely ignores my question. His voice is calm, unperturbed, and it’s creeping me the fuck out.

Gareth is violent when he’s upset. If he’s this deadly calm, then it’s worse than being upset.

“Let’s meet and talk about this.” I grab my briefcase. “I’m coming home now.”

There’s a long slashing sound echoing from his side. “I asked for her name.”

“Cassandra,” I speak low as I rush through the students and professors, ignoring the blur of greetings. “What are you doing, Gareth? What’s the sound on your end?”

“Cassandra.” The slashing stops as he repeats the name in a gruff, almost choked voice. “Did she go by Cass? Cassie?”

“Sandra.” I hop into the car and put him on speaker, not wanting to leave him alone.

I’m actually scared he’ll do something. I don’t give a fuck if he hurts others, but himself…

My heart thunders in my chest so loudly, I don’t hear the car’s engine kicking into gear.

“Sandra,” he repeats it, his voice so monotone now, it’s lifeless, like that first time I met him. When he looked like a monster. “What did you call her during sex?”

“Jesus Christ, why is that important?”

“Was it baby?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“I don’t think you need to know that.”

“I do. Tell me.”

“Just her name, okay. Sandy or something.”

“Did you tell her she was beautiful, too?”

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