Page 55 of Cruel Existence

“That’s it?” Her voice was too low for anyone else to hear.

“I’m sorry. You deserve better. I owe you that.” I felt her nails dig into my skin. She could tell I was trying to break away. I had to go. I had to get away from her before I did something reckless.

“But I know why you did it now. I know why you lied to me. That changes things. I don’t believe you’re the dangerous man they tell me you are.”

“You should.”

She had no idea what the truth was. She still didn’t know her father murdered Ivan. Things had spun so far out of her comprehension, that it would devastate her to know.

“Only part of that afternoon was a lie.” I smoothed her hair from her face. Our lips almost touching. “What I said at the end was the lie. What came before that…” My chest tightened. I’d dreamed about her body ever since I’d tasted it. “That was real.” I hated myself for the next words out of my lips. “Ty moya.”

She gasped. Her eyes met mine.

“Then stay.”

“I can’t.” Anthony would honk the horn any second. My lips burned for the softness of her mouth. Maybe it wasn’t fair that I kissed her roughly. She was a magnetic pull that I hadn’t been able to contest since the night we met at the pool house.

Her fingers feathered through my hair. She moaned. Our tongues tangled. I wanted to drown in her. I thought aboutdragging her into Marguerite’s office, but even I had limits to my cruelty. She was safer the farther I was away from her.

“Before I go.” I reached into my pocket. “I had this made for you.”

I handed her the velvet box. She cracked the lid and stared at the necklace. Her expression was both confused and excited. She held it close to the candle to read the inscription on the back of the pendant.

“It saysdusha moya”

I pressed my lips together. It was like someone slipped a knife blade between my ribs. “To remember.” She fastened the pearl, encrusted with diamonds around her neck.

“And this is for the oysters?” she asked. Her voice cracked.

“Yes, so you don’t forget the first.”

“Luka… I know this means you didn’t mean…”

I kissed her cheek. “Shh.”

And then I stood up and walked out of the bar. I heard her call my name again, but I kept moving. Anthony was waiting outside for me.

“Sir, we’re going to be cutting it close. You could miss your flight.” He was leaning against the hood of the car.

“Just fucking drive,” I ordered.

Twenty-Three

Amara

“Again.” My father nodded. He should have been a ballet instructor. His voice was terse and the way he tapped the table it was as if he was rapping a walking cane on the barre. Whack. Tap. Whack. Tap. It was an analogy he would have hated, no matter how accurate it was.

“We’ve been doing this for hours.” I winced as soon as I realized how whiny the statement was. He didn’t tolerate objections. Especially, not in the form of weakness. I was his daughter, which meant I had to work twice as hard as if I had been his son. I had to prove my worthiness. Demonstrate my critical thinking. Outsmart the other men in the room. Still be beautiful, feminine, and graceful. I could have nothing but wins on the scoreboard. I couldn’t afford to screw up even once. It was never going to be simple to gain his trust.

Tammy, the housekeeper, had just entered my father’s office with a tray for lunch. I was supposed to be gratefulfor the salad. Yet, another part of the burden no son would have to deal with. I had to fit in the tiniest of cocktail dresses.

“Afraid your tan is fading?” His eyes narrowed. I hated that scowl as much as I hated the contempt in his voice. I didn’t have time to lounge by the pool anymore. All I did was study reports and map out strategies. The latest, of course, was how best to use the tunnels beneath the Vieux Carre to our benefit.

Before I could snap at the insult, he began coughing.

“Papa, are you okay?” I was slow to ask. He hated it whenever I did.

He waved me off. “Fine. Fine. Just need more water.” We both searched for a pitcher and glasses. Tammy had brought food without beverages. He continued to struggle with the cough. His face was turning red.

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