Page 109 of Enthrall
“Someone hurt you,” I said. “They did this to you.”
“Mia.” He peered up at me through his goggles. “I’m made this way.” He nodded to himself. “What happened to me came along after I became established in this lifestyle.”
“What happened?”
“Life. The fuck you up royally, kind. Coming here and being with Cameron saved me.”
“He wants you to think that.”
“You know what Cameron taught me?” He shifted to better look at me. “The most important lesson a man can learn.”
“Love?”
“Pain. Learn to harness it and you’ll possess true power. That’s the only way to truly be in this world.”
“What about love?”
“Love is vulnerability. Love destroys. Love devours. Love is the lie we tell ourselves long enough to stay with someone until we procreate.”
“I don’t believe that.” I stepped forward, my chest heaving. “Please take off those things.”
“You’re my secretary. Go type me up a letter or do whatever it is you do.”
“It’s seven o’clock on a Sunday morning.” I peered at the garden. “What about last night?”
“What about it?”
My shoulders slumped and I felt even more miserable.
Richard frowned at me. “Only one person has ever earned the privilege of knowing me.”
“Cameron?” My voice cracked with emotion.
“What the hell is Lara Croft doing now?” He waved the controller. “Even cyber women are annoying.”
“That’s why you like to beat women?”
He snapped his head round to look at me. “Never. I’ve never done anything like that to a woman.”
“Then what is it you do to them?”
“I make just enough of a crack in their psyche for love to find its way through.” He dropped the controller.
“You deserve that too.”
“I’m a lost cause.”
“I don’t believe that.”
He stared straight ahead. “I lied when I told you I have a black hole here.” He rested his hand on his heart.
I waited for him to continue, scared of his words threatening never to reach me or perhaps it was the fact they would that tore me up.
“There is nothing here.” He held my gaze. “I haven’t felt an emotion in six years.” He rested his head back. “Now does that sound like the kind of man you want to be with?”
Unsteady on my feet, I made my way to the front door, trying to remember where I’d left my keys. There came a sinking feeling when I remembered I’d left my car at the manor. I was stranded.
Next to where Richard left his car keys sat a stack of mail and right on top of the unopened envelopes was one from Cameron. His Venice Beach address was written in the top left hand corner. With shaking hands, I fumbled with the straps of my shoes and grabbed the keys to the Rubicon.
