Page 56 of King of Depravity

“Like you think I’m broken. Like you think…” But I can’t even make myself say the word.

“If I think you’re broken, I think I am too…” A tear slips down her cheek.

I don’t know what she means by broken, but I know she can’t leave me now. And I’m not talking about my emotional needs. Between the Russians, Triston, and the look Mason gave me, Chloe needs to stay with me. If anything happens to her, the entire world will see the depth of my insanity. I will burn the whole fucking thing down. My family. The Kincaids. Vegas. I will reduce it to ash and rubble.

“Chloe.” Her name comes out rough with all the aggression coursing through me and she takes a step back.

“I think I should go back to my place,” she whispers. “We need time?—”

“No,” I growl. “You’re staying with me.”

Her eyes widen as the color drains from her face. “Killian. Don’t scare me.”

“I’m not, sweetheart.” I force myself to relax, though it goes against every instinct. “I’ll sleep in the guest room if that’s what you need. I swear I won’t touch you, but I want you to stay here. Please.”

The word please seems to break through her fear because her brow furrows. “You’re worried about me?”

“Of course, I am.”

“Can you tell me what happened with Preston and when?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Not because I’m hiding the truth from you. But because it involves people beyond me and because you’re safest the less you know.”

She looks to the side, catching her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’ll stay in the guest room.”

I wish I could find the words that would bring us back to last night, when she let me inside her, gave me her virginity.

But I’ll take this. Just knowing she’s safe in my home.

And I’m going to have to figure a way for both of us to get out of this mess. Because I’m comfortable in the shadows. But it’s no place for Chloe to live. She deserves the light.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

Chloe

The guest roomis cold and lonely. I’ve gotten used to the feel of Killian’s body against mine, warm and secure, and I can’t fall asleep. Finally, at some point after one in the morning, I push up from the bed with a sigh.

I’m so angry at him.

And a little scared too. Did he have an altercation with Preston? When did it happen? What did he do?

I’ve always known Killian was dangerous. It rolls off him in waves. I just thought…

I thought he was my monster.

And, I guess, when I really think about it, if he’s out there punishing men who’ve hurt me then he is…

But part of what I’ve been denying is that his violence could turn on me. He scared the shit out of me when we first met and that man is still there, hiding under his new exterior. He’s softened so much, but I remember how he was.

The one who put me over his knee without a care how frightened he made me.

Giving my heart to him would be such a risk, and if I’m honest, I’ve been completely risk-averse all of my adult life.

I push up from the bed, determined to get a glass of water and then try to go to sleep. But the moment I step out in the hall, I find Killian sitting against the wall across from the guest room door.

His eyes meet mine. “You’re awake.”

“Yeah.” I don’t tell him I can’t sleep as I walk past him and out to the kitchen. He gets up and follows.

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