Page 84 of Ruthless Redemption

“I can’t. I don’t have a cell.”

She grins, then swirls toward the jet, shouting over her shoulder, “Then maybe you should’ve checked the duffle I brought here for you.”

16

MATTHEW

Layla climbs into the car.Without a word. Without acknowledging me.

For once, I don’t have the balls to break the silence.

Instead, we remain locked in the calm before the storm as the aircraft approaches the runway, then finally takes off into the overcast sky.

I don’t need to ask if she knows. The shock, anger, and wince of betrayal were written all over her face as she spoke to her sister. What I don’t understand, though, is why she’s still here.

I placed all my bets on her boarding the jet to leave me behind.

I even messaged Bishop to tell him I might not make it back to the house because I planned to follow her, but that fucker is ignoring my theatrics.

I start the ignition, giving her more time to perfect the verbal barrage she’s about to assail me with, and drive from the parking lot.

She keeps her gaze on the sky, her hands in her lap, her shoulders stiff.

Each second of silence eats away at me. Gnaws.

Until she finally says, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“And have you convince me I was wasting my time,amore mio?” I indicate onto the quiet road leading back toward the beach. “No, thanks.”

“You make no sense to me, Matthew. You tell me how you don’t want to return to your old lifestyle, but what exactly do you think will happen when you’re not successful?”

“I have no intention of failing.”

She shakes her head. Slow and steady. “I won’t be guilted into changing my mind, if that’s what you’re thinking. I only stayed because you promised me Emmanuel’s death.”

“I don’t need guilt when you still love me.”

She stiffens. Huffs.

“Have I not proven my loyalty?” I ask. “Have I not shown sincerity? Can’t you see I’d give up everything for you, even a future with freedom, all for the sake of calling you mine?”

“You’ve told me conflicting stories. If you were me, you wouldn’t believe any of it.”

“I’ve shown you every side of me. The good, the bad, the vulgar. The facets are conflicting because that’s who I am.” I clench the steering wheel tighter, my palms sweating. “I’m a cold-blooded killer, Layla. Yet knowing I hurt you has filled me with more guilt than a thousand deaths. I can’t fucking think straight through my want for you.”

“Yet you still get angry at me.”

“I get angry at my obsession with you. At my mindlessness. At my mania.” I press harder against the accelerator, needing to get home to speak to her face to face. “I don’t know how to win you back and it’s destroying me.”

She sucks in a long breath, the exhale shaky.

“Layla, what do I have to do to—”

“Pull over.”

The demand cuts through me, her aggression a bad fucking sign. “I’m not trying to make a scene out of this. I just—”

“I saidpull over.” She reaches for the door handle.

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