Page 85 of Devil's Claim

Kruz said nothing and didn’t retaliate, but I could feel the electricity increasing, crackling like a live wire between us.

“Protect you as I promised.”

His words were heartfelt. There’d been one too many clues, one too many ideas that I’d ignored. Kruz was right. A part of me had known the truth all along.

“My father had me fired from my teaching job. He wanted me desperate. He wanted no issue with his own grandson, so he paid Malcolm to take a child the man didn’t even want. My God. Oh, my God.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder, and I fell back against him. A single tear slipped past my lashes. I had no idea what to do or how to deal with the emotional rollercoaster.

Only that I wasn’t going to allow my father to derail my life as I’d allowed him to do before. If he was behind the fake relationship and bullshit with my job, the man was going to pay.

“Do you know you’re an angel to a man long considered a devil, a saint to the sinner inside of me?”

I almost laughed hearing his words. “I didn’t know a woman could be a saint.”

“You can be anything you want, Christine. Anything in the world.”

The timbre of his voice was different, the deep baritone crackling with animosity as well as sorrow.

“What time do we leave?” I asked, determined not to shed another single tear. What I had learned from my father was thatyou had to fight fire with fire. I needed a bigger weapon and I knew exactly where to get one.

“Thirty minutes. Bring Maverick with you.”

“You’re certain he’ll be safe?” I took a step away, turning to face him once more.

“He’ll be safe. I promise you.”

I nodded, hoping I could trust him. “Draw up the contract. I’ll agree to stay married to you for two years. If we agree after that period to continue, we’ll make needed changes.”

His eyes opened wide. “Fair enough. I’ll contact my attorney.”

“That will work.” My legs ached as I turned to walk from the room.

How was any of this possible? My life had been mostly a lie.

What was I getting myself into?

Not a marriage of love. But maybe that was okay after all.

“Christine. You asked why I killed Malcolm. It had nothing to do with his threat to me, which he did do.”

“Then what was it?”

“It was because he threatened you. As long as I’m alive, any man who threatens you or Maverick will die a slow and painful death.”

For a crazy, toxic reason, his answer was not only satisfactory.

It thrilled me to death.

CHAPTER 21

“The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” —Oscar Wilde

Christine

The quote was appropriate.

And terrifying.

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