Page 130 of Covenant

But only one of us has been manipulated.

“Please,” I’m sobbing now, my hands trembling on his shoulders. “Please. Tell me it was one of the others. I dare you. I fuckingdareyou.”

He finally looks me in the eye, and it’s then that my heart shatters. The resignation. “I can’t.”

Two words and the foundation between us collapses.

We came so close. So close to making it. Tonight, I thought I’d finally gotten the truth from Matthias. That we could step forward into a new future, one built on honesty and mutual respect.

But he’s been lying to me about so much more. Not just about this, or about us, but about who he is. What he does. All those nights he showed up bloody, his clothes burning in the fire…all of that. Oh my god.

The Buckinghams are The Firm.Matthiasis The Firm.

“Was that all a lie?” I gesture toward the garden in frustration. “Everything you told me just now? About going to The Firm?”

“No.” He lifts his chin defiantly but there’s a sheen to his eyes that I fucking hate. I’m so pissed at him, but I can’t stand that he’s hurting. “That was all true.”

“But the rest was a lie,” I confirm, needing to know. “The marriage. All of it.”

“It was my way back into your life,” Matthias’s voice breaks, and I flinch. “I couldn’t think of another option.”

“Bullshit,” I whisper, swiping at the tears that are still falling freely. “That’s fuckingbullshit. You’re telling me you couldn’t have found my address? The Firm can fix anything, apparently, so don’t stand there and tell me you didn’t have the resources to find another way.”

Matt’s nostrils flare. “And then what would’ve happened, huh? I’ll tell you what. You would’ve slammed the door in my face. We both know there’s not a fucking chance in hell that you would’ve listened to me.”

“I guess we’ll never know now. You took the choice away from me.” I want to glare at him, but I’m too hurt. I need to retreat before any more damage is done. “I let you in once and ended up heartbroken. I swore I’d never do it again.”

“Wy—” He reaches for me, but I step back. I can’t let him touch me. Not now. I’m barely holding it together as it is.

“Guess that makes me the fool,” I choke out. I can barely make Matthias out through my blurred vision now. “I let you in, against my better judgment, and once again, I end up broken just like before.”

His hand falls to his side.

“It’s so much worse this time,” I say. “I fell in love with you. Iamin love with you. But it’s a version of you that doesn’t exist. I love the Matthias who drives into banana trees. Who pouts when I’m being a brat. Who patiently listens to me talk about gardening.”

“I’m still him,” Matthias’s voice trembles. “That man exists.”

“But so does this one.” I hold up the crumpled paper in my fist. “And I don’t know him. I fell for you, but I didn’t have a say in the matter. Not really. You orchestrated this whole thing. You caught me at my most vulnerable moment and took advantage of it.”

He stares at me silently. It’s like a mask slips over his face, hiding the man I know so far away I’m not sure he’ll ever come back.

“Well, if that’s how you feel,” he says smoothly, heading to his desk. “I guess you should leave.”

My jaw drops as he sits behind his desk, casually picking up a pen and pulling a document toward him. “What?”

“Leave,” he repeats, brow furrowed as his gaze scans over the document. “You’re free of your bargain. No harm will come to you or Jackson.”

“That’s it?” I whisper in disbelief, stepping toward his desk. “That’s all you’ve got to say?”

His piercing gaze meets mine. The coolness is another dagger to my heart. “I think you’ve said enough for both of us. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got a lot to do.”

“What the fuck, Matthias?” I shove the papers in front of him, gratified at how the pen cracks in his hand as they scatter to the floor. “You’re not going to fight for me? For us?”

He hesitates, just a moment before he shakes his head.

“No.” There’s no inflection. No emotion. “Everything you said is correct. I did orchestrate all of this. I knew you were at your lowest, and I made the most of it. And what’s more, I’d do the same again if I could.”

“Fuck you,” I whisper. “Fuck you.”

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