Page 53 of When Sinners Fall
She’s fidgeting, so I wait for more.
“Is that all of it?” she murmurs.
“No, but I don’t want you to question or challenge me on the rest either.”
She looks toward me. “Why?”
“Because what you already know should be enough for you to understand why I’m the way I am. You don’t need to know the rest. And I am done with explanations today. I'm only doing this to make you see it like I do, so you'll behave.”
Silence. We both lull in it for a while. Separately. Two feet of space between us. No touching, no matter how much I want to. I’ll wait until she makes a move. I have to, because until she does, until she shows me she’s all in with the truth on the line, we’re nothing. And much as I’d like to force that, I’m not forcing a damn thing with her like I did last night before she’s ready to accept that. What’s the point? She’ll run again, and I’ll get fucking savage again, and then we’re back to square one and not where I need us to be.
“You hurt me yesterday. You frightened me. I didn't like it, Dante.”
“Yeah, I know.” Doesn't mean it won't happen again, though. “Think hard on it because that's what love means to me. I'll do anything I can to make sure you understand it, and everything I need to to keep you safe whether you like it or not. You understand?”
She looks at me, eyes wide and mouth open. “Did you just say love?”
“Yes, Wren. Love.”
She looks away and stares off into the distance, occasionally taking glances back at me. Guess it's not the kind of roses declaration she's used to. Yeah, well, that isn't me nor anything to do with me. Another thing she’ll need to get used to.
“I think I'd like to go home now,” she says, showing me a glimpse of a smile. “If that's okay?”
I nod and stand, happy enough to oblige her anything she wants for the time being. She slips her hand into mine to get up, looks at it there in my grip and slowly pulls it out.
Yeah, she’s not ready to accept anything yet.
She's still coming back to mine, though.
Nothing’s changed on that front.
CHAPTER TWENTY
WREN
He’s a maniac.
But maybe I always knew that.
I scrub my hands over my face as he drives us back. My mind feels like it’s going to spontaneously combust with all the facets of information he’s levelled at me. Some of it broke my heart – to see just how dark it’s gotten for the boy I knew.
I didn’t think I could take anymore, which is why I asked to go home, but now I’m worried because what home will he take me to? Although, I know. He wouldn’t admit everything he just has, kidnap me on my way to work because I dared to walk out, and then just drop me on my doorstep.
The vibrations of my phone start up again. God, if I’ve still got a job after all of this, it will be a miracle. I silence it and think about the next part of his speech to wrap my head around. At least it seems he’s finished with the talking. I mean, what else is left to say? Although, I’m going to be very careful what I wish for in the future.
I look down and twist my hands into knots.
Dante Cortez isn’t a good man.
The words run over in my head, but they don’t feel right, despite how frightened I was yesterday. Everything he’s told me, everything he’s shown these last few days should back up that statement. It should be easy to accept, but it doesn’t sound right at all. Maybe a piece of my heart is already his. Maybe I’m only choosing to see the boy I remember. Although, a bigger piece of the puzzle is what he told me. It's his version of a rational explanation for his behaviour.
He’s doing this for my protection.
For me.
Because that’s the only way he knows.
Those are the sentiments that ring loudest, and I cling to them as if they are the only thing keeping me afloat.
