Page 13 of Truth (Wicked Empire 2)

“No. No, thank you,” I said.

I finished quickly and left the restaurant, knowing I had lingered too long.

I’d thought about that day many times since I’d left, and I thought I knew why.

My father’s betrayal still cut me to the core, but I’d made my choice earlier, had made it when Keenan died.

And that was why I’d run.

Before, I’d thought I’d known myself. Knew what I was capable of.

And what I wasn’t.

Davit had changed all of that.

Had shown me things about myself that I didn’t want to know.

Had shown me things that made it impossible for me to trust myself or what I would do.

So I’d had no choice but to run. For myself, and even more for my baby.

Before dinner, I’d planned to do some light exercise in the hotel gym and then take a swim in the pool. But I suddenly felt exhausted.

I showered and immediately went to bed, fell into a fitful sleep.

Keenan?

I blinked, not sure what I was seeing. I felt like I was floating, but I looked at him and had no doubt that he was Keenan.

And he was alive.

He smiled at me, the expression one that I remembered so well, the smile that had made me fall in love.

“Amy,” he said, his voice soft.

“You’re—”

“Right here. Right here and perfectly fine,” he said.

I stared at him, gaping.

He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me, and then he started to squeeze.

“Don’t be upset,” he said.

“Keenan?” I said, struggling to get out of his grip.

But the harder I struggled, the tighter his hold got.

“Where are you trying to go? You wouldn’t want to leave me, would you?”

“I…”

I wanted to speak, but couldn’t make words come out of my mouth.

He squeezed me tighter, and then tighter, so tight that I didn’t feel like I could take a breath.

“Come on, Amy, why would you be afraid of me?” he said, his voice morphing into one that was nearly monstrous.

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