Page 40 of Dark Torment

JONATHAN

Olivia is skittish right now,and it bothers me.

I know why she’s feeling that way, and I completely understand it, but I don’t like it. I can tell she feels the draw between us. It’s in her body language and how she subtly leans toward me when she isn’t even conscious of it.

It shows when her breath hitches, and her nipples harden whenever I’m around. Her body and soul are already connected to me. It’s her mind and heart that have to catch up.

“Can you tell me what’s going on now?” she asks quietly, and I nod.

A feeling of wariness quickly filling me at the idea of telling her everything. I wanted more time to make her fall in love with me before telling her I was a killer.

The second hit last night proved that I’m out of time in that regard. She needs to know everything about why she’s in danger, and that means telling her how I know.

I told her I wasn’t a good man, but that I would always be good to her. Now I just hope she remembers that when this is all over with.

“Of course.” I nod, standing to guide her into the living room where she’ll be more comfortable. “Before I get into the specifics, I need to ask you something.”

She watches me curiously as Sadie curls up on the couch beside her, before lowering her head onto Olivia’s lap. The sight makes me smile.

“Okay, what is it?” she asks, her voice soft and gentle.

She’s no longer showcasing the fear she had when I first found her wandering, but I know that’s about to change.

“Do you remember the last time I was in the shop?” I ask her, and she nods.

“Speaking of… who’s running it right now? I need to be there!” she says, panicking.

“I promise to take you into work every day once we’ve had the discussion we’re about to have. I would never put your business in jeopardy.”

She breathes out a sigh of relief and it warms my heart to know that she trusts me, and takes me at my word.

Why wouldn’t she, right? I’m a lawyer and passed the screening to adopt the dog she loves.

I love that innocence about her, and I hope to shield her from my world as much as possible at the end of it all.

“Do you remember what I said to you? About me?” I coax her to remember, and she nods.

“You—you told me you weren’t a good person.” I see her shiver a little, and rush to assure her.

“But that I would always be good to you,” I remind her, and she whimpers a little.

“Why? What makes you a bad person? And what exempts me from ever seeing that side of you?” she asks, her voice full of doubt that threatens to break me apart.

“Because I need you, Olivia. You’re safe with me because I would kill anyone who even tried to harm you,” I declare, angry at the assholes I’ve already killed in her honour. They deserved nothing less than what they got, and Ben will end up the same when I get the information I need from him.

She gasps, fear radiating off her, and I want to burn the world down to prove to her she has no reason to be afraid of me.

“You never have to fear me, Olivia. Not ever,” I promise, and she looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“You said kill as if it was just another thing for you. Like you meant it, Jonathan,” she whispers, and I nod.

“I told you I wasn’t a good man, Olivia. You wanted me to answer your questions about why you’re in danger?” I ask, knowing I need to get everything on the table so we can start working through this.

“Please,” she whimpers, and I nod before reaching for my laptop on the coffee table.

Once I’ve pulled up the contract, I take a deep breath. “You need to understand that I stand by my promise. You never have to fear me, even after you read over everything I’m about to show you.” I give her a pointed look and wait for her to give her agreement.

I know it won’t be that easy for her, but it’s the best I can do. It will take time for her to trust me, no matter what I say.

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