Page 38 of Dove

Why did that logic make sense?

Because I wanted it to. I wanted to be able to justify my feelings.

“I—I can’t stay with him.” I shook my head, but I didn’t know if I was agreeing with my words or rejecting them. “But I know he won’t let me go.”

Tessa pulled me back onto the couch while her lips twisted as if lost in thought. How could I get Maddox to give up this obsession with me? Because that’s what it was. He might think it was love, but it wasn’t. It was obsession. Dark and twisted. And wrong.

My chest constricted. I wished it was love. I wished I wasn’t so alone. But the one person who loved me had been taken from me. I was alone, and staying with Maddox wouldn’t change that. It would only feed his obsession until he consumed me. Or his world killed me. There would be nothing left.

“He’s obviously very possessive of you.” Tessa mused.

“Yes.” I had an idea of where she was going with this, and it didn’t give me warm and fuzzy feelings.

“If he thought you cheated, he’d probably go crazy. He probably wouldn’t want anything to do with you.”

“Or he’d kill me.” I wished it was an exaggeration, but we both knew it wasn’t.

“Unlikely, he’s too protective for that. Besides, you don’t actually have to cheat.” She continued. “You just need to flirt with someone. Make him think you don’t want him anymore. Bruise his ego. No guy wants a girl who doesn’t want him. Their pride is too soft to handle it.”

“It would work.” My head snapped up at the sound of Tristan’s voice. He stood leaning against the doorframe as he watched us. I wondered how long he’d been standing there without me noticing. My skin crawled, thinking if there were other times he’d watched me without my knowledge.

He rarely came into the house if Maddox wasn’t here, especially after the incident a week ago. In fact, other than Henry, most of the guards avoided me. I didn’t know if it was because they, like Tristan, believed I was just a whore. Or if Maddox had threatened them to stay away. I honestly didn’t care; with the exception of Henry and Sebastian, I didn’t really know any of them.

“Mad is crazy possessive. Especially when it comes to his…women.” The way he paused made me think he wanted to say something besides ‘women’. Tessa narrowed her eyes at him, confirming my thoughts.

Jealousy was a lead weight in my gut. How many women had he been in a relationship with before? I’d foolishly assumed I was the only one. But the way Tristan spoke, it sounded like Maddox had done this often. Dragged woman into his bed. Coerced them. Fucked them. Pretended to love them.

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the burning in my eyes. I wasn’t upset that I was just one of many. It would only make it easier for him to let me go. I’d obviously overestimated his obsession with me. I was only one in a line that would continue when I was gone. I shoved all my feelings aside as I stared at him. I wouldn’t be irrational. I wouldn’t give him any more reason to believe I was a worthless whore.

“What are you doing in here, Tristan?” I asked, ignoring the entire conversation.

He stared at us both for a moment. I could see the lecherous glint as he glanced at Tessa. I narrowed my eyes at him. He was such a pig. He wanted to call me a whore, but he could barely like a woman in the eyes. He probably saw all women like that. As objects rather than people.

Tristan smirked as he took another step into the library. Something about his stance was predatory. It set my teeth on edge and made my heart beat faster. I knew I’d be stupid to underestimate him. He might appear like a horny asshole, but he was calculating.

“I asked what you were doing?” I snapped when he continued to stare at me.

“I don’t answer to you, princess.” He said as he crossed the room to stand directly in front of us. I was forced to tilt my head back to look into his eyes. There were like Maddox’s. Dark. Cold. “I came to collect your friend. Maddox is on his way back.”

“She’s staying.” I said as I slapped my hand down on Tessa’s leg. “Sebastian will drive her home when he gets back with Maddox.”

I didn’t want her to go because I wasn’t sure if Tristan planned to take her home or if he planned to send another of the guards with her, leaving me alone with him. I didn’t want either of us to be by ourselves in his presence.

“Those aren’t the orders.” He reached out to grab her arm, but I shoved him away.

“I might not be your boss, but we both know he listens to me.” I stood from the couch. I was still at least a foot shorter than him, but I would take any advantage I could get. “She stays. Or maybe I’ll tell him how you upset me. We both know what he’d do if he thought you’d hurt me”

I felt the rush of power wash over me as Tristan’s jaw clenched. We both knew I was right. Tristan might not like it, but Maddox did listen to me. Unlike Tristan, he didn’t treat me like a whore. He respected my opinions and feelings.

Tristan smirked down at me, and my insides twisted. He leaned forward until I could feel his breath on my cheek. He smelt like decay and death. “Let me know if you need help with your little plan. Because you’re right princess, you don’t belong here. This world will eat you alive.”

My guts twisted, and then he was gone.

“What an asshole.” Tessa grumbled next to me.

“Yeah.” I said as I collapsed onto the couch beside her.

He was an asshole. Did he truly hate me that much because I was sleeping with his boss? I think it had more to do with his worry that Maddox seemed to lose it where I was involved. If he became too much of a liability, the family would find a way to pull him back in line. But in the meantime, Maddox’s behavior affected them all. I knew Tristan was ambitious; he couldn’t afford for Maddox to lose his position in the family.

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