Page 21 of Forbidden Bond

“No. You’re supposed to stop looking at me like you’re worried I’m going to pull out a weapon and hurt you!”

“You want me to trust that you won’t hurt me? You’re a D’Angelo, Topher.”

“I’m not going to defend the crimes my family has committed. They’ve done horrible things, I know that. But you also don’t get to walk around acting like you’re so innocent.”

“Compared to you, I’m probably a saint.”

He lets those words sink in. Then he sighs and runs his hand through his hair. The earlier tension melts, replaced by a comfort I always feel near him.

“What horrible things are running through your mind? What do you think I’ve done?”

“Honestly? Probably nothing.”

He looks a little relieved by that.

“You think that makes you better than them, don’t you?” I ask softly.

His expression is guarded in an instant. “No, I don’t.”

“Liar,” I say, calling him out. “Don’t lie to yourself, Topher. You do think you’re better than them, but you’re not. Just like your brothers, your entire family, the people that work under you, violence is always going to be your gut reaction to everything. You might think you’re not like them, but it’s in your blood. It’s who you are.”

He’s immediately furious. He moves forward and I take a step back, again and again until my back hits the wall. I let out a soft gasp as my eyes widen.

Topher closes in on me, his scent surrounding me, and despite how dangerous this situation feels and how scared I should be, all I can concentrate on is the fluttering in my chest. And the way he’s looking at me right now.

“Stop trying to analyze me. You don’t fucking know me,” he says through gritted teeth.

“You’re angry,” I say on a smirk. “Anger means I’m right.”

Topher chuckles darkly. “You grow some balls with that shiny new degree you got, princess?”

“I just decided to live freely for the first time.”

“And how’s that going for you.”

“It’s… exhilarating.”

Something flashes in his brown eyes at that, but he blinks and it’s gone. And so is he. He moves away, taking a step back and another.

“You told me to stay away from you.”

“I did say that,” I agree, refusing to back down.

His eyes study mine like he’s searching for something. “I’m going to respect those wishes. Goodbye, princess.”

I watch him go, a cold feeling spreading over my chest. “Happy birthday, Topher,” I say under my breath.

Whatever is happening between us, however drawn to him I feel, the smart thing to do would be to stay the hell away. Topher might not be as bad as the rest of his family, but that last name is his and that’s never going to change.

My life is about to be upended by several changes, and I’m going to stand up to my father for the first time. I’m not letting anything get in the way of that.

* * *

My sister massages my shoulders, prepping me like a boxer about to enter the fighting ring.

“You’ve got this, Katherine. You’re like a panther about to pounce on its prey. All you’ve got to do is keep your eyes on the target,” she says encouragingly at my back.

I laugh. “Chill out, Tess. I’m not going to punch Dad.”

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