Page 25 of The Fall of a Promise

“I’m not going to deny that I might’ve been foolish. I thought we were on the same page.”

“Yeah, but now there’s a hundred-million-dollar bounty out for my head,” he retorts, and my head rears back as if I’ve been struck.

I see the immediate regret in his eyes, but I’m so furious.

“You think it’s my fault.”

It’s not a question.

“Stop talking before you say something you’re going to regret,” he says through gritted teeth.

“What, like you? No, let’s just let it all out while we’re at it!”

“Fine. It’smyfault. I shouldn’t have asked you for anything in the first place.”

“Anything like what, Nico? Like marrying you?”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

I stomp toward the doors. “Thank you for telling me how you really feel. It’s what I asked for, after all,” I yell over my shoulder.

“Anya! Get back here,” he calls to my back.

Storming off in a huff and ignoring him, I run into Liling on my way down to the lobby. I strut past her, knowing she’ll follow.

“Have Tao get the car ready. We’re leaving,” I tell her calmly.

She whips out her phone as we hop into the elevator, where I find Kai waiting at the bottom with my men. Without a word, he trails us as Tao pulls up and rushes out to open the doors.

“Head to my old penthouse, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He speeds off with us piled in.

I’m glad he didn’t question why I didn’t say “home.”

My old penthouse wasn’t far from the Willards’ party, so we arrived in less than twenty minutes. I take my shoes off at the entrance, since my feet are killing me, then head straight for the kitchen.

Kai and Liling whisper something off to the side. They’ve been best friends since they were kids. Tao also grew up with them, but being closer to my age, they aren’t as close. I wonder what my life would’ve been like had I grown with them. They seem as if they’re a tight-knit group. Fiercely loyal.

We circle the kitchen island silently. I’m the first to speak.

I tilt my head. “Tao, let me ask you something.”

“Ma’am.” He dips his head.

“How often do you and Sky argue?” I ask, leaning both elbows on the island.

Barking out a laugh, he snorts, but a whimsical look falls over his face. “All the time, boss.”

“About what?”

Making himself at home, he strolls to the fridge and pulls out a bottle of Soju, then a bag of chips from the counter, along with shot glasses.

“Anything and everything. I breathe too loud, we’re growing apart, I crossed her side of the bed in my sleep.” He tosses a chip in his mouth and continues when I don’t respond. “You and Nico having problems? Is this about that contract?”

“Ugh. No” is my ever so eloquent response.

I feel my cheeks turn pink.

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