I stroke her gently, marveling at the perfection I have in my hands.
I kneel—and pull her into my lap. “You’re my woman, Lillyana. Never doubt that.”
Chapter 53
“I’m crazy about you,” he repeats over and over, holding me in his arms—and for a moment, I think I must be dreaming.
Who is this girl who gave herself so shamelessly to this sinner?
I don’t even seem like the same Lillyana who arrived in Boston just over a month ago.
I gave myself to him—and I’m not afraid.
My whole body is exhausted, and I need the shelter Amos gives me.
He stands up with me in his arms, kissing my hair as he tests the doors until he finds my bedroom, instead of asking which one it is.
I could tell him, but the feeling of being cared for and protected in his arms is too good, so I let him do what he loves: asserting his dominance in every detail.
He sets me on the edge of the sink and starts filling the bathtub. My dress is down around my waist, my breasts exposed, but I’m not embarrassed. With Amos, everything feels natural.
I’m his—and I don’t fight that. I know I’ll never feel this way with anyone else.
“Don’t ever act like I don’t matter again,” I say, staring at my hands. He stands in front of me. “I’ve fallen in love with you, and I’m not asking for anything in return, but if you’re going to treat me like I’m nothing, then end it first. If you convince me I don’t mean more to you than the others, I won’t come back. I’ll miss you terribly, but you have my word, Amos: I won’t forgive you.”
“That won’t happen. I want you, Lilly.”
“I love you. I don’t care about the future. You’re worth every second—even if all we ever have is today. But be honest with me. Always.”
“You want honesty?”
“Always.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be alive tomorrow. I won’t stop doing what I do, Lilly, because it’s who I am. But there’s no time limit for us anymore. I want a future. I want plans. I can’t tell you how long we’ll have, because no timeline would ever be enough. A day, a year, a lifetime—it would never be enough.”
“Remember what I told you about promises, Amos? Don’t say anything that isn’t true.”
“I’m crazy about you. Completely crazy about you.”
“Then why did you answer me the way you did before?”
He lifts me to my feet, pulling my dress and panties down—then undresses himself, steps into the bath, and pulls me in front of him. “I’m not worthy of you. I’m a killer. You want to know what I do? I kill people who hurt the defenseless. AndI don’t feel guilty. I don’t lose sleep after sending some souls straight to hell.”
I turn in his arms, looking at him as I try to process what he’s telling me. “Ethan too?”
“I won’t speak for your brother, Lilly. You’ll have to ask him. But I’m showing you who I am.”
“Why not bring them to justice?”
“Because many of the ones I eliminate would find a way to walk free. The system isn’t the same for the rich and the poor. There are loopholes. Some of the evidence—evidence only we have—wouldn’t be admissible in court. So I became judge and executioner.”
For a moment, I stare at him—speechless. Then I ask, “Tell me about the children.”
“They’re sold as sex slaves. Not to ordinary people. To those who can pay top dollar.”
“My God . . . Bruno?” I ask, my eyes filling with tears. I’m growing so attached to him. I’ve already visited him twice since I made that promise.
“You adore him, don’t you?”
