“I assure you that if I’d wanted to hurt you even for lying to me, which you have been doing since we met, I wouldn’t have held off in doing so. I don’t like toying with my food.”
“Is that supposed to frighten me?” Why was I remaining where I was instead of fighting to get away from him?
“Not at all. You can hold your own, Josette. You’ve needed time to try and trust me. I certainly didn’t provide you with much reason to do so.”
His words and admittance couldn’t have shocked me any more than they had. When I knew he was finished, folding the washcloth and placing it on the coffee table, I felt as if I remained in suspended animation.
He sat back on the couch on the far end, even propping his feet on the table. He’d left his shirt on the floor and acted as if he was completely comfortable. He remained there, even grabbing the remote and finding some other movie.
I finally shifted positions, sitting with my legs curled under me.
“Trust is very difficult for me,” I said quietly.
He took another sip of his drink. “I can understand as I feel the same way. Trust is earned in my world. Once it’s broken, I never look back.”
“Are you suggesting I broke your trust?”
He finally turned his head. “Have you?”
“Not intentionally. At least I don’t think so.” I rubbed my eyes, hating that a single tear slipped past my lashes. Why was I crying? I’d known in my gut for years at some point I’d be forced to face the reality of my past. Just not like this. Or maybe not with him. “Here’s the crazy thing. I do trust you.”
“Then talk to me, Josette. Help me understand why you seem to know more about what’s happening that you’re willing to share.”
“I don’t know what’s happening with some Mexican Cartel or the reason someone stole merchandise from you or even why you were attacked.”
“But you might know one of the players involved.”
Sighing, I couldn’t handle lying to him any longer. “I don’t know how it’s possible.”
“Why don’t you allow me to see if I can put the pieces together?” he asked, gently tugging on my chin. There was no way he was going to let me out of this room without confiding in him. I could feel the distinct vibrations his body was giving off. Concern and anger while I felt fear and uncertainty. “Talk to me. What secret are you keeping?”
“You just don’t understand.”
“Then help me.”
I’d fought for so long to remain strong, able to pretend for lengths of time that there wasn’t a bomb ticking somewhere, waiting for me to make a mistake. I’d managed to claw my way into a new life, but one strange encounter with the sexiest man alive had altered the future for good.
That had to be karma interfering.
But I needed to confide in someone who wouldn’t automatically judge what I’d been through, or the lengths taken and decisions made.
“I’m not the person you think I am. I’m not even the person I used to be.” I took a deep breath after the admittance.
“Then who are you?”
“A woman running from her past. And I think that girl has been found. Because of me, I think you almost lost your life. What I can’t figure out is why I might be of any importance. And no, it’s not about me being used as a weakness. I think whatever is going on is much bigger.”
The admittance was difficult.
The reality was even worse.
There could be no continued denial that the Brotherhood had found me. Or maybe it was dumb luck. I was different both inside and out, but that didn’t mean that their methods weren’t more sophisticated than mine. They could hunt down anyone they wanted.
Sinclair reached over me, tugging the robe I’d worn into his hands, his eyes never leaving mine as he placed the soft material around my shoulders. While I fought to slip my arms through the sleeves, he retrieved my wine.
Funny how my fingers were almost numb, but I took a sip then a gulp. Liquid courage. Wasn’t that what the experts called it? Or perhaps just a bunch of drunks needing to justify their drinking habits.
I sat back, immediately reaching for Indiana. The pup grounded me and I needed all the grounding I could get at this point.
