“The other night. After...” I swallowed hard. “When I told you I didn’t mean it. That the words just slipped out.” My throat tightened, but I forced the confession out anyway. “That was a lie. I meant every word.”
A faint smirk ghosted across his lips as he tugged on a piece of my hair. “I know.”
“And you’re not completely freaked out?”
“I’d be more freaked out if you weren’t.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “You’re lucky you’re in pain right now.”
He chuckled, low and softly, and I swear my heart forgot how to beat.
I moved the laptops and notes off the bed, tossing the covers back for him. Once he was settled, I crawled in beside him. He immediately wrapped his arms around me despite the fresh stitches, pulling me so close our breaths synced. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you,” I whispered, pressing my forehead to his shoulder. “I can’t do this without you.”
His arms squeezed around me as he rested his chin on top of my head. “You won’t have to. I’m not going to leave you alone. You’llnever be alone again. You don’t just have me. You have a family, little raven.” His hand slid up the back of my neck, fingers twining gently in my hair.
My breath hitched because, for the first time in my life, I believed him.
24
KAYLOR
Imight not get another opportunity like this. There weren’t many where Kreed had his guard down. He fell fast and hard into sleep, dropping deeper than I’d ever witnessed him go, shoulders finally slack against the pillows, jaw relaxed for the first time in days, tension melting away by exhaustion and blood loss. It was so rare to see him truly at rest.
I told myself I’d take just one more minute. One more stolen handful of peace before the rest of reality inevitably crawled back into my life, but peace didn’t last long in the Corvo house. I’d learned that lesson quickly. I hadn’t spoken more than a few words to Donovan since I arrived back at his house, but despite loathing the thought of being in his presence, I had to do this. Not for just myself, but for Kreed. Next time, he might not get so lucky, and the possibility of losing him was unfathomable.
I pushed myself up from the bed and slipped out of the room but not before glancing one last time over my shoulder to make sure Kreed hadn’t moved. Reluctantly, I padded down the long hallway. The house was a sleepwalker’s maze at this hour, soft light leaking from under closed doors. The storm outside still shook and howledagainst the windows, but the patter of rain was softening. My chest thudded so hard I could feel my pulse in my throat as I reached the first floor. I swallowed when I reached Donovan’s study.
The door was cracked. Cigar smoke curled out through the opening, the smell overwhelmingly sentimental. If I closed my eyes, I might be able to delude myself into thinking it was my father sitting behind the door instead of the man who fucked my life up.
I chewed on my lip, my heart in my throat. Taking a deep breath, I lifted my hand.I can do this. I have to do this.
Before I could knock, Donovan’s deep, velvety voice filtered from inside his study. “Come in.”
I pushed at the door.
Donovan sat enthroned behind his massive mahogany desk, one shirt cuff unbuttoned and rolled to reveal a forearm, the gold of his rings catching and reflecting the dimmed lamplight. Papers were arranged in obsessively neat stacks across the desk’s surface. A single crystal glass of liquor was within easy reach of his right hand.
I should have turned immediately and run the other direction, back to the safety of Kreed’s room. Instead, I stepped fully inside, pulling my shoulders back and trying desperately to fold my face into a calm, determined expression rather than terrified.
“I’ve been wondering when you would seek me out. Take a seat.” He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. “It’s past time you and I talked.”
I remained standing for two reasons. One, I wanted to be looking down at him. And two, I wanted a quick escape where I didn’t have to scramble around furniture. “I didn’t come here to talk about my parents or the past.”
He took a long, deliberately lazy pull from his cigar and let the smoke hang suspended between us like a curtain. “Perhaps it’s best left buried. Ancient history.” He tilted his head fractionally. “What do you need, Miss Steele? You wouldn’t be standing in my study at this hour if it wasn’t critically important.”
My palms were damp with nervous sweat, and I wished I’dthought to throw something on over the shorts and thin T-shirt I wore. Did I owe him a thank you for his part in rescuing me? Fuck it. He didn’t deserve my gratitude. Not after what he did to my parents. I wanted to walk out of this room and pretend I never strolled in, but it wouldn’t solve my problems. “It’s true. I want your help.” He owed me that much.
Intrigue lifted his brows. “Does my son know you’re here?”
“Which one?” I tried to play naïve, but I wasn’t fooling anyone, let alone Donovan Corvo.
“The one you’re in love with. I’m assuming something must have happened for you to find the courage to ask me for help, especially because you know it won’t come free.”
He’s such an arrogant prick. “To answer your question, no, Kreed doesn’t know. And something did happen. He was hurt tonight and nearly could have been killed.”
Donovan’s eyes darkened, but it was the singular change in him. His features and posture all remained unmoved. I’d expected something with more concern, but I should have known better. Donovan didn’t freely give emotion. “What is it you want?”
“I think you know, but for the sake of being transparent so there isn’t any misunderstanding, I want Rusty gone. Permanently. I don’t want to ever see his face again. I don’t want to have to worry about looking over my shoulder. Do you understand what I’m asking?”
