“You told me you wouldn’t lie to me, yet you’ve killed people before. Does that mean if you found a traitor in your midst, you wouldn’t touch them?”
The look he threw me was affirmation of what I already knew. “Yes, I do what’s necessary to protect my family. There’s no time for the game of semantics.”
“What are you trying to do? To find out if I’m working with the people who tried to kill you? Is this about the Russians my brother worked for? Or are you merely trying to hurt me by forcing me to relive the worst experiences and moments of my life? Is that how you get your kicks and giggles, by destroying others?”
“Is that what you think? That I want to hurt you in any way?”
“I don’t know what else to think.” I couldn’t look him in the eyes, mine were so filled with tears. I couldn’t breathe from the heavy weight, the burden of knowing if I’d allowed him to stay…
“I’m trying to keep you alive, Fleur. If you’d asked your brother to stay at your house last night, you’d also be dead.”
“Why? If he’s working…” I swallowed another gasp. “If he… was working for this mafia family, then why was he killed? And what does it have to do with me? Or with you? You’re the reason this happened. I know I’m right.”
He concentrated on the rearview mirror before darting a glance to both side mirrors. “In the Bratva, nothing else matters but the organization. Family is never to interfere. If what you said is true and he was trying to warn you, he broke an oath made to the Bratva. The penalty is death.”
His words were the harsh, ugly reality of a life I’d always known existed but had never wanted a part of. “Why was he trying to warn me? Was this all about you? Keeping you out of my life.”
“That depends on when he contacted you the first time.”
“I don’t remember!” Exasperation. Exhaustion. Despair. Panic. Every one of them had settled in.
“We’ll talk when you’ve calmed down.”
“I’m never going to calm down. And I’ll never trust you.” I rubbed my eyes, fighting to grasp control. I furiously wiped my eyes while images of Danny’s face filtered into my mind.
Doubling over, the knots in my stomach throbbed, the pain agonizing. I tossed my phone on the dashboard, wincing from a sharp pain.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. When the only answer I could provide was a strangled gasp, he gripped my knee. “What is happening?”
“Pull… over.” I’d never experienced nausea so severe in my life. My entire life was crashing down on me and my stomach chose now to revolt. “Please.”
“Shit. Hold on.”
At least we were already on back roads. I gripped the edge of the dashboard, trying to pay attention to where we were. “There’s a park… On the left.”
He made a turn, flying down a gravel path and skidding into a small empty parking lot. I barely tumbled out the door, racing for the trees before my stomach revolted. Only there was nothing in my stomach other than coffee. Remaining doubled over, I mostly dry heaved.
I felt the warmth of his fingers across the side of my neck while he pulled and kept hair from my face. His presence should terrify me, but every aspect of my feelings for the man was skewed, so much so I had no idea what to think any longer.
Now my chest was pounding, the ache ripping at every muscle and tendon. In turn, he rubbed my back, his touch so soothing my body’s betrayal was even more horrifying.
I relaxed from his touch, taking comfort in how he seemed to care.
Seconds later, he handed me a clean cloth, which I was grateful for.
“Are you feeling any better?” His voice was no longer as gruff.
“No! I’ll neverfeelbetter.” Deciding to stand upright was a big mistake. I toppled over, pitching straight into his arms.
“Whoa. I’ve got you.”
Why did he exude such intense warmth? Why did my body react with such passion?
“You still think I’m trying to hurt you. Fleur, but you’re wrong.”
Fighting him was useless. “I already told you. I’m never wrong.”
His sigh was heavy, full of annoyance. Too bad. “You’re an empath. Right? What is that girl inside telling you?”
