Range stood and paced the small space. Roughed his hands over his face.
Trembling from the vehemence of her words, the rumbling rage that had fueled her massive coup of Roud, Kasra watched him stand by the bed. Fingers steepled over his mouth and nose. Apparently, she just ruined what little had changed between them. Made the decision for him: the marriage was not real.
Her vision blurred again. Why was she crying? “I knew it would be too much …” Tears fell and she just did not care anymore. “You are too good for me, though I tried to tell myself different … that someone—that you—” She choked on the words.
The door to their cabin opened. “I’ll be back.” And closed.
She had just laid her heart bare before him and he … left? Shoving up from the table, she turned a circle. Felt a desperation she had not felt in a long time. Dropped onto the bed and sat there feeling an unholy rage, borne of grief … borne of … pain.
Then she threw herself at the door.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Pakistani Reefer, Gulf of Oman
God helphim if he met this Taweel, he was going to kill him. Dismember the sick puke the way he had innocent girls. Range stalked down the passage, heading to the makeshift gym to work off some of this anger he felt. Maybe be able to—
“What was that?”
The enraged shout yanked him around. He found Kasra flying at him.
“I lay my heart and life at your feet and youwalk out?”
A head poked out of the galley. Renner.
“Not here,” Range said crowding her back to their cabin.
“Get off me!” Kasra shouted and hopped back, ready for a fight.
Palms up, he paused. Did his best to temper his own anger and cocked his head toward their room. But when she didn’t budge, her green-brown gaze radiating fury, he thought tomakeher go inside.
Dang if he had any clue how to handle this. How to navigate the tricky waters of this woman’s past. He heard steps thudding behind him and noted Kasra’s gaze shift to the newcomer.
Straightening, she glowered at him once more then went into the cabin.
Son of a—
“Trouble in paradise, Honeymooners?”
Could he get no peace? He slid a scowl to the newcomer—he looked Pakistani. Wire?—then to Renner. Said nothing but stalked into the room after her. Shut the door.
Kasra paced the cabin, her face red. “I suddenly understand why your family wants nothing to do with you.”
What the—
She stiffened and hugged herself. “Sorry. I … should not have said that. It was uncalled for.” Her whole behavior seemed practiced, borne from years of placating men.
Man …
“Why did you leave?” she asked, wilting. In her gaze was anger, but not the kind he’d expected. This one was bathed in hurt. “I tell youeverything—which I haven’t done to another living soul—and you just walk out.” Her voice cracked. Eyes glossed.
He lowered himself to the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know … It reminds me of … a little girl we’d befriended on an op. Discovered she was being trafficked … When we made the call to interdict, someone warned the owners. They blew up the house. Killed her. I vowed after that incident that I would not stop until traffickers were run out of business or put down.” He stood again. “I don’t know what to do with this, Kasra. How to feel. How to unpack it. After hearing you, I want to kill someone.”
Wariness crowded her beautiful-but-battered face. “Do you still blame me? Still feel disgusted with me?” Challenge hardened the edges of her words.
Tricky, tricky waters. He held her gaze. Wanted to say no. But if he were honest, disgust didn’t just magically vanish. Change, yeah. But gone? He’d be lying if he said so. “I don’t know …”
Her fair features twisted into grief. Sorrow. Hurt. She covered her face and turned away. Choked sobs.
