“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter, alright? I know everything.”
I narrowed my stare at him, my gut telling me this wasn’t good.
His expression hardened. “Including, I know what’s happening under your roof while you sit here and argue under mine.”
I jerked back, sick to my stomach. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Julius, don’t play dumb. You’re not good at it.”
Pinching my eyebrows together, I snapped, “What did Kraven do now?”
“Well, Julius… while the cat's away, the mice will play.”
My stomach dropped.
Is that what I’m feeling?
“Yeah,” he agreed, reading my mind. “It’s exactly what you’re thinking, so unless you want to forfeit, I suggest you get your ass home and take care of business before you lose it all. Understood?”
“I left her, Marco. How do I make that right? How do I get her to forgive me?”
“For starters.” He leaned into his desk, resting his elbows on it. “I’d begin with dropping to your knees and begging for it.”
I needed to know, so I asked, “What exactly am I walking into?”
The expression on his face was enough to let me know I royally fucked up.
He didn’t sugarcoat it, not that I expected him to.
“Your worst nightmare.”
I felt the bile rise in my throat.
“You better get your shit together,” he demanded.
The images of them together became so real, so vivid, so alive…
I no longer had any peace.
My thoughts ruthlessly assaulted me, taking me hostage. Where the devil welcomed me with open arms, it was the same purgatory I spent all this time trying to protect Isla and Kraven from.
The irony was not lost on me.
I could battle her anger, the brutality of her words, aware that Iwasn’t intimidated or scared of her past or her trauma. I had my own. But I couldn’t fight for what wasn’t there.
It was her coldness.
Her distant hollowness.
Her betrayal I set in motion without meaning to.
Those were all weapons I had no artillery for.
I refused to lose her when I was the one who left her. Nothing made sense, yet it made more sense than ever.
My fucking brother.
I didn’t think he’d be this cruel, and I hadn’t even seen anything yet. My imagination was enough.
