“No, I stopped it before it got worse.”
“You don’t know that!”
“I do,” he snapped, his voice low and dangerous. “I know who he was dealing with.”
“Then tell me. Tell me what was so bad that you had to ruin everything?”
His gaze held mine, and for the first time since I walked in, I hesitated. There was something in his expression, something real, something that didn’t look like manipulation or control or dominance over me. It looked like the truth, and I held on to that.
It was the only way I could continue this conversation with him.
“He wasn’t just moving drugs… he was tied to people who don’t just let you walk away when they're done using you.”
My core sank at the thought.
“He was going to walk away,” I insisted even though my voice felt weaker. “He… he would’ve eventually?—”
“No, he wouldn’t have.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do. The truth of the matter is, I know my brother better and longer than you. Bottom line, I knew how deep he was in.” In a lower tone, he added, “I didn’t do this to hurt you, Isla. It was the last thing I wanted to do.”
“Bullshit!” I exclaimed. “You knew that this would kill me, and don’t try to pretend you didn’t.”
He replied, “I’m fixing it. I need you to trust me.”
I scoffed out a snide chuckle. “Trust you? I trust you as far as I can throw you, Kraven.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for that.”
“Your apology means shit to me. I’m not the one you should be sorry about.”
“Isla, I’m trying to make things right.”
“That’s all you ever do!” I shouted, standing firm in front of him. “You fuck shit up and then try to make it right!”
“Yeah?” he taunted in a condescending voice. “At least I don’t run away when things get tough.”
CHAPTER
FIVE
KRAVEN
She lookedat me as if I’d just destroyed her, and maybe I did. However, it wasn’t in the way she thought it’d be. It wasn’t in the careless, selfish way she was trying to paint me as.
This wasn’t about jealousy, and it was never just about Julius. It was about her standing in the radius of the blast she wouldn’t even see coming. He would’ve taken her down with him, whether he meant to or not.
Her words echoed in my head. I wasn’t owed her trust. I’d earn it back. The moment I made that anonymous call, I knew there was no going back.
Not that there ever was.
Not when we were both in love with her.
She shook her head, stepping away from me as if distance might make this clearer.
It wouldn’t.
