I don’t do anything about it either, letting her balance on her own.
For a second, my heart trips over itself, worrying she might hurt herself. The pain in her eyes, I can’t take it.
You can and you will.
Another step. Another.
The distance I put between us eventually helps, loosening the hold she has on me.
From a few feet away, I can finally breathe.
“Duncan.” She folds her arms around herself like a wounded bird. Her figure is small inside that light beam. “Come back.”
Again with that god-awful voice that unravels every emotion I’ve buried deep inside.
“I told you not to say my name.” I stop where I am, standing tall. My jaw clenches as I force myself to focus. “You’re here to do as you’re told. Which is to strip.”
Why does my throat tighten? Why do I hate myself for the things coming out of my mouth?
This has always been the plan, hasn’t it?
“But—”
“Quiet,” I cut her off, same as how I silence the voices in my head. There’ll be no pity. No tenderness. “Every minute of arguing is ten thousand dollars I take off your compensation, understood?”
“You can’t do that.”
Infuriating. She’s figured out who I am, and she still has money on her mind. Sadly, my pain doesn’t lessen just because I’ve been proven right about her.
“I’m practically naked. I did as you asked. Please, that has to be enough. The compensation you promised, Barclay needs it.”
As if things couldn’t have gotten any worse. Hearing the name of the person she chose over me—hearing her choose him over and over—I can’t take it.
The memories. The humiliation. The scars.
Heat flares low in my chest, barely contained and extremely volatile.
“I can, and I will.” I take another step back, blending into the shadows.
“No, don’t leave.” The words I wished to hear from her for years are all wrong. They don’t mean what I wanted them to. “Stay. We can talk about it.”
“You want to talk?” I snap, locking my fingers around the lamp pole at my side.
This isn’t a UV lamp like I’d normally use on my projects. Damaging Elowyn, physically wounding her, I can’t do that. Couldn’t even consider it while I plotted against her and her brother.
Him, I can kill. Won’t even lose sleep over it.
Never her.
“Yes, I do.”
“All right.” I huff a mirthless laugh. “But you’re going to regret it.”
“I won’t,” she whispers, looking as unsure as she sounds.
“We’ll see about that.” A smirk tugs at my lips. “Nothing good will come out of this…chat. Especially since you keep disobeying me.”
Her breath catches at my sharp and ugly tone.
