Sitting up, I studied his body as he took long strides toward the window, peering out into the darkness. His exhale was tight, somewhat exaggerated as he placed his hand on the window frame. “What did I say that was so wrong?”
“How would you know?” His voice softened and he was shaking his head.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“How the hell would you know about families, Anna? You’re an orphan. Right? How many foster families did you have, or did you grow up in some Italian orphanage before joining the ballet you so covet? How would you know what a tremendous loss felt like? I mean come on. You were so quick to leave New York just because you had an offer to dance. Right? You tossed aside any friendships and thought, what the heck? A new city? I’ll enjoy a fling or two but nothing serious. I don’t need anyone. I certainly won’t trust anyone. So, tell me.” He spun around to face me andwhen he did, I was stunned at the furious expression on his face. “How is it that you know that families are so important?”
I was so shocked by his reaction I could barely think straight. Then I realized he was goading me, able to see behind the tightly woven façade I’d created for myself.
With my legs shaking, I managed to stand, fighting both my urge to tell him the truth and the anger at his push to discover all my dirty little secrets. Immediately, Zorro was on his feet, his tail thumping hard against the couch. As soon as I stepped away from the coffee table, he was right there by my side. Was he growling at his master?
I resisted laughing although it served the arrogant man right.
The pup’s reaction was as surreal as the ridiculous anger Jaxon was showing.
I folded my arms, taking several gasping breaths. Why not throw the same attitude smack into his face? “Where the hell is this coming from? I was trying to be nice, to get to know you.”
His laugh didn’t seem real or like him in the least. “You know a hell of a lot about my family when I’ve heard nothing about you. I don’t have a clue where you were born or what fucking color is your favorite. For all I know, you came here to find my weakness and use it against my family.”
We’d returned to that horrible line of thinking again? After the passion we’d shared? After the time spent together? Unable to say anything at this point, I glared at him.
“So tell me.”
I bristled from hearing the discord in his voice. “Fine? Do you really need some ugly truths about my world? Here goes. Youhave a huge family who adores you, yet you act as if they are nothing but an inconvenience. Do you have any idea what I would do to have family close? Not one time has anyone that I cared about come to a performance. Not one damn time. Even my father has been too busy to attend. He even missed my birthday this year, which he’s never done before. And before you chastise me for lying to Emme, she certainly hadn’t mentioned when she was in Columbia that her family were crime lords.” The flash of anger I felt was so unlike me, but the man knew how to push every button.
His hard, cold features softened, at least enough that against my better judgment, I continued. Why? I don’t know. Could I trust him? Maybe. Maybe not. But the single taste of feeling cared about had awakened someone inside that I wasn’t ready to let go.
“So you lied. You do have a family. Emme was instructed not to tell anyone about her roots for security purposes. Is that what happened with you? Your parents allowed you to come to America under the condition of secrecy?”
The tension between us was palpable.
“Yes, Jaxon. I have a very dysfunctional family. Look at you. You’re figured me out. Maybe they’re my weakness or I’m theirs. Either way, I separated myself from the required life so I could have one myself. So I wasn’t treated as property. Nothing you could understand.”
“That’s not true.”
“Maybe you have politics and rules to follow, more so than most families, but I wasn’t allowed to make my own decisions. The crazy thing is that I miss my family very much, which isridiculous. My father cares about me. He loves me. Not my mother. Not my brother. They didn’t give a shit if I was alive when I was with them. I can only imagine what they think now. In truth, to them I was nothing but a commodity, something to be used. My papa was my world. He would do anything for me, which was why he let me go. He knew I’d be safer. Alone. Isn’t that nuts? He allowed me to live my life. He was my… everything. But I don’t think he cares any longer.” Great. Now I was highlighting how much I felt sorry for myself. What a great look of strength, especially in front of a man who had everything.
Including a family.
Another moment of horrifying silence filtered all around us, even more suffocating than before.
“Who are you, Anna? Who are you really?”
The same question he’d asked time and time again.
So this time, I gave him a truthful answer. “Nobody.”
CHAPTER 21
Jaxon
Nobody.
Did she not understand that for the first time in years I was finally able to breathe again? That during the last couple of days I’d looked forward to getting up in the morning where before I’d done so out of routine?
Yes, the fact she was hiding her past from me was annoying, perhaps even dangerous, but the woman had peeled away layers with her banter and vibrancy.
But hell, no. Anna was not going to get away with silence and ignoring my requests that easily.
