Although I wasn’t sure why Varro was still in the wind, I knew there was a reasonable explanation as to why Karik hadn’t found him. I let my emotions get the better of me and said things that I shouldn’t have.
Maybe I was too harsh with my words.
Despite the fact that his expression was dark with anger, I still saw a flicker of something else in his eyes. Pain.
The things I said hurt him more than he would ever care to admit.
Inhisworld, worse had been said to him. Worse had been done to him. Why did my words carry so much weight? Why was he so affected by the things I said since I meant nothing to him?
Maybe for the same reason you were hurt by the fact he lied to you,my inner voice responded.
Was I starting to care about him?
Was the feeling mutual?
Could that be why we were both hurt by each other’s actions?
I knew I shouldn’t give a shit about hurting his feelings. But I couldn’t help it. Not because I was afraid of the consequences. Because I genuinely felt terrible for coming at him like that.
I should apologize.
Right?
Fuck, I’m so confused.
“Ma’am?” Agata’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I blinked back to the present.
“Are you all right?”
I glanced at her and nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
We were both in the backseat of one of Karik’s SUVs. I felt like the walls of the mansion were closing in on me. So, I told him I needed to clear my head, that I needed some air. Outside the estate.
I expected some sort of resistance from him. But Karik didn’t argue. Right there in my presence, he called one of his men and asked him to take me wherever I wanted to go.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I felt about his swift acceptance. I thought he was going to say no, and I was going to have to stand my ground. I thought we were going to have another round of banter—I was hoping for that.
However, for the very first time, he granted my wish without hesitation. I should be glad. I got what I wanted with ease. Yet I felt like something was off.
Was he still mad at me?
Did he grant my desire just so he’d get rid of me?
I’d asked Agata to come with me, and although she was a bit skeptical, she eventually did.
“You know, you could have just taken a stroll around the estate,” she said to me, polite as ever. “The compound is very big.”
“Yeah…” I drawled lazily. “But driving through the city is better.” I looked out the window, feeling the wind on my face.
“How long are we supposed to be driving for?” she asked, her tone laced with a hint of unease.
“My husband said we have one hour.” I glanced at my watch. “We still have at least 25 more minutes.”
Silence.
I watched her with squinted eyes as she tapped her feet frantically while chewing on her fingernails.
