He was asking for permission to kill my ex-husband—again. “And I’m just supposed to say yes?”
Devoid of all emotion, he stared at me with empty eyes.
“I can’t just condone that.”
“Well, if you don’t, he’s gonna kill me.” His voice rose. “You prefer that?”
“Of course not.”
“Then give me your blessing.”
I dropped my chin to my chest and tucked my hair behind my ear, feeling the blood completely drain to my feet. “You don’t understand, Damien. I was married to him—”
“I understand you don’t want him killed. But he’s making you choose—not me.”
I positioned myself directly across from him, my back against the wall. My hands crossed over my chest and gripped each of my arms, feeling defeated by a battle I’d never fought. “He was different today.”
His eyes were steady as he held my gaze.
“He was…malicious, maniacal, crazy…”
“What did he say to you?”
“That regardless of my choice, the outcome would be the same. He would take me.”
His eyes narrowed, emitting a sudden change of energy. Now he was the one who was a little maniacal.
“But in this scenario, he would also kill you…which he prefers.”
“Annabella.” Without raising his voice, he conveyed the seriousness of this situation, the fear that gripped him by the chest. “I’m not afraid of him, but I’m afraid of what he’ll do. That’s a serious threat, and we need to have a serious response.”
“I don’t know… Would he really take me? What does that mean?”
“I don’t want to know.” He pushed off the couch and straightened. “Pack your things. You’re staying with me.”
I looked up to meet his gaze, shocked by what he’d just said. “That will only make it worse—”
“You can’t stay here alone anymore. If he meant what he said, you’re in serious danger.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me—”
“But he might take you away and lock you in a tower somewhere.”
Oh my god…would Liam really do that? He wasn’t himself at lunch. He was delirious with rage, his eyes so cold they were frozen.
“And there’s nowhere safer in this world than with me.”
“If Liam knows I’m staying with you, he’ll assume—”
“I don’t give a shit what he assumes. He already wants to kill me, so what difference does it make?”
I didn’t have an argument against any of that, but I was still afraid to stay with Damien. We’d never had that kind of proximity, constantly being together, living under the same roof. Our time together had been so brief. This was more intimate than it ever had been before. “Then he really will kill you.”
“He can try.”
All of this was my fault. If I’d left my job and removed myself from Damien’s life, none of this would have happened. Now, Damien’s life was in danger, and his opponent was the strongest man I’d ever known. “Maybe I should just say yes—”
“No.”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you—”
“Then let me kill him.” He stepped closer to me, his eyes watching mine closely. “If you want to keep me safe, let me get rid of the problem.” He pleaded as he looked into my gaze, wanting my blessing to end the life of someone I’d once loved.
The blood would be on my hands if I said yes.
“Annabella.”
I closed my eyes. “Let me try to talk to him again—”
“No.” He pressed me into the wall, cornering me like I was fleeing prey. “If you think I’m letting you anywhere near him again…”
I couldn’t give Damien my blessing. I just couldn’t do it. How could I live with myself if I allowed that to happen? I could call Liam. I could plead with him. There had to be a better solution.
Damien’s expression filled with disappointment as he stepped away from me. But no, it was more than just disappointment; it was deeper than that. It was chronic resentment, subtle rage. His demeanor was packed with betrayal, as if I’d stabbed him in the back with a dirty knife. “Get your things.” With his gaze on the floor, he slid his hands into his pockets.
“Damien—”
“I told you to get your things.” He refused to look at me.
“Please look at me…”
He couldn’t resist the plea in my voice and raised his head. “My not wanting you to kill him has nothing to do with my feelings for you.”
“Those are just words, Annabella. Actions are what matter to people like me.”
“Liam was unfaithful. That doesn’t mean he deserves to die.”
“But he’s threatening to kill the man you love. So, he does.”
After taking a painful breath, I returned my gaze to the floor. The brilliance of his eyes was too much to watch.
He dropped the conversation. “Pack your things. Or I’ll do it for you.”
Five
Damien
It was a long and silent drive to my place. She was quiet in the passenger seat, her suitcase in my trunk, along with a couple extra bags of the essentials she needed. Everything that had been left behind were things she could live without…because who knew when she would return.