AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s as if I’ve punched her hard because she sags in her seat, her shoulders slumped as if I’ve knocked the wind out of her. Her eyes glisten and her breathing intensifies and a spot of pink dusts her pale skin.
“I can’t.”
“You can.” I remind her, still caressing her hand, and then I say in a dark hiss, “It’s the only way you will be free.”
She lifts her eyes to mine, and I see the vulnerability shining through and her lower lip trembles as she whispers, “He killed my sister.”
Our starter arrives before I have a chance to respond and now I’m second guessing my decision to come here at all. These interruptions are seriously distracting and as she takes her cutlery, I sense her drifting away from me. She is repairing her walls from my onslaught, and I know that is all I will get—for now.
CHAPTER 10
LILLI
My mind is scrambled and the man responsible is holding my hand as if he’s my lover. He wants so much from me and I’m contemplating if it’s worth my freedom.
Why do I want it, anyway? I have nothing worth fighting for. Not anymore. I have no home, no family, and no prospects. I really did have nothing to lose, which is why I stole Mickey’s gun and hit the streets. I made a decision that didn’t end well for me and yet, as I stare into his wicked eyes, I drown in confusion.
One minute he’s approachable, the next I think he wants to kill me. I am so conflicted, and yet I almost revealed the darkest part of my soul to him. The one I won’t even admit to myself and so I take a deep breath and attempt to get my words back under control.
I distract myself by gazing around the room, and it overwhelms me. I recognize so many famous faces here and it strikes me that I’ve stumbled into a world I should never be part of.
Is this what Reggie saw when she accompanied men out for the night? I know she went to some unbelievable places. I understood that much, at least.
She told me of beautiful women in amazing gowns, dripping with diamonds and hanging off the arms of men old enough to be their fathers. Powerful men talking business with a woman in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other. I lapped up every detail, wanting to learn the colors of the dresses, the style of the women’s hair. What they spoke about and what they ate.
I wanted to hear it all, but she always stopped short when she came to the part when they left. I always believed it was when the evening ended. However, she arrived home in the morning and something told me she wasn’t at an all-night party. I watched her strip off her fine gown and pull on her pajamas, a haunted look in her eyes as she removed her makeup. I asked where she’d been, and she used to smile and place her finger on her lips.
‘It’s a secret.’ She always said that. Reggie had many secrets. I hated that about her.
I notice a woman staring at Mikhail and it’s obvious she knows him. There is a proprietary expression in her eye, and I regard the man she is dining with.
Is that her father?
Mikhail follows my gaze and I notice that the woman flashes him a seductive smile.
“Do you know her?”
It’s obvious he does, and he nods.
“Yes.”
“Is she an ex or something?”
“What makes you say that?”
He appears amused and I giggle. “She is staring at you as if she wants to eat you rather than the meal and her father is oblivious to it.”
“Her father.” He laughs out loud.
“Her lover, you mean.”
“No way.” I stare at them wide-eyed and if anything, the woman throws me a look that could kill.
He whispers, “She is jealous of you.”
“Why?”
I stare at him with astonishment, and he smirks. “Because you are with me.”
