"Why, Liliana?" I repeat.
"You wouldn't understand."
My jaw clenches. "Try me."
She shakes her head.
Frustration surges through me. I watch the war raging in her eyes. Watch her struggle with the truth she’s holding back from me.
“You don’t trust me?” I ask, my voice low and hurt.
Whatever she's hiding must be something big. She looks miserable. Her eyes fill up with tears.
“I do trust you,” she whispers. “I just don’t know how you’ll react.”
My throat is tight, “It’ll be fine, little siren.”
"You'll hate me."
I almost laugh. The idea of that is absurd.
The woman clearly has no idea what she's done to me.
"You betrayed me,” I start.
She winces.
"You humiliated me in front of my brothers."
Another flinch.
"My men."
My breath coasts against her lips. I want to capture them in mine but that would be inefficient in this moment when I’m trying to get her to open up to me.
"You left me standing in a warehouse looking like a complete fucking idiot and despite. I could barely summon any anger toward you. It made me miserable. But I still wanted you. I missed you so fucking much, little siren."
Her breath catches. I shake my head.
Almost disgusted with myself.
"I could never hate you, Liliana."
The words settle between us. Raw, honest.
I see exact moment her walls crack. The exact moment she decides to tell me. My pulse pounds.
She opens her lips to speak, and then we’re fucking interrupted.
"Mr. Vitale."
A growl escapes my throat. A guard stands at the end of the hallway. Looking profoundly uncomfortable.
"Miss Navarro's father is looking for her."
I close my eyes, trying to control the way anger lashes through me.
Of course he fucking is. I was wondering why he even let me disappear with her in the first place.
