“Why is someone violating you funny?” He snapped.
I forgot how good it was to see him unravel. Reed was constantly aware of his surroundings which made him temper himself around other people. When it was just us, he was different. He said self-control was part of his training. I didn’t even understand that stuff. I just remember him saying that his father was an important but dangerous man. He was a constant target, so he never let anyone see him sweat or smile.
Reed picked up a lot of those traits. Instead of doing black mafia business like his dad, Reed used his ability to wear a mask to perpetrate the image of a good man and manipulate unsuspecting women out of their panties. Ask me how I knew.
“No one violated me.”
No one other than you. It went without saying.
“I need that list, Faith. Every single name,” Reed demanded.
“What do you think I have, some kind of laundry list of past lovers?”
He shook his head. “I don’t even want to think like that. I actually rather let myself think that I’m the only man who’s ever touched you, but I know I would only be fooling myself. I’m not worried about it, just need to eliminate the ones who have.”
“You know you sound crazy when you talk like that, right? Didn’t you used to say it was your daddy coming out of you?”
He scoffed under his breath, but a smile broke through.
“You didn’t deserve what I did to you back then. I loved you more than you could ever know, Faith.”
“But I deserve what you plan to do to me now?”
“You deserve everything. Let me give it to you.”
“I’m not that same innocent little girl.”
“Good. That means you should be well equipped to deal with me. Let me make it up to you, Faith.”
“That’s not what we’re here to talk about.”
“It’s whatI’mhere to talk about. I know it won’t happen overnight. I don’t deserve you. That’s why I never tried to interfere in your life. I knew that you were too good for me. I knew that you deserved an easy life with someone laid-back and uncomplicated. I went to college knowing that once I graduated, I was obligated to marry someone who was selected for me way before I understood what marriage meant. I didn’t care about that. I knew the ropes. Part of my mission while I was in college was to fuck as much as I could and get it out of my system. That’s not what I wanted with you.
“You made me realize that I could have a real life where I was actually in love with my wife. I knew I didn’t deserve you, but I wanted you. I should have been honest with you about my obligation from the start. I know I should have told you, baby.I wanted to find my way out first. I never expected my mom to show up with Zenia. You have to know how sorry I am.Youare the only woman that I have ever loved, Faith.”
“Hmph, what about your wife?” I asked, lifting my eyebrows.
“I’m looking at her, and she’s beautiful,” he said, shaking his head and letting his eyes rake over my face. My breathing hitched, but I refused to be sucked back into his web of deception and lies.
“I’m not doing this,” I said, snatching my tablet off the table. I should have known better than to think I would actually get valuable intel out of a man who was known for being a bullshitter.
“I didn’t go through with it, Faith. I couldn’t do that to you.Youare supposed to be my wife. I knew all I had to do was be patient, and one day, I would get this chance.”
His revelation caught me by surprise, but I fought to keep my facial expression even. I didn’t want to give away too much.
“I thought you didn’t have a choice,” I mentioned, tilting my head to the side as I waited for another brilliant response.
“Eventually we learn to make our own choices.”
Since I was done eating, I was also done with the small talk. If I let him, Reed would keep me here all day long trying to rehash ancient history.
“Be that as it may, the time has passed for all that. Can we please talk about what we came here to discuss?”
He quickly lifted his shoulders. “We’re already talking about what I came here to discuss.”
“Tell me what’s going on around here.”
“I figured an esteemed journalist like yourself would have more direct questions.”
