Page 37 of Cut Deeper

Though I still needed to ask him how he intended to kill me. Handcuffs or not, I would have fought. Not because I felt theneed to cling to this life, but because I wanted to hurt him on my way out.

The house was deadly silent. I set my suitcase down and walked into the grand foyer. It didn’t feel right without Ethan here. This was his domain.

My phone chimed and I pulled it out of my pocket.

Ethan.

I answered the call.

“I got the alarm notification. How was your drive?”

Of course his alarm system was linked to his phone.

“Hello, dear. Yes, the drive was fine—except for a little road rage on the motorway.”

He groaned.

“I got his number plate,” I said innocently.“A little arson could be fun.”

“What did we discuss about unnecessary risks?” he said, sounding like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.“If you get yourself killed or caught—”

He didn’t finish the sentence.

“Aww. Do you lurve me, Dr Hammond?”

“If you do anything that puts you at risk, I will kill you,” he whispered.

That didn’t make sense.

“Wouldn’t you be better off keeping me in the basement?”

“I’ve got to go. My client’s here,” he said, before lowering his voice to a whisper again.“Be a good girl. No arson.”

He didn’t need to say or else—I agreed anyway.

“Got it. No arson until you get home.”

Another sigh, and he was gone.

Perhaps this relationship malarkey could work.

Chapter 20

Ethan

I should trust her. She’d been looking after herself for the last eleven years of her life. Yet time and time again, those doubts crept up. What if she tried to leave me? What if something happened to her? What if karma really was a bitch?

She won’t ever love you. No one will.

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I turned onto my driveway. It was almost dark. I’d told her to order whatever she wanted online, since there wasn’t much fresh food in the house.

The house looked empty except for a dim light from the reception room doorway. Nothing was on fire, which was a good sign. I parked beside Anne’s car and walked around to the front door.

The kitchen lights were on. I could smell fresh herbs and roast chicken. She didn’t need to keep cooking, but it beat coming home to an empty house night after night.

The kitchen was empty, oven light glowing.

I went to the foyer and called her name.