AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her sigh confirms as much.
“You aren’t any less aggravating,” she teases, smiling to soften the barb.
“I’m going to do what I should’ve done all those months ago. I’m going to force you to talk to me,” I say, leveling her with a look I hope says,and you will talk.“No more secrets, Maggie.”
“You want me to talk?” she grates, sounding annoyed by my pressing. I nod, so she continues. “I was trying to protect you.”
“You were protecting yourself,” I spit. “You didn’t want to share your new boyfriend.”
“That’s not fair,” she cries out. “It wasn’t like that.”
“You went crazy,” I scream, and she blanches. “We were almost institutionalized.”
Tears well in her eyes. “I know,” she agrees. “I didn’t handle the news well, and I started to panic. I was truly terrified, Marina. I was starting to see creatures everywhere. They were getting braver.” She blows out a breath, looking toward the ceiling, before finally meeting my eyes. “What you saw that day did happen,” she starts, and I know exactly what day she’s referring to. The day she jumped. “Only, what you didn’t know was that I didn’t actually fall.”
My eyes narrow into slits and a deep frown replaces the once thin line of my lips.
“I’m going to leave you two alone for a bit. If you get hungry, let me know,” Law interrupts from the doorway, looking awkward and uncomfortable.
What role does he play in this?
Maggie smiles and nods before he turns and leaves. There’s something between them. I can see it in the way her eyes are twinkling, cheeks turning ever rosier by the minute... and her dimple is set deep, indicating she’s chewing on the inside of her mouth.
“Continue,” I urge, wanting to know everything. “You didn’t actually fall...”
“I didn’t, because Marcellus saved me.”
My eyes narrow and I shake my head in an attempt to clear my ear canal, because I couldn’t have possibly heard her right. “Marcellus?” She nods her head, smiling. “Marcellus Bellamy?”
She chuckles. “Yes, Marina. That Marcellus. He caught me. Then took me back to his estate to keep me safe. He knew I couldn’t go back home without putting you in danger.”
“What the hell!” I exclaim. “You’ve been at his place this entire time? Are you all right?”
“I’m okay. Fine actually,” she says. “Marcellus wasn’t bad to me.”
I snap out of her grasp, looking at her like she has three heads. “He wasn’t that bad? Do you know who he is? He’s evil incarnate.”
She shakes her head. “No, Marina. It’s all an act for his brother’s benefit. Within the walls of his home, I was treated well. Exceptionally well.”
“Did he compel you? Feed you drugs?” I tap my finger to my chin, contemplating. “Stockholm,” I offer.
She grabs my hands in hers and squeezes. “I know that you have a million reasons to be suspicious and even more reasons to hate him, but I’m telling you. For whatever reason, he was good to me.” She shrugs like it is the least complicated fact, when it’s anything but. “He was good to everyone I ever saw him come into contact with.”
“He killed my friend Stacey,” I say in the steeliest of voices.
She winces. “That I did hear about,” she admits. “The next three days after, I refused to eat or be anywhere around him. Not because I knew Stacey, but because I was afraid he’d eventually snap on me.”
“And he likely would’ve if they hadn’t gotten you out of there.” I cross my arms over my chest. “He actually told you about what happened with Stacey?”
“He did, and I sent him away.” She shrugs. “When I finally gave in because I thought I’d starve, he brought my food in personally. He looked horrible, Marina. It was as if he hadn’t slept in days.”
“Good. I hope he suffered like she did,” I grit through my teeth. Her lips form a thin line.
“He was miserable and apologized profusely.”
“Then why do it? Why bring an entourage of angry vampires to a party full of innocent humans? Huh?” I bark. “No amount of apologizing can make up for a life, Maggie. Surely you believe that,” I retort.
“I do, and I told him as much.” She sighs. “I’m not saying he’s a good man, Marina. I’m just saying he was good to me. That’s all. Why he did what he did, I’m not sure we’ll ever know. He’s battling demons that I certainly don’t understand. He’s troubled, Marina, but I can tell he wants help. He just doesn’t know how to ask for it.”
