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I flinched at the tone of his voice. I was somehow more frightened now than I had been at lunch.
His belt came next, sliding out of the loops before he tossed it aside. As if he expected me to say something first, he didn’t turn around, like he was too angry to look at me.
I didn’t know what to say. I’d intended to tell him what happened, but not the second he came home, and not like this. We’d spent the night together in bliss, and I’d never felt so comfortable my whole life, like it was where I was meant to be. But now that fairy tale was over.
When I didn’t speak, he turned around. He looked at me with his fiercest gaze, his slacks falling low on his hips now that his belt wasn’t keeping his clothes in place. His tanned skin covered his thick abs, and there was a noticeable vein that disappeared into his slacks.
Now I was terrified for the second time that afternoon.
He took a step forward. “I told you not to leave the house—and you did it anyway.” His muscular arms were rigid in place, some of his muscles twitching as the adrenaline dumped into his blood.
I had no idea what he knew and how he knew it. Catalina could have ratted me out, but that seemed unlikely. She was the one who told me not to mention it in the first place. Put on the spot, I didn’t know what to say. Damien and I had become closer last night, but that seemed nonexistent now.
He moved a little closer. “I’m waiting for your response.” He stopped when he was a few feet away, both of his hands tightening into fists.
When I took a breath, it burned my lungs, like the oxygen was full of acid. “How did you know?”
That was the wrong thing to say. One eyebrow slowly rose while ferocity entered his gaze. “Because there’s nothing I don’t know about, Annabella. I hope you have a good explanation. If not, this is going to be an unpleasant conversation.” He didn’t need to raise his voice to frighten me, changing his tone was more than enough.
“Catalina wanted to go to lunch…”
He stilled at the response, probably shocked that I’d risked my life for something so stupid. “That better be a joke.”
I dropped my gaze.
“If you wanted to get out of the house so bad, I could have taken you. But you run off with my sister? The most oblivious person on the planet? Her arrogance makes her careless. She’s the last person I’d want you to leave the house with.”
“Well, we’re fine, so…”
That wasn’t the right thing to say either because his eyes narrowed farther. “You’re fine…that’s your justification?”
I was starting to wonder if he had no idea what happened at the restaurant. Because if he did, his reaction would be more severe right now. “I’m sorry, and I won’t do it again…”
When he sighed, it was deep like a growl, and he turned away from me dismissively. “Get out.” He stepped into his living room and took a seat. His scotch was waiting for him like always, and he helped himself to a full glass. As if I wasn’t there, he stared at the fire.
Now I didn’t know what to do.
“Did you not hear me?” He raised his voice slightly.
I moved to the living room and stood behind one of the armchairs. “Damien.”
He wouldn’t look at me.
“I said I was sorry.”
“And that makes it all okay?” He swirled his drink. “When Liam said sorry for fucking someone, did that make it okay?”
My eyes narrowed at the insult. “Don’t be an asshole.”
He set down the glass and looked at me. “I’m trying to keep you safe, and I’m an asshole?”
“You’re an asshole for throwing that in my face, and you know it. Be angry at me for my wrongs, but don’t be angry at me for things I can’t control. Don’t use my pain as ammo to pump me full of lead.”
His eyes were rigid and focused as he watched me, the green color of his eyes brighter because of the flames reflecting on the surface. There was no hint of remorse, so an apology wasn’t on the horizon. “I don’t want to fight with you, Annabella. So, you should just go.”
Telling him what happened with Liam would just make the situation worse, but I felt deceitful keeping it from him. The situation would escalate and break us further apart.
“And yet…you stay.” He dragged his hands down his face then looked at the floor.
“I need to tell you something.”
He closed his eyes and sighed. “This should be good…”
“Catalina and I went to lunch…and Liam showed up.”
“Of course, he did.” He lifted his gaze and looked at me, livid.
“You were right. He was going to take me.”
