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“I was just going to read.”
“Then read.”
I continued to stand there, holding his gaze with unease. “Cauldron, I’m not going to sleep with you. You should just go.”
He cocked his head slightly, his eyes giving a small reaction. “You think that’s my endgame?”
“That’s what you paid for, isn’t it?”
“I paid foryou. In any capacity that you’re willing to give me.”
“I’m not willing to give youanything. You’re forcing me to.”
It turned into a silent standoff. His eyes darkened. “You don’t want me here, but you seem terrified of losing me.”
“Just because I don’t want to be with you doesn’t mean I want you dead, Cauldron.”
“But you want Bartholomew?” Now his voice changed, turning as angry as his face looked at our dinner a few nights ago.
“Yes. I enjoyed his company.”
It was the coldest look he’d ever given me. Fierce in its intensity. Just as terrifying as the loaded barrel of a gun. “You can replace me that easily?” His voice was quiet, but both deadly and broken. “I’m the one who ended things, but I could never, ever imagine myself with anyone else, at least not this soon, even if it meant nothing to me—because you mean everything to me.”
His words actually hurt me. Hurt me because I could see how much I hurt him. I thought it would make me feel good, but it made me feel like shit. Made me feel like I was the one in the wrong. But I held my silence and didn’t reveal a single truth because this was the best way to get him out of my life.
It was the best way to make sure he didn’t hurt me again.
After an endless stare, he got to his feet and walked out the door.
It worked…
23
CAULDRON
After a thorough pat-down and several different kinds of security checks for explosives and bombs, I was permitted into his residence. It was a large estate in the city, an apartment closed off by an iron gate with no access to the public.
I was escorted inside, to the third floor, where I found Bartholomew waiting for me on the couch near the fire, shirtless and in his black sweatpants, like he’d retired for the evening. His build was like mine, slender and ripped, only muscle underneath the skin. There was a scar on his stomach, like someone had shot him and made their mark.
“It was a misunderstanding.” He answered the question I never asked. One elbow propped on the armrest, and his knees were wide apart. The coffee table held a collection of booze, practically a wet bar, but he didn’t seem to be drinking.
I sat on the couch across from him.
“You should be balls deep in your new investment.”
If only.“She’s not interested.”
“You’ve given her a choice. What a gentleman.” His fingers curled into a fist, and he propped his chin on top of them, just the way he sat on his throne in the Catacombs. He stared me down and waited for me to explain my presence.
“She hates me.”
“You didn’t know that before? You should always do your research prior to a big purchase.”
I wanted to punch him in the face.
“Oh, that’s right. Youdidknow. Because I told you.”
Fucking cunt.
