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“I mean, a staged thing. Like, you had to because I tried to kill you, self defense, that kind of thing.”
His brow furrows as he rubs his jaw. But there’s a new look buried there beneath the swirling green pools, an emotion I don’t think I’ve seen before.
“You can tell your family or organization or whatever what happened, and it’ll make you seem even stronger. I mean, come on: killing the daughter of the monster who tried to destroy your family? And I’ll disappear. I’m good at that.”
I can almost see the wheels turning behind his lethally beautiful, sharp face.
“Six months.”
I nod. “Six months.”
Cillian rakes his fingertips down his jawline.
“I have my own terms to add.”
I frown. “Okay. What—”
“Your brother used heroin, yes?”
My lips thin, a dark cloud swirling behind my eyes.
“Una…”
“Yes,” I spit. “And?”
“Did you?”
A cold feeling shivers slowly down my spine. I hug my arms around myself, looking away.
“Answer me.”
“Once,” I hiss.
I gasp as he lurches from the couch with a low growl in his chest, closing the distance between us in two steps, until he’s towering over me.
“How many times, Una.”
“I justtoldyou!” I spit back. “Once, okay?”
His lips curl into a disdainful sneer.
“Oh,fuck you!” I hiss at him. “You don’t get to judge me! Look at what you have! What I imagine you’ve always had. Ididn’t, okay?! I grew up in group homes and foster care, and on the fucking streets just trying to not be killed or preyed upon! Soyeah, Cillian” I spit. “I used heroin to dull the ache and the pain.Once. And it wasn’t for me.”
I look away, bringing the heel of my hand up to wipe away a tear. “Jesus. Are you happy now?”
“Have you ever been tested?”
I whip my gaze back angrily at him, tears still brimming in my eyes. “What, you’re afraid I might’vegivenyou something?”
His glare is hard. “The thought crossed my mind.”
I grit my teeth, all the pain and the shame of those really,reallyhard teen years on the streets of LA that Finn and I endured flooding back.
Not to mention the horrors we faced in foster care.
“Yes, I’ve been tested,” I spit through clenched teeth. “Of course I have. And I was lucky.” I blink away the moisture from my eyes. “Anything else while we’re at it?” I snap.
“Yes.”
