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“I… that’s not—you’re a cheater!” she cries. She’s desperately clawing for an excuse and we both know it. “I don’t know why you’re marrying Cee, but I know it’s not for the right reasons.”
Her instincts are sharper than she could ever comprehend. But the future of my Bratva depends on gaslighting her into submission. Like I said—a better man wouldn’t have to do the things I’m doing.
But I’ve been sinning for so long that I don’t know any other way to live.
“And what areyourreasons, Taylor?” I ask. “You claim to love your sister. You claim to want to protect her. So why do I still feel the way you kissed me back?”
Her eyes widen. “I didn’t—”
“Maybe it’s because you want what your sister has,” I growl, cutting her off. “Maybe it’s because you’ve always wanted what Celine had. She was right about you.”
That makes her stop in her tracks. Her whole frame trembles. She doesn’t want to give voice to her question, but I know she won’t be able to stop herself.
In fact, I’m counting on it.
“W-what are you talking about?”
“You think Celine hasn’t told me things?” I muse. “I know more about you than you realize, Taylor Marie Theron. And I know that even though you like to play the innocent, you’re nothing but a conniving bitch trying to steal your sister’s man.” I meet her horrified gaze and drop the final bombshell.“Again.”
Something dies in her. For a moment, I wonder if I’ve gone too far. If I’ve broken her irreparably. I turn to leave right after I see the first fresh tear fall.
It’s bad enough seeing her cry.
It’s worse knowing that I’m the one who created her tears.
36
ILARION
I end up pacing outside her corridor for far too long before I abandon the second floor for the gardens. I’m not in the right clothes for it, but I start jogging around the pathways. I keep going until I’ve burned off all the extra adrenaline poisoning my veins.
I don’t know what she does to me. I sure as fuck don’t understand it. But whatever it is, in her presence, I become a weak man incapable of sheathing his lesser impulses. I become a man too deaf to listen to his better judgment.
I’ve spent months thinking up the perfect plan, and I’ll be damned if I burn it all to the ground for a woman. Any woman.
Even her.
When my lungs are double-clutching in agony, I end the run and go back to the house. I find Mila at my office door about to knock.
“I thought you were in there,” she explains. She scrunches up her nose when she takes note of sweat-stained shirt. “Why are you all gross?”
“I went for a run.”
“In those clothes?”
“Why are you here, Mila?” I don’t have the time or patience for any more games. “Has Dima cracked our lead?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” she says. “But security just informed me of an issue at the entrance.”
I tense immediately. “The Bellasios?”
“The Bellasios, you can handle. This problem…I’m not so sure.”
She’s enjoying herself a little too much. I’m in no mood for it. “Cut the shit and tell me what you’re here to tell me.”
She suppresses an amused smile. “Taylor’s at the front gate, and she has a bag packed.”
“The fuck…” I clench a fist just so I don’t start ripping my hair out. “Get security to put her back in her room.”
