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Cora is glaring at me, preparing for the worst. So when I nod in agreement, the fight drains out of her.
She sags, her shoulders drooping. “I want to stay with Jorden.”
I scrub a hand through my hair. Jorden’s apartment is a shithole, but the location makes it surprisingly easy to guard. Plus, the private parking garage in the alley is a good entry and exit point. It’s not where I’d like to put Cora, but it will do.
“Fine. Yasha can take you. I’ll arrange it.”
Her knuckles turn white from clenching her phone so hard. She nods and looks down at her feet and mumbles something I don’t catch.
Fifteen minutes later, Cora is gone.
The car disappears down the drive, a fog of dust trailing behind it. Once she’s out of sight, I walk back into the silent, distraction-free house.
It’s never felt emptier.
73
CORA
His last girlfriend disappeared.
She is still missing.
There are rumors he killed her to end their engagement.
Even with my phone turned off and tucked into my purse, I can see the text messages Jorden sent me against the dark backdrop of my eyelids. I can’t get the words out of my head.
Ivan’s last girlfriend is missing and he couldn’t tell me what happened. Couldn’t or wouldn’t? I’m not sure anymore. I’m not even sure it matters.
The car takes a sharp turn and I press against the back door. My limbs are weak. The fact I’m sitting up right now instead of curled in the fetal position feels like an accomplishment.
Jorden reaches over and squeezes my knee. “Are you okay?”
I look over and try to respond, but the moment I open my mouth, tears fill my eyes. I slam my mouth closed and shake my head.
No. No, I’m not okay at all.
It’s not as if I thought Ivan was a saint. I’ve seen him kill a man. I know his world is violent and bloody.
But I thought he was honest. I thought he was honest about who he is and what he has done. I didn’t think he would lie to me about something this important.
I’m an idiot.
“Men are trash,” Jorden says. “Worse than trash. They’re germs.”
“Hey,” Yasha complains from the driver’s seat. “Not all men are germs.”
“Please be quiet, driver. We’re trying to have a private conversation back here.” Jorden looks to me and rolls her eyes as if to say,Can you believe this guy?“All men are germs, Cora. Every last one of them. Especially the ones that make you cry.”
I didn’t realize tears were rolling down my face again. I groan and swipe at my cheeks. “I’m so stupid. I knew this was—”
All pretend.Those are the words poised at the tip of my tongue.
“I knew this was too good to be true,” I say instead. “I let myself have hope, anyway. I trusted him and I thought he would trust me enough to confide in me, but—”
“Ivan doesn’t confide in people,” Yasha interrupts.
Jorden elbows the back of his seat hard. “This is aprivateconversation.”
