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Disappointment fills me as I realise she doesn’t know our whole love story. “Since I walked into the coffee shop.”
She pushes away from the table but doesn’t get up. Her chest rises and falls as she struggles to breathe. Her hands go to her chest.
Wanting to see her struggle up close, I stroll to her side of the table. I kneel before her and watch in amusement as she tries to get away from me. I close my eyes and revel in the sound of her struggling to breathe – the gasping reminds me of Caitlyn when I gripped the life out of her.
“Oh God,” she mutters on repeat. For the first time tonight, she begins to cry. “I thought… I… You…”
Her inability to finish a sentence begins to irk me. “How could you think I would let you go after that wonderful encounter?”
Savannah looks at me as thoughI’mthe crazy one. “What are you talking about?Nothinghappened between us. I took your order, and you thought, what? That I was in love with you?”
My eye roll was low tact but made my stance clear. “I’m not delusional. I knew you weren’t in love with me butwouldfall in love with me.”
She stares past me as tiny droplets streak down her face. She looks mesmerising like this – a melancholy soul immobilised by sadness. “So, everything?” she whispers. Her eyes come down to mine. “It was all a lie?”
My hand reaches up to her face as I remain crouched in front of her. The pad of my thumb wipes her tears away. “Only how we met. The rest was a beautiful love story.”
Her hand closes over mine. “You killed two people, Xavier,” she cries. “It’s not a love story. It’s a tragedy.”
“Butwe’restill here. Me, you and Elise. We can still have the perfect ending.”
Her head shakes, revoking my offer. “How are you any different to your mother? Her infidelity resulted in a death sentence. What about you?” she snarls.
“My wife was a liar. It was an eye for an eye. My mother did not love that man. I love you.”
She pulls my hand from her face but doesn’t release it. “You’re not capable of loving anyone. You’re a psychopath.” She lets go. “And it’s only a matter of time before you kill me.” As she says the words, fear instils in her. She no longer carries the strength she displayed since I returned home.
“I’m not going to kill you,” I reassure her.
She wipes under her eyes, erasing any evidence of her cries. “Let me go.”
Here I am, bearing the most vulnerable side of me, and she wants to fucking leave?
“Not yet.”
“Let me out of here, or I swear I will scream to the world about your precious diamonds.”
Excitement fills me. “What diamonds?” I ask, playing dumb.
“The one you made me wear. The ones that you harbour like a psychotic freak.”
My jaw twitches. “Watch your mouth, Miss Hayes. I don’t take kindly to name-calling.”
My cold stare moves from her up to the ceiling. Above us is my closet with mynewdiamond collection. The day I bought Savannah the ring, I replacedmycollection with replicas.
I shrug. “They won’t find anything in them.”
She laughs. “I know it’s made from ashes. Emery practically told me.”
“I know she told you. I know all about your meet-up with her the day she died.”
“How do you know? I didn’t tell anyone except… Hux?”
The temptation to lie and blame him is big, but I want her to know I was always five steps ahead of her.
“I knew bugging you would be too hard, but you left your queen unprotected.”
“Elise?” The question is followed by her tears again.
