AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Daniel pushed and messed with me, he could be an arrogant bully, he needed to get over himself, he needed to let people in—but he wasn’t a monster. And I couldn’t stand that he was going through life thinking that.
“That’s what you meant,” he mused and his hand smoothed over my hair. The ache in my throat had eased somewhat and my tears had slowed. “About knowing real monsters.” He tipped my face back and gave me a soft smile even as his eyes still glinted with murder. “Please let me torture and kill him, beautiful.”
That got a laugh out of me. “Take a shower.”
Daniel seemed to want to say something else, but he nodded and let me go. I all but fled from the room, rubbing at my face, and shaking all over. What was wrong with me? What had dredged up all those memories? Seeing Daniel’s scars? Or was it something else?
Because despite the welcome apology, something was gnawing in the pit of my gut, and I wandered around Daniel’s apartment, unable to focus. All day, I’d had a terrible sense of foreboding, not about Lia or Ty—Lia who’d texted me earlier and assured me that she was okay and that she’d see me soon—but about Daniel.
Finally, I went into my bedroom and began to dig through my clothes, needing to get out of the leggings and shirt I was wearing. But all I had was a silky pajama top and a pair of soft pants, both a little too suggestive and clingy. With nothing else for it, I pulled them on, and then went into Daniel’s room, thinking I had time to snag a robe before he got out of the shower.
I was pulling a soft blue one on when I heard the door open, and my face flushed.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“Hm?” I turned and my mouth went dry as I beheld Daniel with his arms folded, wet hair pushed back in messy clumps, and a white towel riding low on his hips. My eyes went straight to the dark blonde hair on his stomach, the deep grooves of muscle byhis hips, and the water that traced down his sternum. “I needed a robe.”
“What if I need a robe?” Daniel asked and prowled toward me.
“Too bad,” I said and slipped across the room before he could catch me. “Where’s your first aid kit?”
“I don’t think I have one,” he called as I headed for the kitchen.
“Flora wouldn’t let you live here without one,” I said and began to rummage through the kitchen until I found a kit tucked into a random cabinet. “Aha.” I flourished it as Daniel came out, wearing gray sweats and a black tank top. “Come here.”
He grumbled but obliged and I pulled out the antiseptic, spritzing his scrapes and eyeing his bruises. But he seemed fine otherwise, despite the shiner on his face, and he settled in to eat leftovers at the table while I hovered around, fighting the urge to ask questions. When he finished eating and began sipping at some whiskey, I slid in on the other side of the built-in seat, but then perched on the table, too jittery to sit anywhere else. Daniel made no comment, only handed me a glass, and I took a sip.
I then realized it had been whiskey I’d tasted on his lips earlier. That he’d never kissed me like that, and I’d liked it—and I wanted to know all the ways Daniel Michaelson could kiss. Needing to change the subject, I blurted out, “So, where were you coming from?”
A smile flitted over Daniel’s face. “The Cathouse.Brothel. Strip club. Great bar.” He sipped as I clenched my jaw and tried to squash the flare of jealousy.
“So, strippers and sex workers beat you up?” I asked.
Daniel choked and gave me a look with a glint in his eye. “You wish.”
“I would pay good money to see that,” I acknowledged.
There was a moment of silence as Daniel took a deep draft of his drink and then set it down, before looking at his hands. I thought he maybe was avoiding looking at me.
“Hendrix is dead.” Now Daniel looked at me and I went still as though electrocuted. “Lia is safe. Safer than safe, I promise.”
“And he killed Marina?” I asked quietly. Daniel nodded and I closed my eyes. “Lia—Lia got revenge, then.” It wasn’t a question. “She killed him.”
A warm hand cupped my knee, and I opened my eyes. “Yes. But she’s fine. The Bratva owe her a debt because she avenged their uncle.” He gave me a searching look. “How did you know she did it?”
“She’s her mother’s daughter,” I said and now I looked away. “Marina and Lia—they took care of my ex. Mostly Marina, being a cop. He was older. A well-connected doctor in Denverand pretty much untouchable—with a lot of friends in law enforcement.” Daniel’s hand tightened on my knee. “But Sara figured it out, she just showed up with her mom, and Marina got me out.” I swallowed hard. “He—he said he’d make me wish I were dead if I ever left.”
“I’ll kill him.”
“Jail is a worse punishment, believe me,” I said and looked back at him. “He lost his reputation, everything. But he—he won in some regards. You must have wondered why a Korean chick has an American last name?” Daniel dipped his head once, his eyes not leaving mine. “My family disowned me. They didn’t want me to leave, they didn’t want me to cause a scandal—”
Daniel stood up and walked away from the table, dragging a hand over his face. When he came back, he offered me the whiskey and I shook my head.
“My extended family, some of them, they were on my side, but it caused a lot of problems. Because I was so young and it was a mess, they locked up the case. My name was kept from the public for the most part.”
“That’s why I couldn’t find anything,” Daniel said and sat back down.
“You looked?”
