"I still can’t get used to calling him by name," she confesses. "I still think of him as the stranger." She shudders. "He’s scary, and not only because he’s threatened me in the past. When I ran into him near the lodge while we were on the Christmas getaway, I swear, I thought that he was going to kill Christian. The look in his eyes—" she shakes her head, "—it was like there was no emotion in the man. It felt like I was looking at someone who’d had all his feelings stripped away, leaving someone indifferent behind. He seemed like someone who was more dead than alive."
"Oh, he’s very alive alright," I retort. "Trust me, I would know."
She stares at me, "Please tell me you are not considering a relationship with him?"
"Oh, I don’t think he’s capable of a relationship. Sex, yes. Anything else, nope."
"Why would you want to sleep with him?" She grimaces. "The man is a sociopath."
"Believe me, I’ve been asking myself the same question." I blow out a breath, "I am aware of what he did to you and Christian. I know what he’s capable of. But it doesn’t change the fact that he took a bullet for me."
"Maybe he did it by mistake."
"That’s what he claims as well," I mutter.
"So, you’ve been spending time with him?" Aurora frowns. "Christian did mention to me that he’d asked for you to move into the same house as him, but you don’t have to stay there, Theresa." She peers into my eyes, "Really, say the word, and I’ll insist that Christian come over and get you out of there."
I hesitate.
"Please don’t think twice. You shouldn’t be near that man. He’ll hurt you, Theresa."
"I know," I chew on my lower lip. "I know he’s done things that I can’t bear to think about. I know, at some point, I am going to be done resisting him and give into him, but I can’t stop myself. I can’t, Aurora." I survey her features. "You’d think, knowing everything I do, I’d run far away from him. But I can’t. I see glimpses of the man he really is beneath all that swagger. He’s hurting, Aurora. He’s been through a lot—" she opens her mouth and I raise my hand. "No, he hasn’t told me anything specific, but I can guess. Whatever happened to him has made him into what he is, but when he’s not being mean, I actually enjoy talking to him. He’s so intelligent, and so determined. You should see how he pushes himself every day to go through his physiotherapy exercises. It has to hurt, but he never complains. He simply throws himself into it because he’s determined to be back on his feet as soon as possible. I’ve never seen anyone so focused, so strong willed. It’s like he’s literally bending destiny to suit his needs, you know?"
She purses her lips. "It seems to me, you are quite taken in by this guy."
"No, no," I protest, "I am simply saying that he hasn’t let being wounded or the fact that parts of his memory are still patchy stop him. He’s just really committed to recovering from his injury."
She merely stares at me.
"Aurora, honestly. I don’t intend to have anything to do with this man."
"Then why don’t you leave?"
"I—" I glance away then back at her, "—I can’t."
"Why not?"
"I can’t leave him alone, not when he’s still helpless."
"He has bodyguards posted around the house, plus an entire team of doctors and nurses and physiotherapists—"
"—one physiotherapist, and don’t get me started about her."
"What?" She frowns.
"Nothing, don’t mind me." I bite the inside of my cheek. "You were saying?"
"That you need to get out of there before you are completely under his influence and can’t tell right from wrong."
"I know what he did to you was wrong." I hasten to add, "But he took a bullet for me. I’d be dead if it weren’t for him."
"Is that why you are staying, because you feel beholden to him?"
"Also, because he’s Xander’s triplet." I swallow. "Xan would have wanted me to help his triplet. He needs me."
"He doesn’t need you." Aurora draws in a breath. "The man is a manipulator. He knows how to use people to suit his needs. And right now, it suits him to have you at his beck and call. Once he’s back on his feet, he’ll move forward with his life and he won’t take another look at you. Not that the Sovranos will let him go anywhere. Especially, considering the fact that he did wound Christian, after all. But ultimately, he is one of them. They’ll work things out, no doubt. Bet he’ll come to some kind of an agreement with them that will compel them to set him free. And then he’ll leave. He’ll use you and discard you, Theresa."
"Gee, thanks," I murmur. "That’s so reassuring."