He digested my words with the same stern expression. “You left him because you realized you wanted more out of life. Makes no sense to go back.”
“It makes perfect sense when you realize there’s nothing more out there,” I snapped. “It’s just more monsters. More assholes. The only good person I’ve ever known is dead. Everyone else are demons in human skin.”
His eyes hesitated by dropping for a second or two.
“You want to know the other reason I want to go back to him?”
After a pause, he looked at me again, his expression guarded as if he suspected what I would say next.
“Because it would drive you crazy. It would drive you crazy to know your brother has what he wants, and it would drive you crazy to know that your whore prefers him to you. There’s no place I’d rather be than with Grave because your sorrow is far more important than my happiness.”
He took a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Don’t be like me. Look where it got me.”
“You live in a mansion, have a yacht, pay pretty girls to suck your dick. I think you’re doing just fine.” I felt no pity for him, and nothing he said could change that.
“I’m bitter. I don’t want you to be bitter.”
“Then you shouldn’t have fucked me and showed it to your brother.” I leaned against the edge of the bed and kept my foot above the ground. “You shouldn’t have used my feelings like chips in a goddamn poker game. Get out, Cauldron.”
He remained there, muscular arms by his sides, his eyes downcast for a moment. “Let me help you—”
“I’d rather sleep in my clothes than let you touch me.”
He stayed for several more seconds, either because he thought I would change my mind or he was stunned by what I’d said. Wordlessly, he walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him. The lock didn’t click, so I was free to come and go as I pleased, like he thought I couldn’t get far in my state.
Asshole shouldn’t underestimate me.
TWO
CAULDRON
His number had popped up on my screen several times throughout the week.
I ignored all his calls.
Guess he wasn’t dead.
Sitting at my desk, I took the call. “You’re alive.”
“I’ve got a broken arm, asshole.”
“And you still didn’t drown? Damn.”
“Fuck you.”
I grinned just as I did when I was a boy. It was always fun to antagonize him. “What do you want?”
“Camille. Give her to me, or I’ll take her.”
“With a broken arm?” I taunted. “Good luck with that.”
“How about a gun to your head?”
“I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“Then you’ll see it soon because I’ve lost all my patience.”
“Funny. So have I.”
Silence. A lot of it.
“She wants to be with me, Cauldron. Let her go.”
“That’s rich, coming from you.”
“You heard her.”
“She didn’t mean it. Just wanted to get away from me.”
“Then let her go,” he repeated. “You don’t deserve her, not after what you did.”
“And you do?” I asked incredulously. “You’re the one who kept her mother’s necklace hostage. You’re the one who tried to force her to marry you, when she explicitly said she didn’t love you. You deserve her even less.”
His anger started to bleed through. “Let. Her. Go.”
“So you can pick her up? No.”
“You really hate me this much?” he snapped. “Keep her even though you don’t want her, just so I can’t have her?”
“Who said I didn’t want her?”
“Your betrayal.”
Now it was my turn to be silent, to stew in my regret.
“I’m no Prince Charming, but at least I give a damn about her. I would never do half the shit you did—and she knows that. If she’s going to be stuck with one of us, I’m the clear winner. Now, let her go, or I’ll march in there and take her.”
“My door is always open, Grave.” I hung up.
I knew that wouldn’t be the end of him. The war had only begun.
THREE
CAMILLE
I was actually glad I sprained my ankle.
Now the bedroom door was unlocked, and my threat level was extinguished. I set my alarm to wake me up in the dead of night, and then I used my crutches to leave my bedroom and head down the hall. At the pace of a snail, I took my time, careful not to slip on the rug in the middle of the room.
When I reached the stairs, I realized this would be harder than I’d thought.
With the crutches tucked underneath my arm, I sat on the top step then scooted my bottom to the next step. I repeated that motion, moving from step to step, taking ten minutes to get all the way to the bottom.
The house was quiet, the servants were all asleep, so I was able to make it to his study without interference.
Exploring his yacht showed me that he had guns stashed everywhere, in every room and even in the hallways. The guy was always prepared for a war. My exploration of the house had come up empty, but I was certain his study had the goods. I turned the knob to step inside and realized it was locked.