Page 116 of Bitter Heat

“Psychologist?” she whispered.

Kaia cocked her head to the side. “You don’t know?”

“Mom.”

They both jumped. Roth stood in the entrance of the library. His expression was as inscrutable as always, but something was wrong with his eyes.They glittered like black diamonds in his otherwise still face.

“You’re done,” he said in a soft voice that made her stomach flip.

“She doesn’t know, does she?” Kaia managed to sound defiant and nervous at the same time.

“That doesn’t concern her.”

“You haven’t changed,” Kaia whispered.

“Neither have you,” he said coolly as he clasped his hands behind his back.

“You’re holding something over her. She’s not willing,” Kaia said.

His eyes cut to her. Her skin began to itch as she felt his will pressing on her. She felt as if she were receiving tiny paper cuts all over her body. The low-key anxiety she had been nursing on the ride here had turned into full-blown panic.

“You know nothing about my relationship with Jasmine. Johan,” Roth said, and the guard appeared at his side. “My mom needs a ride back to the airport.”

“No, Roth!” she said and stepped protectively in front of Kaia.

“It’s fine, Jasmine,” Kaia said.

“No, it’s not. I don’t understand what’s—”

She didn’t realize Roth had moved until it was too late. He yanked her away from Kaia who backed away hastily as if she was afraid he was going to get physical with her.

“Wait, Roth, you can’t let her leave!”

Kaia paused at the door and opened her mouth to say something, but her eyes flicked to Roth, and she hastily looked away. Johan gestured out the door, and she walked out.

“Wait!” Jasmine shouted, but Johan closed the door, bouncing her scream right back in her face.

Roth cupped her face. “What did she say to you?”

She glared at him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

If she wasn’t plastered against him, she might have missed the way he tensed.

“What do you mean?” he asked in a voice completely devoid of all emotion.

“She said you’re going to ruin me.”

His eyes moved over her face as he considered her words. The fact that he didn’t immediately contradict Kaia made her heart slam against her ribs.

“What are you going to do to me?” she whispered.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

She didn’t believe him. “Back off.”

“She was your one request, so I allowed her to come. I knew better,” he said mildly as if she wasn’t struggling with every ounce of strength she had to get away from him. “Don’t listen to her.”

“Your own mother told me not to marry you!”

---