Page 16 of Deadly Sights

I shrug, struggling to find the right words. “I don’t know, but it makes me feel…”

He quirks up. “What do I make you feel?”

For countless seconds, I have no answer I’m willing to share or that makes sense. There’s no explanation for the way my body reacts to being close to him or the fullness in my heart at his stare.

I place my silverware beside my plate and say, “Why are you here?”

“Are we doing this now?” His face transforms. The humor I’ve seen in his response too many times leaves his expression for something more serious.

“Yes, I think we should. No more weapons this time.” I glance at his quirked eyebrow. “But I reserve the option if I don’t like what you have to say.”

“Of course.” Julian nods and clears our plates from the table before leading me to the living room.

He sits in front of me, holding my hands. Comforting warmth seeps from his firm grip, and I don’t have the will to take them from him. The silence builds my anticipation. Is this when he drops a bombshell on me, exposing his manipulations to get me to soften up to him for an end goal I can’t think of right now?

“I’m here to keep a promise,” he says.

His response is so far from what I expect, that it takes me a while to follow up with a question of my own.

“Who did you make this promise to?”

Julian eyes me, his pause causing me to tense the longer he leaves my question unanswered. “I don’t think you’re ready for the answer to that yet. But know the person I’m beholden to wants you to achieve everything you desire. I’m here to eliminate obstacles and ensure your happiness.”

I pull my hands from his and stand to tower over him. “You don’t get to determine what I’m ready to hear.”

“I agree. It’s not my call.”

“Then it’s mine and I want to know who is pulling your strings.”

He tilts his head to the side while studying me. His eyes go to the scar on my face. “How’d you come by the scar?”

I touch the raised tissue on my cheek. Although judgment and disgust aren’t evident in his voice, the reminder that my face isn’t perfect throws me into a vulnerable place. Considering I’ve never known my face to not have the disfigurement, I shouldn’t have a reaction when someone points it out.

Julian gently pushes me onto the seat facing him and takes my hands again. “If you aren’t ready to tell me, that’s okay.”

“What does my scar have to do with the person behind you?”

“It’s not the scar per se, it’s what I suspect occurred from the incident. Do you have any memory of a time before you were wounded?”

“What if I don’t?”

“That’s why you’re not prepared for everything I want to tell you. And believe me, I have so many things to share, but I won’t. Not yet.”

I touch my cheek again. “The reason you won’t leave me alone is because you knew me before my accident? How?”

His eyes warm as he stares at my face. “Not one day has gone by that I don’t remember you. The truth is, I’ll forget my name, my face, every identity I’ve ever created, and my very essence before I fail to recognize you.”

CHAPTER 9

ANOTHER TARGET AND... A DATE?

Nadira

“You’re not wearing the outfit I picked out for you.” Julian appears beside me as if manifested through a magical summons I didn’t initiate.

“It would have drawn too much attention.” I glance down at my off-the-shoulder lilac dress. The subtle color compliments my deep brown skin tone without being too flashy. Its understated elegance guarantees no one will remember me as I blend in the crowd.

“I wholeheartedly disagree. Although what I put together was a showstopper, everything you wear draws my attention to you.” He lowers his voice to a growl, “And you test the limits of my control every time.”

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