Page 61 of Sinful Promise

“Isn’t that the basic definition of stalking?”

“It was for your own safety.”

“My ownsafety? What the hell are you talking about?”

But then it dawns on me.

He knows.

“I should have known that Zara and Dimitri wouldn’t keep this to themselves.” I climb to my feet and wipe the dirt off my legs. “What I didn’t expect was for you to lie to me.”

“I didn’t lie?—”

“How could you betray me like this, Danil? I thought we were friends.”

“Yeah, I thought so too,” Danil bites back as he gets to his feet. “So, why didn’t I hear it from you that some creep is stalking you?”

“It’s none of your damn business.”

A bitter laugh spills from Danil’s lips. I don’t think I’ve ever seen his eyes look so cold.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been dragged into this too, so itismy business.”

I glare at him.

“Well, I’m officially unmaking it your business, so please feel free to fuck the hell off.” I grab my bag off the floor and stalk away.

Surprisingly,Danil doesn’t follow me. But I’m glad. I’m honestly to hurt and upset to talk to him rationally.

How could he have known about my stalker all this time and not say anything?

I thought we were friends.

And I know this is a screwed-up way of looking at it, but I’m actually hurt.

Yes, I was hiding it from him. Yes, he has a right to feel hurt, too. What I was hiding wasn’t directly connected to him. It was my secret. Mine alone.

The fact that he was hiding this from me and his secret affects me too feels like a betrayal.

My heart aches as I arrive at my sister’s penthouse.

Not only has my best friend betrayed me, but so has my sister. She promised that she wouldn’t tell Dimitri. That she would keep it to herself, and only ask for the security system, and yet she broke that promise all too easily.

Is there anyone left I can trust?

As I step out of the elevator, Danil is already there, waiting for me. But before he has a chance to say anything, I storm straight past him as if I didn’t even see him.

Once upon a time, I would have given anything to talk to him, to hear his laugh or watch his eyes crinkle as he smiled.

Now, the sight of him makes me sick to my stomach.

“You can call off your watchdog,” I snap at Dimitri, who’s pouring himself a drink, as I cross the living area. “I don’t want or need a bodyguard.”

Especially one who has no interest in me.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so humiliated, and the fact that Danil kissed me only makes me feel worse.

Was he feeling guilty about keeping this secret from me? Is that why he did it?

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