Page 80 of Brutal Knight

Not Knight, but Raul.

I stiffened, closing off all emotions and I straightened, turning to look at him. His large presence filled the doorway.

"Is it true?" I asked, hating myself.

"Yes," Raul confirmed. "He left yesterday to bury his father and to take care of business."

My chest burned.Knight had left without saying a word of goodbye.

"Did he--" I hesitated, my self loathing growing, but forcing the words out anyways, "did he say anything about returning?"

Raul shook his head. "He left everything to me."

I inhaled a sharp breath, my voice coming out a squeak. "Everything?"

His lips twisted upwards into a wolf-like grin. "You mean, did he leaveyouto me?"

"No," I argued, "I meant the business. Did he leave you in charge?"

"Si, Tatiana. I'm in charge now."

"And--" I couldn't make myself say the words but stared him down silently.

“He didn't say anything about you, if that's what you're wondering.”

"I don't believe you."

Raul's shoulder came up. "Suit yourself. Call him if you want."

"I will," I growled out, knowing I wouldn't. How could I? In a matter of a week, Knight had proposed, then dumped me without even having the decency of telling me to my face. I wouldn't beg him for anything.

I had to go.

I moved towards the doorway but Raul didn't move.

"Let me leave."

Raul's eyes roamed over me once more, just like he had at the funeral, lingering on my breasts.

"I hope that once you realize Knight felt nothing for you, you won't fight your parents' negotiation with me."

In that moment, I knew what Raul said was true. If Knight really did care about me, he wouldn't have left me with the wolves, with men like Raul.

"I will never marry you," I snarled, but Raul only laughed.

“You still don't understand," he said, speaking to me like he would a child, "money talks in this world."

"Not to me."

He shook his head. "Maybe not to you, but it speaks a great deal to your parents, and you're too loyal to them to go against their wishes."

I stepped to move past him, and he stood to the side, allowing me to leave. I snarled as I past him, hoping he couldn’t hear the pain in my voice. “We’ll see about that."

NINETEEN

PRESENT DAY

I sat in the white, kinda-new Honda Accord, something Rook provided for me after I’d left Knight's house. It was plain enough to be inconspicuous in this middle-class neighborhood.

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