Page 47 of Break Me Beautifully

"I've never been angry enough to want revenge," I say.

"Never?" he asks, his eyebrows furrowing. "Not once?"

"I guess I'm struggling with the idea. Nothing has happened to me like it has to you. The worst thing I can think of is when my brother got locked away, but that was his fault for messing with drugs."

"You don't feel furious at the people who got him involved with the drugs?"

"Wait, do youknowabout my brother?"

"I know a lot about your family, Leona."

I frown mildly. "Willbur lost the case. My sister, Katy, she was pretty wrecked over it. They're twins, it was bound to be harder on her than anyone else. But if he did something wrong, what else is there but accepting his punishment? I'm not sure I could stay focused on chasing someone down the way you are, let alone committing an act of vengeance."

Marshall is holding his breath. "No," he says quietly. "You're not capable of it. And you shouldn't be." He kisses my temple, talking in my ear, hugging me hard enough to make my ribs ache. It's the way you hold someone you're trying to shield from something. What is he protecting me from? What's causing his rush of frantic emotion? "Forget I asked," he says, his voice vibrating in my cells. "Revenge creates a taint inside of people, Leona. A black tar that never washes away. Stay innocent for me. Stay unchanged. Understand?"

I wish I could tell him it's too late.

Chapter 14.

Ishould have stuffedtissues under my arms. I'm sweating so much I'm sure it'll stain the ivory turtleneck sweater dress I've put on. It's the first white thing I've worn since Marshall gave me access to my private studio space.

How did the time go by so quick?

Too quick, honestly, because I hoped for a chance to show Bradford Mink what I was working on before it was hung on the walls of his gallery space. Unfortunately, things kept getting in the way. That's what Marshall told me each time I begged him to find a way to show my progress to the man bank-rolling my show.

But now I'm here, back at the Ramette House, with only an hour until the start of my first show. Wringing my hands, I look up at Marshall, expecting him to be smirking at my signs of distress. He's staring straight ahead at the far wall.

What's he thinking about?I wonder, considering how quiet he's been since we got in the car. I don't have time to muse. The door to the back room I've never gotten a peek at opens. Bradford Mink strolls into the vast show room. He's dressed in a white suit, several rings glittering on his hands. Min is at his elbow.

"Friends!" he crows, opening his arms as wide as his grin. "Great to see you both."

I snap myself straight, hands at my sides like he's a military general, and I'm some new recruit. "Mr. Mink, I'm so glad to get to talk to you again!"

"Yes, right, I've been incredibly busy, apologies." He looks Marshall dead in the face, sizing him up with a strange smile. "Klintock, hope you're well."

"Of course I am," he replies flatly.

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