Page 69 of Sinful Union

“Hey.” Kat’s voice cuts through the storm of my thoughts.

She’s wearing one of my button-downs, the hem hitting mid-thigh, barely covering her long, toned legs. It falls off one shoulder, exposing her smooth skin, the curve of her collarbone.Her hair is wild from sleep, she’s barefoot, and she looks tired, her eyelids still heavy. Even exhausted, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

She leans against the doorframe, watching me. “Couldn’t sleep?”

I down the last of my whiskey, letting the heat settle in my chest. “Too much to think about.” My gaze rakes down her body, slow and deliberate. “You should be in bed.”

She tilts her head, the faintest smirk playing on her lips. “So should you.”

I set the glass down. “It’s been a busy night.”

“I know.” She lingers near the door, as if uncertain whether she’s allowed to approach.

I stand up from the desk, but she lifts a hand, stopping me. “Wait,” she says softly.

Something in her expression makes my stomach clench. “What is it?”

I can see she’s trembling. “I have one more confession, and I need to tell you before this goes any further.”

“Go on.”

She inhales a shaky breath then holds out her hand. In it is a small glass vial. It catches the lamplight, the liquid inside nearly colorless. Tears fill her eyes.

“What is that?” I ask. But I already know.

“Poison.”

The word hangs in the air.

“Piotr gave me this,” she says. “He wanted me to kill you on our wedding night.”

A flash of fury lances through me. I stare at the vial before looking up at her tear-streaked cheeks. I clench my fists as I recall everything that happened that night, the fear in her eyes, the way she seemed distant afterward.

“He told you to kill me,” I echo, the words coming out in a bitter snarl. “And you agreed?”

Tears slide down her cheeks. “I was stupid, angry, misguided. It was ingrained in me that your family was responsible for the death of my parents. Piotr convinced me it was the only way to get revenge. But when it came down to it, I couldn’t do it. I’ve kept the vial hidden ever since.”

I take a deep breath, releasing it slowly, forcing myself to keep my voice level. “Why didn’t you throw it away? Destroy it?”

She shrugs helplessly, tears still falling. “I couldn’t face it, I guess. I needed to remember how close I came to making the worst decision of my life. I never intended to use it.”

Part of me wants to lash out at her, at the fact that she kept yet another secret from me.But there’s another part, one that recognizes the fear she’s been carrying, one that knows she’s telling me because she trusts me now.

“You should have told me sooner.”

She nods, swallowing. “I know. I’m sorry. I was afraid you’d never forgive me.”

I pluck the vial from her fingers, my gaze fixed on the lethal contents. I reach for her shoulder with my free hand, drawing her closer.I glare down at the tiny vial in my hand, my jaw tight.“You’re forgiven,” I say coldly. I toss the damn thing into the trash. “It’s done.”

Kat releases a shaky breath, tears spilling over onto my shirt. “You’re not angry?”

“I am,” I snap, “but not with you, not anymore. He used you, your grief, your loyalty. That’s on Piotr.”

A half-broken laugh escapes her, one I can only imagine is relief. “Thank you.” She tilts her head back and wipes her cheeks, eyes glistening. “I love you.”

Something hot sparks in my chest. I take her face in my hands, leaning in for a kiss that starts gentle then grows desperate.“I love you, too, and I swear, I’ll fix all of this. He won’t touch you ever again.”

She clings to me, kissing me back fiercely through her tears. My body hums with the urge to take her back to our room, show her just how much I love her, but then we hear a crash downstairs.

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