Page 102 of Arrogant and Merciless

"I know, but you’re safe now," I reply, raising her hand to my lips, trying to calm myself more than her.

"Do you think he also . . .hurt other women?"

"Define ‘hurt.’ He slept with girls who were underage, Taylor. It doesn’t matter whether it was by force or by luring them with money and gifts. He was as twisted as his eldest son. In any case, he had the chance to?—"

"—rape me, right?"

"Yes, and he didn’t. I think he became obsessed with you. He likely already wanted a divorce from my mother and took advantage of the situation. She mentioned my father confessed he’d fallen in love with you."

"My God, what madness!"

I drape an arm around her shoulders, holding her close.

"What happens now?" she asks.

"Curtis will be evaluated to see if he’s fit to stand trial."

"Even though he can’t even go to the bathroom by himself?"

"It’s a mental evaluation, not a physical one, Taylor."

"And what about your father?"

"He can’t hide forever."

"There’s something I need to tell you. Jackie’s friend is hunting him, but I don’t think he plans on bringing him to justice."

I look at her so she’ll understand what I’m about to say. "After everything I’ve discovered now, that wasn’t my intention either."

Taylor

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

I go downstairsfor breakfast with my heart pounding.

I keep both hands clasped behind my back, trying to hide a smile.

William is cooking our meal. I found out he loves to cook, even though he rarely does it.

I’ve become quite the glutton as the pregnancy progresses, and I’m delighted on weekends when he makes delicious pancakes.

I look at the back of the man who has become my whole world, thinking about how far we’ve come. We’ve been doing all the talking we never did in our first relationship.

Bit by bit, I’ve discovered a different William from the one I thought I knew.

For instance, I found out by accident that on the day he learned I’d gone missing, he had a music room built here in the apartment for me. He told me he’d spent hours in there, staring at my teenage violin that he’d bought back, telling himself he would bring me home.

He didn’t seem to like remembering that time, but I needed to hear it and understand his side, too—to see that my nightmare had consequences not just for me but for everyone who loved me.

He surprised me even more when he revealed that he hadn’t had sex with any other woman since I left. He was honest enough to say it wasn’t always going to stay that way—he’d planned on getting revenge on me and then moving on. But once we found each other again, even while he was still angry, he knew we belonged to each other.

"You know what my favorite childhood game was?" I ask, forcing myself to leave those memories behind and focus on the present.

He’s shirtless, wearing only sweatpants, and when he turns to look at me, I see his six-pack on display. For a moment, I forget why I even came down here.

Especially when he flashes that smile that makes my knees go weak.

"I have no idea, but I know you well enough to see you’re up to something. What are you hiding behind your back?"

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