Page 110 of The Villain

“You’re not responsible for his death,” I’d reminded him. “But you are responsible for keeping his story alive.”

I wasn’t the only one starting over and breaking free from the things that had held me down.

“Don’t be nervous. Just tell them how he made you smile. Laugh. Live.”

The drawing wasn’t for sale; it was for the story. Ryan’s story. A black-and-white reminder of the sacrifice of soldiers so the rest of us could live in color. And Darius was here to tell it.

He made a low noise and lowered his head to my neck, whispering in my ear, “They’re going to love you.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then fuck them,” he rasped, and my heart fluttered. “If they don’t buy your paintings, I’ll buy all of them.”

“What? No.” I shook my head and laughed. “You can’t?—”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do—no price I wouldn’t pay—to know how you spent every moment in the years we’ve been apart.”

It had been so long, and yet, decades felt like nothing more than a drop in the ocean. Like no time had passed from the first time he lifted me onto my kitchen counter and kissed me senseless to the second time.

It made me wonder if the idea of time was more art than science. An interpretation of the world around us the way it could bend and stretch, quicken and slow, relative to its surroundings. Like a blank canvas altered by the paint of perception.

And around Dare, the time we’d been apart folded in on itself until it seemed so small compared to the time we’d been back together.

“Darius…” My lips parted, the words I’d lived with for weeks but hadn’t said no longer met a barrier of fear. This was my new beginning. And I wanted it to start with loving him. “I?—”

“Athena! Are you ready? The parking lot is filling up,” Glenn interrupted gleefully, tossing her bright orange scarf over her shoulder as she joined us.

“It is?”

“Come see.” She ushered me eagerly with her.

“I’ll be right here,” Dare murmured as he stepped back, his admiration urging me to step into my future as equally as the love in his eyes promised I’d find him there waiting.

“Excuse me, Ms. Holman. I’d like to purchase a painting.”

I didn’t think twice about the cold shiver that went through me; the air conditioning was on full blast. I didn’t think twice as I turned toward the deep voice that wanted one of my works; there was a huge crowd here to see my paintings. One that had awed and overwhelmed and consumed me.

And when I faced him, I didn’t think;I remembered.

My jaw went slack, the last blank frames of my memory from the morning of the explosion etched into place by this man’s pointed chin, narrow eyes, and dark hair. And then I caught the slow gesture of his hand as he moved his jacket to the side, revealing his right hand tucked underneath and holding a gun.

“We’re going to walk nice and easy to the back like you want to show me something.” His jacket flapped shut, concealing the danger underneath.

Without thought, my gaze searched for Dare. I was the one who told him I was fine. Who assured him he didn’t have to hover?—

“Don’t even think about screaming or making a scene unless you want someone to die.”

I looked back at the dark eyes glaring at me, and the air in my lungs went up in smoke. I nodded, not trusting myself tospeak, and turned, plastering my best attempt at a smile like everyone else’s life depended on it.

Breathe, Athena. Dare will realize. Dare will find you.

The man’s presence loomed behind me like a spider coming for his prey. I followed his instructions because if I wasn’t careful—if I didn’t think about how to get out of this—I’d only end up more tangled in his web.

We walked around the last displays in the gallery, and somehow I managed to give off no sign of concern to the few people we passed. The door that led to the warehouse space in the back swung open just before we reached it, and Glenn appeared. I tensed, and my captor made a low noise to remind me of the consequences of straying from his will.

“Oh, Athena.” My friend beamed. “There’s someone asking about the soldier?—”

“It’s not for sale.”

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