Page 105 of Cruel Revenge

I back out of the driveway and turn onto the street, waiting for her to break the tension.

It’s choking in the car, and I can’t breathe. The hand that’s been wrapped around my chest for days tightens.

Skyla clears her throat. “What do you have to tell me?”

My knuckles turn white as I grip the wheel, heading back to the penthouse, though it’s going to be a slow trip with all the traffic out on a Friday night.

I merge with a lane, trying to think of the words to say to her.

As honest as I want to be, I know that she’s not going to see me the same once I tell her what I’ve been hiding.

Her family may be as fucked up as they come, but even they have limits.

She reaches out and puts her hand on my thigh, her thumb brushing up and down. “I just walked out on my family for you. You need to tell me the truth, and then we can start to move past everything. Or figure out how to rebuild from this shitstorm that seems to keep coming our way.”

I clear my throat, glancing over at the harsh shadows cast across her face from the neon lights shining in the windows.

How do you tell someone the worst parts about yourself?

How do you show them all that darkness and then hope that they don’t leave?

If I tell her the truth and she wants to leave me, I’m not going to ask her to stay. I’ll let her out of the deal, and her family can continue on with their dealings.

But it will kill me.

I clear my throat, rolling down the windows to let some of the cool night air into the car. “Well, drugs aren’t my only business.”

Her gaze is curious, her hand stilling on my leg. “I didn’t think it was.”

“I’m not talking about any of the legitimate businesses.”

“Okay.”

We come to a red light, and I reach down to put my hand over hers.

Her fingers and mine slot together like we were made for each other.

It’s an odd sensation, knowing that a person who could be akin to your missing piece is sitting right beside you, but you might be about to lose them.

Her thumb brushes against me again. “You’re starting to freak me out.”

“I don’t want to, but I know there are things your family tries to avoid.”

Skyla pulls her hand away from mine. “Are you talking about kidnapping?”

“No.” I swallow hard, running a hand over the back of my neck.

The light turns green, and we continue forward, though it’s slow going.

I wish I had chosen somewhere else to have this conversation with her. Somewhere I didn’t have to worry about being trapped with her and feeling the weight of her disappointment.

“Then what?” Her voice cracks a little. “What do you think is so horrible? I told you what I am and what I’m capable of. I think you should be able to do the same, don’t you?”

“I know.” I drum my fingers on the wheel before slipping my other hand away from hers.

I have to let her know. If we want to have any chance of ever moving this relationship forward, this needs to happen. No more secrets.

I take a deep breath. “I smuggle people across borders internationally for different reasons.”

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