Page 61 of Devious Truth

Ivan steps to me, cautiously, as though he can sense me battling my instinct to run and hide.

“You’ve been carrying all that all by yourself.” His anger still underlines his words.

But I can sense the rage isn’t at me; it’s for me. For the pain I’ve had to endure, and maybe the fact that he wasn’t there to protect me. Even though all of it happened before he even touched my life.

“I knew you were strong, but fuck, that had to be so much.” He cups my face, drawing me into him. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore. Not while I’m breathing.”

“Don’t.” I push his hand away and shove away from the table. “You can’t make that promise. You have no idea what can happen on any day.”

His brow pulls tight. “I know that I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you from getting hurt.”

“How? By keeping men sitting outside my apartment for the rest of my life? What about you? Kaz went to dinner, a date, and look what happened to him.” I pick up the dishes and bring them to the sink.

“Yes. I’ll keep men on the street, outside your door if I need to.”

“And the rest? You think Marco DeAngelo and the rest of his family is going to back down anytime soon? Kaz was shot, Ivan, do you think I don’t know what that means for what comes next?” I press the heel of my hands into the edge of the counter.

His phone blares from the coffee table.

“You should get that,” I say when he continues to stare at me.

“I’m not worried about my phone.”

“Get your phone.” I turn, ready to leave to him to it, but he catches my wrist, spins me back to him until I’m crushed against his chest.

His fingers dig painfully into my cheeks as he grips my face, forcing me to stare into his heated stare. “You’re cute like this, thinking you can control the moment.”

“I’m not trying to control anything?—”

“But you and I both know it’s the last thing you want.” He leans into me. “You’re mine now, Vee. I didn’t just say that because my dick was inside you. I said it because I meant it. And I mean it still today.”

“Well, you were wrong.” Shoving at his chest proves impossible. His grip only tightens.

“You think so?”

“Yes. I’m not yours. I’m not anyone’s!” I kick him in the shin.

Pain ricochets up from my bare foot up into my leg, while he seems completely unfazed. Except for the black clouds that have entered the room and hover directly over us. Those suggest I’ve unleashed a storm of epic proportions.

“You kicked me.”

No sense in backing down now.

“I did. Let me go.” I try again to pull free of his grasp, but still, he doesn’t relent.

His eyes narrow.

A sinister force curls his lips as he lowers his mouth to my ear. I stiffen, knowing whatever he’s about to say is going to break me.

“You’re a bad girl, Vivienne.”

The words scratch over my soul.

He pulls back just enough to bring our eyes in line. “A very bad girl.”

My heart sinks, it’s become a lead anchor diving to the pit of my stomach. An ache I’ve never felt before overwhelms me.

“No.” I shove at his chest, willing him to take back the words. “I’m not.”

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