Page 117 of Betrayed in the Dark
Chapter twenty-six
Eli
Throwing open the front door, I charge inside, knowing exactly where I’ll find her.
“We need to talk, right fucking now,” I shout as I find her in the kitchen sitting on a counter stool with her hand wrapped around a spoon midair, prepared to dig into the pint of chocolate fudge ice cream before her.
“No, we don’t,” she answers calmly, thrusting the spoon into the container.
“Do you think ice cream is going to solve whatever the fuck is going on inside your head right now?”
She ignores me, shoving the spoon into her mouth while staring down into the container. Even from where I’m standing, I can see tears building in her eyes.
I don’t know if I want to throttle her and shake her until the truth comes out of her lips or wrap her in my arms and tell her everything is going to be okay.
“Madeleine!”
She pauses and meets my gaze, a slight twitch in her cheek as she bites her lip, trying to suppress the emotions racing through her.
I take a deep breath, placing my palms on the cool counter. “You need to talk to me. You need to tell me what is going on. And I’m not just talking about tonight. I’m talking about everything.” I drag my fingers through my hair. “I want to hear the truth, starting with why you’ve agreed to marry Alastor. I deserve the fucking truth!”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. I don’t need to do anything.” She drops her spoon on the counter and slides off her seat, ready to storm away. But before she can, I grip her arm and pull her into my chest.
She maintains her posture, her back as straight as an iron rod, but I can see how her jaw tightens, trying to hold together the last thread of her composure before she breaks.
I stare into her tear-filled eyes. “You’re scared,” I say softly.
She scoffs. “Scared? Of what?”
Her chest rises a little faster, and I don’t miss the deep swallow she takes.
I reach for a tendril of her dark hair, pushing it behind her shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me?”
For a moment, I think the wall between us has come crashing down, and she might actually begin to share what’s been going on. But in an instant, she blinks, and I watch as her hard exterior falls back into place.
“Nothing scares me,” she says flatly. “I’m an Alarie.”
“And clearly, a liar.”
Anger lines her features. “Don’t forget who you work for, Eli. You’re in no position to undermine me.”
I can’t help but let out a deep, throaty laugh. “Oh, Princess. That’s where you’re wrong.” Her brows cinch in confusion as shewaits for me to elaborate. “You’re in charge of managing your family’s finances regarding the main account, correct?”
“Obviously.”
“Then you know every transaction that comes in and goes out?”
“Of course.”
“Every employee’s salary?”
“Yes!”
“Then tell me this: how much am I getting paid to be your bodyguard?”
“Well, you get… You make… I think it’s somewhere around…” Her whole body freezes in my grasp; her lips, after seconds of contemplating my question, part in shock.
“How much?” I ask again, speaking slowly to emphasize my point.
