Page 24 of The Diávolos: Part Two
“I thought this place was Hendrick’s?”
“It is, but we have an agreement. Hen is my oldest friend and my first ever business partner. He lets me use his facilities when I’m in town, and he uses mine when he visits Cebrene. Apart from Xan and Dion, he’s the only other person I trust.”
I take in what he just told me, but so many questions buzz through my head.
“Were you the one who asked Sebastian to bring me here?”
“Yes. I need answers, and I’ll do anything necessary to get them. I know Gianis will bend over backward for you, so it was either bring him here or fly you to Cebrene. I don’t think you would’ve appreciated the latter.”
I wince. My mind races with a myriad of things: first, I’m being used as a pawn,again.Second, the idea of stepping foot back in Cebrene leaves a sour taste in my mouth, even a year later.
“I’m glad to see you haven’t changed,” I say, bitterness in my tone.
Evan’s hand drops from the keypad, and he turns to face me, his jaw ticking. After a moment, he sighs.
“I know what you’re thinking. But you’re wrong.”
I raise my eyebrows and wait for him to continue.
“Everything I do isforyou, to keepyousafe, to make sure my empire doesn’t crash so thatwecan have a life together. I’m eliminating all threats to betteryourlife. I might’ve had bad intentions before I met you, but you can’t say that I wouldn’t doanythingto be with you.”
I narrow my gaze in suspicion. “Come on, Evan. Do you really expect me to believe that you’re not using me again?”
His eyes burn with intensity, giving way to an unwavering glare. “People make mistakes, Angelica. It doesn’t define who they are forever. I’ve learned from what I did; it doesn’t make me irredeemable,” Evander argues, taking a step toward me.
“Trust is hard to rebuild, Evan,” I breathe out softly.
“I understand that. It’s okay to be cautious, my angel, but don’t let fear hold you back. Give me a chance to show you I can change.”
“Doing all this proves the exact opposite,” I counter.
My breathing comes to a complete stop when he swings me around and crashes my body against the door.
“I can gladly give you a reminder of how much you mean to me if you’ve forgotten,” he murmurs into my ear.
I hit him across the chest. “No. I want you to let me and Gianis go.”
He smiles, just the corner of his mouth lifting, and opens the door behind me, gesturing for me to go in. When I turn, I gasp aloud. Gianis is sitting in front of me, tied to a chair, with a gag in his mouth. I hadn’t noticed before, but he has a gash on his right eye that is surrounded by a bruise.
My best friend smiles at me with sorrow, and I know it’s only to try and hide the pain from me. But it does nothing to appease the terrible fear of losing him. I really hope Evan doesn’t make me choose between the two of them. I couldn’t bear living in a world absent of either.
My lips tremble and my eyes well up with tears.
Evan approaches Gianis and removes the cloth from his mouth. They both stare at each other in silence, and I wonder what kind of war is brewing in their heads.
These men have been fighting like bulls for years, but the only one who ever gets hurt is me. They are so consumed in their quest to destroy each other, oblivious to the peripheral damage they’re causing.
Evan breaks the silence as he circles back to me. “Since you’re so adamant on keeping quiet about why you were found on one of my cargo ships, maybe yourlittle birdcan convince you to speak up. Isn’t that right,angeloúdi mou?” he mocks, running the back of his hand down my cheek.
I blink and water spills out of my eyes, right onto his skin. He swipes his finger up and catches a drop, bringing the salty tear to his mouth.
“Always so divine.”
Why is he tormenting me like this? We’re supposed to be on the same side. He promised to never hurt Gianis. But I smile impassively, despite my tears. I refuse to let him taunt me with my weaknesses. If Evan is even the slightest taken aback by my behavior, he doesn’t show it.
When you learn how to control your feelings, you become very dangerous. I remind myself that no matter what I go through, I will come out more powerful.
There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.
