Page 61 of My Heartless Soul

“Why?”

“In case you forgot, I have a daughter and a sister who live with me.”

“And?”

“And I can’t just leave them out on the street!”

“Jesus, how heartless do you think I am?”

“That’s a rhetorical question, right?” I raise my eyebrow, and she sends me that unamused smile.

“Once again, hilarious. You’re all moving in. I have seven bedrooms,” Kira deadpans me.

“You are not being serious right now.”

“Actually, I am. As serious as food poisoning from raw chicken.”

“I still can’t move into your place.”

“And why the fuck not this time? Am I not solving all your issues right now? Aren’t you supposed to kiss my Louboutins right now and pledge your allegiance to me?”

“You are the most exhausting woman on this planet, and that is saying something as I was married to the bitch of all bitches, but you…you’re a whole different story.”

“Well, I guess your cock has a type.”

“Yeah, I guess he does.” I watch as she swallows hard at my answer, and a pang of guilt gnaws at me because Kira is nothing like Viola. Yes, she is cold and unfeeling, but that is just her. She doesn’t pretend to be warm and fuzzy, only to stab you in your heart while you are sleeping.

And I see the damage my words have done. I see those walls rising up once again.

The Kira Clark is back in full force. “Tough shit because we are done here. We both let the tension out, and that won’t be happening again. So, for the love of my kitchen, get your stuff into my place and hurry up.”

“You know what?” I held up my hands. “Have it your way. We will move in, but I’m raising the thermostat to normal people’s temperature.”

“Do whatever the hell you want,” she answers with a bored look, which I know she is using to hide behind. “But out of curiosity, what is wrong with my temperature now?”

“Nothing if you are a heartless vampire.”

“So many new nicknames for one day,” Kira turns up the smugness in her voice. “Why don’t you figure out if I am your boss, your witch, your baby, or a cold vampire. Might make your life a little easier, you know.”

“No, it won’t.”

“I am already afraid to ask, why?”

“Because the only thing I’d like to call you would be mine. All other additions can come and go.”

And the mask she was desperately trying to put back up, slips.

Chapter twenty-eight

Vassar

“Daddy.” Victoria’s little hand keeps pulling on my sleeve for the past five minutes. That’s exactly how long Sophie and I have been standing in the foyer of Kira’s apartment—what a moderate word for this soulless penthouse—and not being able to move an inch.

“Are you sure you understood her correctly?” my sister asks me without looking my way, her eyes taking in every detail of the black and white museum, and I can’t blame her. I was here once before, not that long ago, but it still doesn’t seem real.

“Oh, I understood her, alright. And anyway, this is only for a week or two, max. I will find somewhere else to move us to.”

“Are you sure about that?” she asks, and my head swipes over to face her with my brows pulled together.

---