Page 54

“I was engaged to a man I didn’t choose. Davit Petrosyan. He’s the son of one of my father’s business associates, an old family friend. He’s ruthless, successful, and most importantly, Armenian. That’s all that mattered to my parents. I didn’t love him. I didn’t even like him.”

Jonah starts pacing.

“He was cruel. I can paint lies about how he was just mean-spirited or rude, but I'm trying to be more honest with myself. He was cruel. Polished in public. But behind closed doors, he made it clear who I belonged to. I was an asset, a pet to be trained, nothing more.”

Something sharp wedges itself beneath my ribs. But I don’t dare interrupt.

“I was told what to wear, where to go, when to smile. What to eat. What to say. What not to say. My job was to be agreeable. Pretty. Silent. I did it my whole life because I didn’t know how not to.”

Her gaze flicks to Boone again. Then away.

“But I wanted more. I just never had the courage to reach for it.”

She glances down briefly and looks back up.

“The night before the wedding, I saw the future. Not like a psychic or anything, just a glimpse into what mine would be like. And I realized it wasn’t mine. It was Davit’s.”

Jonah exhales heavily behind me, but Ani doesn’t stop.

“So I ran. I packed a bag. Took the money I’d managed to hide over the years. Stole one of the housekeeper’s cars and I left. No destination. Just drove away with no plan.”

She leans back slightly, squeezing her hands together a little tighter. I can’t take it anymore, I reach over and pry them apart, lacing her fingers with mine and giving her a little squeeze of reassurance.

She’s stronger than I even realized and all I want to do is hold her and tell her this will all be okay. I need it to be okay for her. She deserves the goddamn world and I’ll be damned if she doesn’t get it. I’ll do whatever it takes.

She’s mine. I’m laying claim. And, when she’s ready to hear it, I’ll make sure she knows exactly how I feel. Because she’s not just mine, I’m hers.

“I made it as far as the motel. Booked a room, paid in cash, and signed in under a false name. Thought maybe I’d figure out the rest in the morning. You know the rest.”

She stops for a moment, thinking about what she wants to say next.

“I didn’t have anything to do with that fire. I?—”

“We know that,” Jonah rasps before she can finish. His voice is tight. “No one is saying you did.”

“Actually, someone is.”

Her eyes flick to Boone.

Mine and Jonah’s do too.

“What?” Jonah snaps. “Who?”

Boone lets out a short breath through his nose. “Guy showed up at the station today. Had a photo of her. Said she was seen near the motel before the fire started. Claimed she was involved.”

“That’s bullshit,” I say.

Boone nods once. “I know. It was electrical. Old system. Faulty breakers. I already saw the original report. No accelerants. No signs of arson. But the guy wasn’t looking for facts. He was looking to stir shit up.”

“Who was he?” Jonah demands.

Boone’s jaw flexes. “Didn’t give a name. Drove a black Denali, out-of-state plates. Too polished for a PI. Too smug for someone with a badge.”

“And you didn’t think to mention this earlier?” Jonah’s voice spikes.

“I’m mentioning it now,” Boone says coolly.

“It’s why I was leaving.”