Page 6 of Broken

“You mean sparing your life? That wasn’t a mistake.”

“Are you sure about that?” He tilted his head at me.

No, I wasn’t. Or maybe Iwas. “You came to me.”

“You’re not the only one who makes mistakes.” He pressed his lips into a tight line. “It was the poison.”

I crossed my arms. “Right. Do you remember what you told me?”

“No.” But his eyes flashed with an emotion that disappeared as quickly as it had come. So yeah, he remembered, but he wasn’t willing to admit it. “What now, huh?” he asked. “Am I going to haveto get myself out of these and go through your guards to get out of here? That’s so easy, by the way. You should up your security and install better alarms.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would you want me to have better security if you’re planning to kill me?” I searched his face for something... Anything that would give me a clue that I hadn’t imagined there was still a spark betweenus, but he was giving me nothing.

“I like a challenge.” He grinned.

“I didn’t know this was only a game for you. I wonder what Ingrid would think about that.”

He sat up, wincing a little, as the cuff rattled. Then he bared his teeth at me. “Don’t fucking mention her name!”

“You know she left me no choice,” I said.

He looked away from me, his jaw tense.

“If you’d been inmy position, you would’ve done the same.”

“You have ten seconds to let me out of these or I’ll get myself out of them.” He shook his wrist.

“Didn’t you hear a word I said? You almost died. You shouldn’t be exerting yourself.”

“What does it matter what I do? If you want to put a bullet in me, this is your last chance. You won’t get another one.”

I groaned. “If I wanted you dead,I would’ve let you die. And I’ll let you go. I just want to know if you have anywhere to go and if it’s safe for you to leave. Who shot you and why?”

Surprise flickered through his eyes, his brow furrowing. “Worry about your safety, not mine.”

“You’re not going to kill me. You had plenty of opportunity to do it and you didn’t.”

He let out a small laugh. “If you really believe that,you’re a fool. I told you I wasn’t here for you, but if you’re in such a rush to die, then say so.”

I stared into his eyes. “Someone’s after me, and it’s not you. Is that it?”

“Yeah, because everything’s always about you.” He shot me an annoyed look. “Why do you think you’re so important? I don’t get it. Truly. I don’t.” His stomach rumbled.

“How about I get you something to eat andthen we’ll talk? I saved your life, so you owe me at least that, and promise you won’t try to kill me while you’re here.”

He eyed me for a moment. “Okay.”

I made my way to the bed and unlocked his cuffs, almost expecting him to jump up and grab me, but he only rubbed his wrist. “Don’t go anywhere. Well, out of this apartment, I mean. You can use the bathroom. Your shirt was ruined, soI threw it away and got you some new clothes.” I bobbed my head toward the chair where his jacket was draped.

Alice had been the one who’d brought the clothes during one of her visits. I’d told the Cobras I wasn’t feeling well and had to stay at home, and that Alice was coming to check up on me.

“Just be careful not to tear the stitches. My friend will kill you if you do that.” I flashedhim a quick smile, then headed for the kitchen, wondering just how stupid it was to turn my back to a hitman. If he was going to run away, he could, although he risked a run-in with the Cobras. And it was daylight, so it was dangerous for him to go anywhere because he could be spotted easier.

Once I finished preparing breakfast—I didn’t give a damn that it was probably too late to call itthat—I set the plates on the table. When Theo appeared in the doorway, I nearly dropped a glass of juice I was holding.