Page 141 of Cruel Juliet

Kira’s mouth trembles. “I’m sorry, Petyr. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“She must have been taken.” I start pacing. “She?—”

“There was no one else,” Kira blurts. “The diner was empty. No cars anywhere. Petyr, I really think?—”

“No.” My mouth curls into a snarl. “No fucking way.”

Kira’s eyes shine like she’s about to cry again. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “If I’d known, I never would have taken her out. I thought I could trust her, Petyr. I really did.”

My teeth grind together. I need to slow down and think, but it’s impossible.

I start pacing again, back and forth across the foyer. The air feels too thick to breathe. My thoughts keep looping, fast and useless.

How did this happen again? How did she run from me?

I should’ve known better. Should’ve checked, made sure someone went with them.

I gave her too much space. I wanted to believe her when she said she’d stay, that she was done running. God, I wanted to believe her so badly that I didn’t see what was right in front of me.

I press a hand to my face and drag it down to my mouth. My skin’s hot, my chest tight. The last time she ran, I told myself I could live with it. That she needed distance. That I’d let her go if that’s what she wanted.

But that was before the baby. Before everything else.

This time is different.

This time, she had no reason to leave.

Unless Kira’s right.It’s that voice in my head again, half my father, half my brother.Unless you never gave her a reason to stay.

I bite the inside of my cheek until I taste iron. I don’t even know who I’m angry at: her, Kira, myself. Maybe all of us.

I look toward the door. My pulse jumps again, sharper now.

I should never have trusted her.

I hate that we’re back here after everything, but clearly, we are.

I should never have believed this peace could last. Every time I start to, the ground shifts. Whenever I let myself think she’s mine, she reminds me she isn’t. This is what she does.

And I was too blind to see it.

Again.

“FUCK!” I slam my fist against the doorframe. The sound cracks through the hall.

Kira and Anya both flinch away from me. But I barely see them. All I’m seeing is red.

Sima left me.Again.

She ran away from me.Again.

She broke my fucking heart.

Again.

That’s when I hear a sound: Lilia, crying.

My gaze snaps back to Kira. “Did you take Lilia with you?”