Page 68 of Depths of Destruction

"Everything about our friendship."

"And what about it, Naomi?"

He's so hurt and pissed. Shouldn't he be over this by now? It's been two years.

It's my fault. I kept going back to him all those years and giving him hope.

But I told him to move on, and he didn't.

His life is here.

That was his choice, too.

"I miss talking to you. And laughing and having fun. It's been hard not to pick up the phone and call you. But I did what you asked of me. I tried to respect it."

"I made a mistake," he blurts out.

My heart pounds in my chest. "Okay. Let's be friends again."

"No."

"No? I don't—"

He slides his hands in my hair. Before I can react, his lips are on mine, and his tongue slips in my mouth.

I put my hands on his chest to push him away, but he holds me tight to him. His kiss is familiar. In the past, I would sink into the comfort of it. But it feels so wrong now.

When I finally can pull away from him, I whisper, "Darien—"

His head turns to the door, and I follow his gaze.

Oh no. No, no, no.

"Andre!"

His eyes, full of hurt and rage, rip into my soul. I try to move toward him, but Darien is still holding me tight to his body.

Andre spins, and the sound of his footsteps pound down the stairs.

"Let me go," I tell Darien, but he doesn't.

"You've known him for all of two seconds. Forget about him, and let's try for real this time."

"What? Darien, no." I try to squirm out of his grasp, but he holds me firm.

"What do you even know about this guy? He has you under some sort of spell."

"You're talking crazy. Let me go."

"No. I researched him. You don't need to be involved with a guy like him."

I freeze. "You researched Andre?"

Darien's eyes become almost black. "Yeah. I called Interpol—"

"You did what?" My pulse pounds in my veins, the hairs on my arms stand up. It's like he slapped me in the face. I feel betrayed by him, which has never happened in twenty-two years.

"You don't know this guy."