Page 96 of Depths of Destruction

He wasn't always this way.

Or was he, and I just didn't want to see it?

I don't have time to figure it out. He gets out, opens my door, and when I step out of the car, he wraps his arm around my shoulders, as though nothing is wrong and we're together.

Every ounce of self-control I have is required not to elbow him and try to run away. My skin crawls and I shudder from the chill rolling through me, which only makes him pull me closer to him. The scent of his skin, a smell I used to enjoy, now makes me nauseous.

But I know I can't run at this moment. There is no opening.

And when we check in at the front desk, the receptionist asks, "One bed or two?" my gut drops more.

"Just one," he replies and raises his eyebrows, waiting for me to give him some sort of response.

Forcing myself to smile, I somehow manage to swallow down the bile rising in my throat.

I may have slept with Darien on and off for twenty years, but it was because I wanted to. The kiss he gave me the night before solidified the choice I made two years ago was right. The man I now know repulses me. I'm nauseous that I ever gave him any affection.

But what happens if I tell him no now?

Will he force himself on me?

I can't believe I'm even asking this about Darien.

After the woman hands him the key to the room, he puts his hand around my waist and leads me to the elevator.

We step inside, and my heart feels like it's going to pound out of my chest.

He leans into my ear. "You may have made a lousy decision yesterday, but I'm going to figure out how to forgive you. And there will be no more running ever again. Do you understand?"

I swallow the thick knot in my throat and slowly tilt my head up.

Darien is staring at me, waiting for an answer.

"Yes," I murmur, quickly looking back down as my tears fall silently to the floor.

He tugs my chin up. "You should have been mine years ago. You made a bad choice then and yesterday, but I'm going to forgive you for all of it, and we will move forward. From now on, I'm in charge, Naomi. Do you understand?"

The chaotic spinning of fear, anxiety, and sadness in my chest doesn't allow me to answer. I merely nod my head as an ocean of tears fall.

16

Andre

Naomi's eyesare full of fear when she is forced out the door, and my heart cracks.

Focus and get out of this situation.

I'm going to kill him.

"You mess with our business?" A greasy man with long hair and a gold tooth holds the gun to my head.

I don't respond.

The second man has slicked-back black hair. It looks like he ran a comb through it after putting on gel. He comes closer and peers at me. The stench of his stale breath fills my airways. "Do you know what we do to people who take our things?" He cracks his knuckles and arches a brow.

The sound of a car starting fills my ears and rage builds in me.

He's leaving with her.