Page 48 of King of Malice

But I’ve struggled my entire life to heal what’s beenbroken inside me and I can’t give my affection to a woman I know doesn’t have my best interests at heart.

Still, as she looks up at me, pleading, I feel myself giving in the smallest bit. Softening. She hurts and she’s worried about Cadence. “I can’t tell you more than that.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” I sigh out. “We all sign very strict contracts for everyone’s protection. But where Cadence went, she chose to go, she’s safe, and she’s cared for, and like you, she’s trying to overcome her past.”

Ava sits on the end of my bed, pulling on her leggings, her head hung low.

“You don’t believe me.”

“I want to,” she answers. “But ever since Cadence and I have been teens, I’ve been bailing her out of one scrape or another. And there have been times when she’s really needed me to fight for her, and this time…” She stands, pulling the pants the rest of the way up. “I know you have sisters. What would you give up if you thought they were in danger?”

“Everything,” I answer, and I know the truth.

Avaisable to love with her whole heart. I’m just one of the many things she’d sacrifice to do it.

But my heart, deep down, still wants her.

She shakes her head and walks to the door, leaving my room without another word softly closing it behind her, the soft click sounding final.

I punch a fist into my open palm. Now that she’s gone, and I’ m staring at emptiness, I think I might have done that all wrong.

Her underwear is on the floor and I pick them up, balling them in my fist.

They smell like her arousal and my body betrays me as it responds. Swearing under my breath I climb into my bed.

I can’t have a woman who’d lie to me. Use my daughter to get to me. I can’t.

I’ve had too much betrayal in my life to trust a woman who would lie and deceive me like that.

But as I go to bed, her underwear is still in my hand.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ava

I’m exhaustedafter not sleeping last night but I still lie awake half the night, crying into my pillow.

At three in the morning, I finally abandon the attempt and get out of bed. Drawing in a breath, I open my door and pad out to the kitchen to get a drink of water.

I move silently, feeling awkward about leaving my room.

Dimitri was clear, I’m no longer welcome here and it feels strange to move about his house. I go in the kitchen and get a glass of water, taking a few sips as I return to the safety of my room.

But that’s when I hear Anna cry. She’s doing much better, but I’m worried her ear is hurting her in the night. I only hesitate for a second before I open her door. “It’s all right, sweetheart,” I croon as she sits up in her bed, holding out her arms to me.

Lifting her up, I settle her on my hip. “Is your ear hurting?”

“Yeah,” she cries into my shoulder.

“Let’s get you some medicine.” I carry her into the bathroom, uncapping the bottle and pouring out the dose.

She drinks it down and then burrows down deeper into me. Sighing, I snuggle her back.

Then, I carry her out into the living room, settling into the recliner. I think we’ll both sleep better in the chair, her because she’s up, me because the only thing better than snuggling her is sleeping against her dad.

I sigh as I think of Dimitri. He has every right to be angry with me. He trusted me with his child, and all the reasons I came here, the ones I was so sure of, have become gray and muddled.