Page 105 of Trust

Will he be able to tell how hollow the words are?

Adam walks back to me and strokes my hair. It should be a gentle gesture that calms me, but I can feel the underlying current of violence, the threat of pain should I disappoint him.

When Ilya petted me, I’d only felt safe and cared for.

“Too bad the precinct is swarming with people right now,” Adam murmurs. “It would be fun to have you kneeling in cuffs for me.”

My breath catches, something I know he’s going to misinterpret as desire — and that’s for the best. He needs to think that I want this, that I want him. “It would be,” I agree with him. “Maybe we could do it at home.”

Inside, I’m screaming.

“All right.” Adam pulls out the key to the cuffs and lifts my wrists up. He stares at them, at the small red line the cuffs have already produced in my skin. “Damn, that’s hot.” He grins at me. “Maybe I should have you wear these all the way home.”

“Okay,” I say.

I’d agree with anything he says right now. Maybe it’ll distract him from asking me questions about Ilya.

I don’t think I’m going to be that lucky.

Adam sighs and unlocks the cuffs. “They’d ask questions if they saw you. It’s fine. I’ll cuff you again once we’re home.” He sits down on the chair opposite to me. “Okay. So, let’s talk about the drugs inside your cello.”

“I don’t know how they got there,” I tell him. “I know anyone would say that, but it’s true. I wasn’t doing anything with drugs. I promise, Adam.”

No one had had time to put them there.

No one except the police.

My stomach sinks.

No one except Adam.

Adam smirks at me. “You expect my colleagues to believe that? Right now, it’s mighty suspicious…”

I close my eyes, not wanting to see that expression on his face. “Adam, please,” I whisper. “You have to know I don’t want to go back to that.”

“Kind of reminds me of how we first met. You, sitting there. Your deadbeat ex, in a cell.” Adam shakes his head. “You really do spread your legs for anybody who smiles at you, huh. Don’t worry, I forgive you.”

But he told me to sleep with Ilya! There shouldn’t be anythingtoforgive.

“Thank you,” I say, licking my lips as I look off to the side of him.

I wonder what Ilya’s thinking right now.

I wonder if he could forgive me.

It doesn’t matter. I couldn’t go back even if he got out of this in one piece and welcomed me there. Adam would never leave him alone. He’d hunt Ilya relentlessly, and it would be all my fault if he found something else on him.

Adam looks down at his watch. “Okay. You stay here while I take care of some paperwork, then I’ll take us both home.” He stands up, towering over me. He’s smiling, but I see the darkness in his eyes. This isn’t a nice smile. “No more talk of leaving me.”

I shake my head quickly. “No,” I say. “I won’t. I wouldn’t. I love you.”

My heart threatens to crack in two.

“Good boy,” Adam answers.

I don’t feel good at all.

I paint a smile onto my lips. “Thank you, Adam.”