Page 98 of Shades of Loyalty
“Are yousurethat you mean it?”
His deep voice fills the silence. This time, it’s me who stays quiet for a few seconds. What does he mean, am I sure?
“Of course,” I whisper into the dark. “I just… I was too scared to tell you. I was worried about your reaction.” I still am.
I’m fucking terrified. He hasn’t said it back.
He hasn’t really acknowledged it. All he said was, are you sure?
Does that mean he accepts it? He feels the same? Fuck, what do I do now?
How do we handle this?
He gulps. “I… I think I love—”
We both flinch at the sudden noise, both of us getting up when we realize it’s his phone.
I sigh internally, knowing he still didn’t tell me what he wanted to. But I guess, this must be important. Maybe it’s new information? We both know he has to take that call.
Daniel’s eyebrows scrunch together as he accepts the call, holding his phone up towards his ear. He stares at the waves, at the moon.
I don’t know who’s at the phone.
I don’t know what they’re saying. But when I look at Daniel just a few seconds afterwards, I know it’s not good information.
…
Fuck.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Daniel
I know our world is cruel. It has been all my life. But today? Today it taught me that even when you think you can protect your loved ones by keeping them out of business, keeping them close to you will never let them have peace.
I don’t even listen to Hayden’s words anymore. My mind is completely shut off.
"Lilia, she… Just come here quickly, okay?"
I have no idea what exactly happened.
All I know is that whoever this bastard is who did something to her, I’m gonna fucking kill him. I’m going to end this bastard’s lifeand existence.
When I’m done with this guy, no one will ever remember him. No one will ever know who he is or was. Not even his fucking family. I might end them, too.
How long it takes me to snap back to reality, to Jennifer, I don’t know. All I know is that it’s her gentle touch that brings me back.
Her hand gently touches my cheek, rubbing it.
I lean into her touch, closing my eyes. I take a deep breath. Fuck.
Okay. I have to be strong. I need to act like everything is fine. I don’t want her to panic like me.
“Let’s go,” I say, for the second time tonight. But this time, it’s for a completely different reason. It’s not to escape reality.
It’s to face my harsh reality.
Jennifer doesn’t respond. She gets up, both of us getting dressed quickly before we hurry back to the parking lot. Well, it’s me who hurries.
