Page 46 of Temptation
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Preston snapped.
“Okay. Play your games. Whatever.” Utter unconcern. “Just thought you’d like to know that you weren’t alone.”
“Because you’re the daughter of a serial killer. The real-life Poison Princess, right in front of me.”
Instead of taking offense at his taunt, Lily merely rolled one shoulder. “Here I am. In the flesh.”
“I’m not like you.”
“No, you didn’t grow up knowing about your dad, did you? You probably missed him. Was curious about him. Spun some fantasies in your head about the guy—and then reality slapped you in the face like a shovel full of dirt.”
His eyes narrowed.
“We aren’t them.” Adamant. “We don’t have to carry the darkness the same way they do.”
Okay, those words…maybe she does understand.
“We still have the darkness. At least, I do,” she admitted. “It’s part of me. Always will be. I just carry it differently. I control it. It doesn’t control me.”
Preston cleared his throat. “You should…you should stay away from me.”
“I’m not the one who came hunting you. That was Sloane.”
“Keep your friend away from me.”
She stepped closer, as if he had not just warned her to stay away. “Why?” Her head tilted back as she stared up at him. “Because you’ll hurt her?”
No. I would never physically hurt her.
“If you do, I should warn you…I’ll kill you.”
Wait. Hold the hell up. She could not have just said those words to him. They were soft and steady and…
“Or Atlas will.” Another shrug. Lily seemed so unconcerned as she threatened to kill him in her cool voice. “We’re both incredibly fond of Sloane. She’s not a monster. I don’t care what crazy story you might have read about her on the Internet. Sloane is my best friend in the entire world. She has stood by me when others turned away in disgust. So don’t ever threaten her.”
She has stood by me when others turned away in disgust.
Sloane had known about his father.
She’d known, and she’d still let him kiss her. Let him strip her. Let him put his mouth all over her.
She’d known…
And she’d still risked her life to save him.
“Yes. There it is.” Now Lily seemed pleased.
His gaze had drifted toward the entrance to the station.
“Not just running on rage any longer, are you? Starting to think a bit more clearly?”
He sucked in a breath.
“What did you fear, that she’d blast the truth about your father everywhere? No. That’s not Sloane. She’s more the type to take secrets to her grave, not broadcast them.”
His chest ached.
She left the house in my damn t-shirt.
