Page 102 of Duplicitous
Not even her.
“I love you.”
The truth slips out of me.
She tenses.
Fuck fuck fuck!
I try to stroke her hair with shaking fingers, but she flinches.
Before I can stop her, she rips off the blindfold.
Her lovely green eyes fly wide, and she shoves herself off me. She scoots away, stumbling off the bed in revulsion.
“What…?” She can’t seem to find the words to ask what’s happening.
She’s staring at my body. At her name tattooed over my heart. Her face has been inked into both of my arms, sleeves of her perfect features indelibly etched into my skin.
“Karolina…” My voice is too rough. Too deep.
And my English accent drops away, forgotten in the awful moment.
“Bones?” She barely breathes the name she’s called me for the last four years.
I can’t speak. I don’t know what to say that will erase the betrayal in her eyes.
“Oh, my god,” she groans. She looks like she might be sick.
“All this time? You’ve been…him?” Her accusation shreds me.
“I can explain…”
I reach for her, and she recoils.
“Stay away from me!” Her demand shakes with fear.
“Don’t be afraid,” I beg.
I can’t bear it.
“Don’t follow me,” she chokes out and turns on her heel.
She darts out of the bedroom.
Before I make it off the bed, her shriek pierces my chest, robbing my breath.
She’s running from me screaming.
I storm after her. I can’t let her leave.
I can’t let her go.
Not ever.
When I step into the hall, I stop in my tracks.
A nightmare awaits me.
