Page 29 of Condemned By Pain
“You’ve only seen me doing things I’ve never done before.” I straighten.
Now that I’m arguing, I need a confident posture, even if it means standing close enough to see the details of his face. Like how the gray in his eyes is too clean, too clear.
There’s a small cut at the corner of his upper lip—that his short beard hides from a distance. His lips are pale, brushed with the faintest hint of color. They aren’t full, yet not thin either—a perfect balance between the two.
His skin looks rough. I noticed the dark circles under his eyes long ago. They seem permanent, but they do nothing to diminish his beauty.
My heart stumbles into a rapid rhythm when I realize I’ve been standing here, silent, watching him. I quickly collect myself and make a mental note to scold myself later for thinking this monster is beautiful.
“I’m excellent at many things, like—” I catch myself before I say playing piano. “Like writing. I’m a bestselling author, for your information.”
“I’m aware.” He nearly scoffs.
What’s there to scoff at? Does he think writing is easy? I can’t even string together two chapters, and I’m sure he can’t either. I’m damn proud of Avi for writing such incredible books.
I narrow my eyes. “It’s not easy. It’s an art, and decent people respect art.”
I pause, smirking. “Decent people.”
Salvario
She smirks.She fucking smirks at me.And I can’t look away—I’m seized in place, unable to blink, unable to look anywhere else. She’s not even beautiful. I doubtanyone elsewould find her eyes beautiful, they’re more like a doe’s than a human’s. And those rose-colored lips? No one else would call them beautiful either. The upper lip has a slight heart shape, the lower a little fuller—nothing extraordinary, average in every way.
Her hair falls in wild brown waves to her waist, as though she never bothers to run a comb through it.So why did she steal mine?Her height barely reaches my shoulder, and her frame would wither after a single week without food.How could anyone call her beautiful?That, paired with her talents… she’s a waste of space at best. Her existence makes no difference in this world.
“Next time you enter my room, do so after planning to stay in yours for two days.”
There’s no truth to the threat, but it works on her. She doesn’t just have a doe’s eyes—she has the bravery and survival instincts of one too. I don’t know how much coddling she got growing up to turn her into such a disgrace to the species.
She nods once and bolts from my room.
I turn to leave when my phone rings. I pull it from my pocket—Robin is calling.
I pick up.
“Boss. Two updates.”
“Speak.”
I move to the window, draw the curtains open, and stand before it.
“King Alessio has sent his own men to every country. They haven’t reached Greenland yet, but they’re conducting thorough searches elsewhere. Police and local officials are turning over every house.”
I hum. “Next.”
Alessio is Alexander’s brother-in-law. Their families are close. Inevitable that he’d get involved.
“While digging for more on Avira Bennett, I found she’s only been spotted in public once. At a car race—her adopted brother, Zloban Bennett, was competing. I tried to get the footage, but a short clip is missing.” He pauses. “There must be something in it. Something they’re hiding.”
I frown. “Your guess?”
“Not with what little we have.”
I need to know everything about this woman. But given how carefully she’s been kept from the world, it won’t come easily.
“Find that footage. If not the original, a backup.”
“Yes, boss.”
