Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“You went to the club, didn’t you? You saw Doumar. Please tell me you didn’t. Please.”
“I checked on your cat. He’s sleeping happily in your bed.”
“Don’t change the subject. Tell me!”
“Hush, beautiful.” He kissed her lips to silence her. “It’s all right. He won’t hurt you again.”
She freed herself and walked to the window, staring into the night. “You don’t know what you’ve done.”
Going after her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her back to him. “Then tell me.”
“You shouldn’t have interfered. I had it under control.”
He placed a hand on her bruised stomach. “You call this under control?”
“You shouldn’t meddle in affairs you understand nothing of.”
Her anger confused the hell out of him. “Explain it to me, dammit. I’ll listen. What I won’t do is tolerate his abuse. No one touches you.”
“You talk about trust, but you won’t trust me when I ask you to stay out of my business. Wait, that’s crazy. We don’t even know each other. There’s nothing to trust.”
“I trust that you’re a good person, but sometimes good people make bad decisions, decisions that get them hurt.”
“You said you wouldn’t try to save me.”
“I never said that.”
“You’re no different than anyone else.”
“I’m not like those other men.” He took her hands. “Leave him. Come away with me. I’ll keep you safe.”
For a moment, her inner battle reflected in her eyes, but then she pulled her hands free and wrapped her arms around herself.
God dammit. Why wouldn’t she cut herself loose? Why would she choose the scumbag who abused her over him?
“Tell me, damn you,” he hissed. “Do you love him?”
Judging by the way she backtracked to the far end of the room, he was pushing her too hard. Maybe she had a warped sense of affection for Doumar. He knew better than anyone how damaged an abused woman’s mind could be. It made him want to torture Doumar to death, and if he left now, he’d probably do exactly that, regardless of the consequences. His tolerance had limits, and where Sky was concerned, those limits were already stretched thin. For now, he needed to give her space, or he’d send her running straight back into her abuser’s arms.
He held out a hand. “Let’s take this one step at a time. For now, just come to bed.”
Her hesitation was palpable. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she weighed her options.
“Nothing is going to happen.” He took a step toward her. “We’re just going to sleep.”
Slowly, she untangled her arms and reached for his proffered hand. He almost sighed in relief when she pressed their palms together, allowing his fingers to wrap around hers. Without talking more, he pulled her to the bed and made her sit to remove her boots. After taking off his shoes and jacket, he pulled her down next to him and covered them with the duvet.
He draped his arm loosely around her, mindful of her side and stomach, and kissed her temple. “Sleep. You need the rest.”
“Bono?”
He nuzzled her hair, inhaling her musky scent. “Mm?”
“I want you to leave Amsterdam. Soon.”
“Because of what you saw in our palms?”
She didn’t answer.
“How does it work?” he asked. “How do you see into the future?”
“I told you, it’s a gift.”
“I know what you are, Sky.” He trailed his hand down the side of her body. “You don’t have to hide it from me.”
She tensed in his arms. “What am I?”
“A chiromancist.”
“Is that why you and Joss came after me?”
His hand stilled on her hip. “Who says we came after you?”
“No one.”
“What did you see in our palms, Sky?”
“What I told you.”
“I think you saw more than you let on.”
She turned in his arms to face him. “Why don’t you hate or despise me?”
Tracing the curve of her lip, he smiled. “How can I feel anything but admiration for you?”
“For me?”
“You’re strong. You’re a survivor. Most of all, you’re a good woman.”
“So you keep on saying, but I’m none of that. My kind are feared and hunted. You saw that leaflet in Melk. I know you knew what it meant. No matter how hard we tried to hide, our existence has become known. People are going to burn us as witches just like in the Dark Ages. Anyone associated with us will be in danger too.”
He ran a thumb along her jaw. “If you’re trying to scare me away, it’s not working.”
“You should be scared.”
“I know others like you, and they’ve never scared me.”
“I’m not the same.”
“No, you’re not. I’ve never met anyone like you. So, tell me, how does it work?”
She let out a slow breath. A frown pleated her brow while she worked her lip between her teeth. After a while, she said, “The easiest way to explain it is to look at it as time traveling. I can focus on a period, past or future, and go there to see glimpses of a person’s life, but only if that person allows me. I can’t force it against anyone’s will.”