Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Well, we’d better get back to the ship, I guess,” Torus said, turning towards Molly. “Unless you want to try and find a place here in Richmond to have Last Meal?”
But she shook her head.
“You go. I’m staying here.”
“Staying here?” Torus shook his head. “But don’t you want Last Meal? Where will you go?”
“I’m not hungry and I don’t know.” She shook her head again. “Maybe I’ll just walk around the block a few times. I just need time to think and clear my head.”
Uh-oh—this was going in a bad direction. Heedless of his uniform trousers and the curious people passing by them on the street, Torus dropped to his knees on the sidewalk in front of her. He had to get down to her level so they could talk.
“Molly, about what I said on the witness stand—” he began.
“You should have told me about your dreams—about what you saw.” She stared at him, her hazel eyes blazing. “How could you, Torus?”
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I didn’t think you wanted me to know what…what happened between you and your ex-Mate. But when his lawyer tried to act like he never hurt you, my anger got the better of me.”
“All this time you knew.” She shook her head. “You knew all about poor, pitiful little me and what Zach put me through. What he did to me.”
“Yes,” Torus admitted. “But—”
“No ‘buts’.” She shook her head. “I think it’s time we parted ways now.”
“What?” Torus could barely believe what he was hearing. “Part ways? What are you talking about?”
“We both knew that this marriage was fake to begin with,” Molly went on relentlessly. “We both knew it had to end after the court case was finished. Well now it’s almost finished—so we need to end this charade we’ve been playing.”
“I thought we agreed to stay together,” Torus pleaded. “Even if we can’t Bond, the TET devices—”
“I threw mine away,” she interrupted him. “Well, actually I flushed it down the toilet,” she added before he could speak.
Torus shook his head. He was literally speechless. Why was she doing this? Was she really that angry at him for what had come out on the witness stand? Was she never going to forgive him?
“I have to go now,” Molly told him. “Councilor Paige has my phone number—she can call me when the jury comes back with a verdict.”
“But…but you can’t just leave!” Torus exclaimed. “Molly, please—I’m literally on my knees to you!” He gestured to himself—the way he was kneeling before her on the sidewalk—the hard pavement was digging uncomfortably into his flesh.
“I’m sorry.” For a moment her stony façade cracked and he thought he saw tears in her lovely hazel eyes. “But I just can’t stay with a man who’s only with me because he pities me.”
“What are you talking about?” Torus demanded. “I don’t pity you—I love you! Molly, please—be reasonable!”
But she only shook her head.
“Try to understand—it’s better this way,” she told him. “We can’t Bond—I’ll never be able to give you what you need, Torus.”
Then, before he could get to his feet, she turned and walked rapidly down the sidewalk, her high heels clicking with brisk finality that froze his heart.
42
MOLLY
Molly didn’t know how far she walked—far enough for the heels she was wearing to start pinching her toes and rubbing blisters on her heels. She meant to just circle the block as she’d told Torus, but her mind was in too much turmoil to pay attention to where she was going. It was early Summer and Richmond Virginia was already getting hot—though not as hot as Florida had been during their honeymoon, she remembered.
Just the thought of that—of the time she and Torus had spent together in the little bungalow by the beach—was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She couldn’t help remembering how wonderful it felt to be held in the big Kindred’s arms—to hear his heartbeat in her ear as she laid her head on his chest and breathed in his warm, cedar and spice scent…
No, stop thinking like that! she lectured herself, swiping away the tears that were running down her cheeks. It’s over now—he was only with you because he felt sorry for you. And the two of you were never going to be able to make things permanent. I know it hurts, but it’s better this way. It’s—
“Molly? Molly Byrne—is that you?”
The voice from the car driving on the street beside her made Molly’s head snap around. To her surprise, she saw the driver was none other than Karen Geners. She was ducking her head to look out the side window and waving Molly over.
Though Molly didn’t really want to talk to the other woman—who she hadn’t seen since Karen had gotten drunk at her wedding and caused a scene—she found herself drawn to the car anyway.