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Chapter 17 Eden
The silence is almost unbearable on the car ride home.
Home. I shake the thought out of my head. His castle isn’t a home…it’s a prison.
I study his profile, trying to wrap my head around everything Cain told me.
What in the world would possess Damien to kill Cain’s family? It doesn’t make any sense.
Then again, I don’t know a thing about him. Only that he hates my stepfather. Hates him enough to kill.
A shiver runs up my spine. I can’t believe I slept with a murderer. A murderer I felt some unexplainable co
God, I feel sick. Sick and mad as hell. He intentionally deceived me by making me believe Cain and Margaret hired him to get rid of me. There was no reason to go to the extra lengths he did. Just his threat to hurt Cain would have been enough to get me to comply.
Instead, he made it seem like he was on my side.
He glares daggers my way. “Stop staring at me.”
I feel like a volcano ready to erupt. I can’t take it anymore.
“Why did you tell me Cain and Margaret hired you to kill me when they didn’t?”
Holy hell. I’m a piece of work. The man has the blood of Cain’s family on his hands, yet I’m offended that he wasn’t honest with me. As if that’s the biggest issue here.
“You’re the one who came to that conclusion. I didn’t bother to correct you because time was of the essence and your cooperation was more important than the truth.” His jaw clenches. “But since we’re on the subject of lying. Why did you lie to me earlier?”
I shrug. “Because what happened in the bathroom is none of your business.”
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. He doesn’t deserve honesty, not until he can give me some.
He lights a cigarette. “Fair enough.”
I wave the smoke away and roll down the window. “I know Cain didn’t hire you, but do other people hire you to kill?”
“What do you think?”
“What I think is irrelevant. I just want the truth.”
He takes a long drag off his cigarette. “I’m not a hitman.”
I look out the window as my brain searches for a kernel of something that makes sense.
Perhaps he’s a drug dealer and Cain owed him money? Cain couldn’t pay in time, so Damien killed his family to settle the debt. Cain said he did some things he’s not proud of in the past. Things that could impact the election. Plus, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out Damien’s loaded. All his money has to come from somewhere.
“What about drugs? Do you work for the mob? The cartel?”
“I work for myself.” He peers at me out of the corner of his eye. “My business doesn’t involve drugs. It involves computers and other forms of technology.”
I bite my lip. This is so frustrating. “Why do you hate Cain?”
He smirks. “None of your business.”
“It kind of is when you’re keeping me hostage.”
The tires screech as he slams on the brakes. “Get out.”
I balk. “What?”
“You said I’m holding you hostage. If you really feel that way, then here’s your chance to leave.”
My stomach twists. “What will happen to Cain if I do?”
“For fuck’s sake.” His hand tightens on the steering wheel. “Do you think Cain would ask the same question if your roles were reversed?”
“I don’t know,” I whisper, despite the little voice in my head protesting.
He hits the gas. “Guess I’m not the only one you lie to then.”
Geoffrey places my phone on the nightstand. “As you requested.”
I eye it warily. Call me crazy, but it seems too easy. “So he just gave it to you?”
He nods. “Yes.”
“Did he say anything?”
“No.” He begins clearing my di
“Oh.”
I didn’t realize it was tomorrow. My stomach lurches and I sit up in bed.
I never told Cain. Between all the apologies, promises, and secrets he told me, it completely slipped my mind.
I go to pick up my phone but pause. “Where is he now?”
“Downstairs in his office.”
Perfect.
Geoffrey’s eyes are practically burning a hole through me.
“Can I have some privacy?”
He bows. “As you wish.”
He’s halfway to the door when I stop him. “How long have you worked for Damien?”
He thinks about this for a moment before replying. “Six years.”
That’s even longer than I thought. “Have you ever…” I stall mid-sentence, trying to figure out the best way to ask this. “Why do you work for a man like him?”
There’s not a lick of hesitation before he answers. “He helped me get back on my feet when I had nothing. Two days after my nineteenth birthday, a hurricane hit the island my family and I lived on.” Sorrow lines his features. “I was the only one of my family members to survive…but, in turn, I lost everything.”
My heart squeezes. It’s all I can do not to run over and wrap my arms around him. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.” He blinks rapidly and clears his throat. “But to answer your question, Damien walked by me while I was passed out on the street. I was injured and too weak to gather food, so I asked him for some. I thought he was going to ignore me, but he asked me if I wanted a job instead.” He stands up straighter. “I’ve been with him ever since, and I’ll stay with him for however long he’ll have me.”
To say I’m surprised would be an understatement. His story makes me even more curious about the enigma that is Damien King.
A cold-blooded murderer with a heart.
“Has he ever kept a girl against her will before?”
There’s a hint of humor in his expression. “You’re the first.” He heads for the door. “His previous companions have all begged to stay.”
Good for them.
I reach for my phone after he leaves and check my messages…but there are none. At least, nothing recent.
The last message I have is from Cain, informing me he was having a driver take me home from the ball.
Obviously, Damien responded to him and pretended to be me, but there’s nothing after that.
Not even a phone call.
My hands shake as I open the Temptation app. Cain had no reason to pretend not to know about the app earlier, but maybe he felt it was necessary for whatever reason.
That weird feeling forms in the pit of my stomach again as I search through the messages in the app.
Nothing.
No phone calls, no messages, no voicemails, and no emails. Absolutely nothing from the man who claimed to be worried sick.
His world kept turning just fine without me in it.
Before I can stop myself, my fingers dance across the keyboard.
Angelbaby123: Do you have a second to talk?
Briefly, dots appear on the bottom of the screen before they disappear.
Angelbaby123: It’s about the election.
His response is almost instant.
Devil: What about it?
I roll my eyes. If I had any doubt it was Cain before…I don’t anymore. It’s all he cares about.
I get off the bed and walk around. I agreed to help keep Cain alive…not get involved in the election. I’m not telling him a thing until he gives me some answers.
Angelbaby123: If you were so worried about me, how come you never once called or messaged me while I was gone?