Forbidden (Blood Ties #7)

My hand went to my belly and I was remembering the way he’d yanked the shirt from my hold, exposing my belly, when Maria’s footsteps came in the hallway. She stepped into the doorway, forcing me to give her a lie of a smile. “Thank you.” I held out her cell. “He didn’t answer.”

She took the cell, scowling as she looked at it.

Then she turned and almost ran out of the room.

But it didn’t matter. I’d called the person I needed to call. My sister.

The housekeeper left, and in the silence…fear moved in.

I couldn’t trust Riven and I sure as hell couldn’t feel anything for him. He wasThe Principal,the sick bastard who’d not only hurt my sisters, but so many women. The memory of that cellar pushed in. Bodies piled on top of bodies. I’dnevertrust a man who’d done that. Not even if my life was on the line.

He could shove his fucking nut butter.

The deep snarl of an engine rose before it suddenly ended. Not the purr of the Audi…someone else.

I shifted on the bed, one hand tethered by steel, and looked for something I could use as a weapon.

Heavy steps approached in the hallway.

My pulse kicked.

They came closer.

Closer.

A shadow spilled along the hallway…

Before Riven stepped in.

I exhaled hard. “You scared theshitout of me.”

“Really?” He held my stare. “Why?”

Why?

WHY?

Because that’s not the sound of the Audi…and because your housekeeper was just here. If it wasn’t you, then it could’ve been…it could’ve been worse. So much fucking worse.I needed to get it together. I needed to keep my cool.

I shook my head. “Because your housekeeper was just here and I…and I…”

He scowled at that, turning with his hands full of bags, and snarled. “Shit. I forgot, I…” He stiffened, then swung back to me. “You could’ve screamed. You could’ve had the cops here in ten minutes. But you didn’t.” He dropped the bags and came closer to the crumpled bed. “Why?”

My eyes widened.

I shook my head.

“I…I don’t know.”

It wasn’t the truth. But it wasn’t a lie either.

He came close and reached into his pocket, pulled out the handcuff key, and released my wrist. “Take a shower, Helene. I brought you clothes.”

He stared down at me, those dark eyes watching my every reaction. Did he think I was turning soft? Did he think he scared me? I ground my teeth and held that stare, letting him know exactly the fight he’d get if he tried anything.

He didn’t, but neither did he move as I slid from the bed and hurried into the bathroom. Only this time, I closed the door and shut him out.Boom…boom…boom.My pulse filled my ears as I waited for him to barge in. But he didn’t. Instead, the heavy thud of his steps moved around before the rustle of the bags came.

I yanked off the boxers and t-shirt, then used the toilet before stepping into the shower. There’d been a change between us, a blurring of the lines. I didn’t like it. He wanted control, and I wanted information. The moment I got what I needed, I was done…and so was he.