A few hours later
GRAVES VILLA
10:35 PM
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I’ve been back at the villa for hours, but Alexander left right away without saying a word. We agreed that I would stay here for a few days, just long enough to figure things out. I can’t stop thinking about everything my father said about Alexander, and about the heated conversation between them.
What puzzle was he talking about? Why does Alexander seem to have ties to Khalid that I don’t know about? What was Khalid referring to when he mentioned prison?
I’m deep in thought when Alexander bursts into the room without even knocking. He looks like he wants something. Without any transition, he throws at me:
“I need to know.”
“Know what?”
“If you believe everything your father said about me.”
I look at him carefully.
“Why? Should I?”
“Answer my question.”
“Why didn’t you defend yourself when he accused you of all those things?”
“You don’t answer a question with another question.”
“I don’t know the answer to your question.”
He steps closer until his body brushes against mine, I have to lift my head to hold his gaze.
“You can believe me.”
“That’s exactly the problem. Every time I trust someone, I end up getting burned.”
He raises an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve always had a knack for attracting the wrong guys. And you, you’re clearly at the top of the podium. You’re a criminal, a dangerous psychopath, a manipulator, a killer, the boss of an organization that goes beyond everything I’ve ever known. You’re also a man who makes guys who are six foot–five and weigh two hundred and eighty pounds shiver. You’re skilled with weapons, and you fight like no one else. You’re stronger than any mercenary or professional fighter.”
He lets out an amused smile.
“And those are flaws? All I hear are compliments in everything you just listed.”
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I roll my eyes.
“I can’t trust a man who’s that mysterious and who could kill me just because I talk too much.”
“Are you afraid of me?”
I don’t blink even for a fraction of a second.
I wish I could read him.
“I’m not afraid of you, and you know it.”
He shrugs.
“Then I don’t see the problem if you’re not afraid of me.”
“You heard me talking to my father earlier, didn’t you? I won’t let anyone ruin my life again.”
He tenses and clenches his jaw.
“Don’t compare me to him. We’re nothing alike. Burn that into your skull.”
He seems offended by the comparison, even if it wasn’t my intention.
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“Men who hit women and children have nothing in their pants. I’m not that kind of man, understand? I would never hurt a woman.”
His eyes are screaming that he’s telling the truth.
My heart believes him.
My mind screams at me to run.
He leaves the room.
The next day
GRAVES VILLA
2:47 PM
“Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t look well.”
I’m sitting on my bed next to Erika, who hasn’t stopped talking for the past ten minutes. I’m so lost in thought, I can’t even pretend to care about her stories of makeup and clothes.
This woman is cheerful and sociable. She gives off a light and warmth that makes you want to be kind to her. In truth, she’s everything I’m not, both physically and mentally.
I love listening to her speak because her Voice is soft and soothing. It’s strange, because usually I prefer solitude.
“I’m glad you’re back, Inara. You hadn’t given any sign of life since your last night here. I asked Alexander how you were and he told me you were doing a lot better.”
Why does she care about me? Why does she seem so happy I’m back? I’m no one.
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“You’ll probably find this strange, but I was really afraid something had happened to you again.”
“Why? We barely know each other.”
My tone was harsher than I meant it to be. I’ve always been suspicious of people who take too much interest in my life.
She gives me a small smile.
“It was the first time Alexander brought a woman to the villa. I’m usually the only one who sets foot in here, so it felt nice to see someone of the same gender. Hanging around men all day isn’t exactly thrilling.”
How is that possible? I find it hard to believe.
“You live here?”
“I spend a lot of time here, but I don’t live here. It’s way too dangerous to settle in. I stay as long as I can, then Aymen drives me
home.”
So she and Aymen are serious? That probably explains why Alexander is so respectful toward her and lets her call him by his first
name.
She seems to read my mind because she gives a shy smile, her cheeks turning red.
“I know you saw me in a sexy outfit. That doesn’t mean that I-”
1 cut her off immediately to keep her from feeling awkward.
“I’m not judging you. You’re totally free to do what you want with your body. I have nothing to say about it.”
I give her a reassuring smile. She seems surprised but ends up nodding with a smile.
“Thanks for understanding.”
“How long have you been with Aymen?”
“Two years.”
Wow, that long?
“How did you two meet?”
“He flirted with me on the street. I thought he was funny, he invited me to eat, and it just happened naturally.”
She seems to remember their meeting fondly and is genuinely happy to have met Aymen.
“And Alexander? Have you known him just as long?”
She gives me a sly smile the moment I say his name, like she’s been waiting for this.
“You want the long version or the short version?”
I try to act completely indifferent, even though I’m dying to know all the details.
“Whichever you prefer.”
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She smiles in amusement.
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“Aymen wanted to be sure about us before introducing me to his brother at heart. I was super nervous to meet him. I knew if it didn’t go well with Alexander, Aymen wouldn’t hesitate to dump me. The first time I saw him, about two years ago, I was scared because he doesn’t exactly have a friendly look, and he watched me with cold eyes. At first, things were tense because Alexander didn’t want anything to do with me. But over time, after about a year, he finally showed me a bit of interest. Then he started treating me like one of his own.”
I let out a small amused smile, remembering my first meeting with him.
“He acted like a brute with you too, didn’t he?”
“Not really, he was just cold and distant. I felt uncomfortable because it seemed like he hated me.”
You’re not the only one.
“You know about all their business?”
“I can guess. It’s rare to see a man Alexander’s age owning villas all over and making that kind of money. Aymen and Alexander don’t exactly look like regular guys. I had to accept their business and everything that comes with it–out of love for Aymen.”
“And now, you and Alexander seem pretty close.”
“He became a friend. Behind that cold and emotionless face is a golden man, ready to do anything for the people he chooses to protect–even die for them.”
That’s not the first time I’ve heard that about him. Fatih said he’d do anything for his own.
“You trust him enough to put your life in his hands?”
She tries to catch an emotion in my eyes, but she won’t find any.
“Alexander has a lot of flaws. But when he commits to protecting someone, he’ll do it with his life. I know Alexander will always bring Ayinen back to me safe and sound, and that he’ll never leave me in danger.”
She seems sincere and convinced.
I feel like I’ve just chilled the room by showing my suspicions, but it had to be done.
“You said earlier I was the only woman Alexander lets into this villa, right? I’m surprised no other women have come here…”
“You mean prostitutes, right? No woman is allowed into this villa. I was the first to set foot in it as Aymen’s girlfriend, and you’re the second as Alexander’s guest.”
“What makes you say that? You don’t live here, maybe you don’t see everything that goes on.”
“Alexander himself told me.”
My eyes widen in confusion at that sentence–it seems completely improbable.
“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
“One day, about a year ago, I ran into Alexander in the living room. He didn’t look good, so I asked why he seemed so down. He told me he was happy for Aymen and me because I was a good woman.”
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“You’re lucky. It’s rare for him to give a compliment.”
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“It is, and I was touched. Anyway, I sensed he was asking himself questions about love. I told him he deserved to be happy too, but he didn’t agree. To him, falling in love means danger.”
I get it, given his position. I can’t picture him in love–she’d be a weakness.
“It’s like that for everyone in the criminal world.”
“Yes, but he told me another reason.”
I watch her closely as she hesitates to continue; she can’t leave me hanging.
