Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 70797 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70797 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Tears welled up in my eyes. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I am. What if my family gave you money—”
“I don’t want their money. I want my money.” He pulled his hands from my hips, his anger starting to flood in his veins. “You don’t get it. I’m starting to think you’ll never get it.”
We were back to where we started, and it made me wonder if we’d grown at all. He held a knife to my throat but didn’t kill me. I held a gun to his head but didn’t pull the trigger. It seemed like so much had changed, but it never really did. “That painting…did you want me to make it so you could remember me? Because you’re going to kill me?”
He held my gaze, his expression as hard as ice. He said he would never lie to me, that he would always give me his honesty. So whatever answer he gave next was the truth. “Yes.”
I took a deep breath, feeling the regret circulate through my heart. “Why didn’t I kill you?” I should have pulled the trigger. I should have ended his life last night.
He suddenly walked away, leaving me sitting on the kitchen counter to deal with my feelings.
I didn’t shoot him because it felt wrong, but now I wished I had. My life was on the line. He intended to kill me, and even though I didn’t put a bullet in his brain, that didn’t mean he would be so kind toward me.
He walked back inside with the gun pointed to the ground. He handed it to me.
I didn’t take it, unsure what was happening.
He snapped out the barrel and showed me the magazine.
There were no bullets.
He closed it again and set it on the counter. “When you came home after Christmas, I found it and removed the bullets.”
I closed my eyes and felt the shame hit me hard. This entire time I thought I’d outsmarted him, but now I knew I never had a chance. He didn’t flinch when the barrel was pressed to his temple because he knew there was no ammunition. He was testing me, seeing if I had the courage to actually pull the trigger.
And now he knew I didn’t.
Tears formed under my eyelids and streaked down my cheeks. I didn’t care that I gave in to my weakness, even in front of him. I felt stupid thinking I outsmarted this man when he outsmarted me a long time ago. I was doomed, trapped in this cage without walls. That was how powerful this man was. He could keep me there without chains or locks.
He cupped my cheeks and wiped my tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
I opened my eyes and saw him stare at me, his eyes softer than they were before. He kissed the corner of my mouth then ran his fingers through my hair. “I don’t say this very often, but when I do, I mean it.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry. I really am.”