Chapter 108
ERICA
The day seemed to dragon forever. Since I saw those photographs, it was a blur. † felt as if I had
lost all control.
We had just buried Nero. The mere idea of it was enough to cause my throat to constrict and my jaw to clench to keep the dam of emotions at bay. I had spent the past few hours struggling not to lose it again, struggling not to fall apart. But it was difficult.
If anyone had told me this morning that I would be here, in Cillian Knight’s penthouse, of all places, I would have laughed in their face. But life, in its most cruel manner, had pushed me into a corner. I could not remain there.
Each inch of my apartment was tainted. The walls that had once been warm now towered over me, closing in with memories of what har transpired. That house had been my own, my sanctuary, but now it was just a crime scene. A tomb. Each second in that home would be a reminder of Neto, of how he had been stolen from me–how I had brought him to his death without ever realizing it. The mere thought of it made me ill
So when Cillian suggested that I stay with him for the second time today. I said yes.
I knew I needed to get out of there quickly. Somewhere I wouldn’t wake up each night imagining Nero’s dead body. But that was a concern for another day.
I was evening now, though the day still dragged on. I hadn’t eaten since morning, yet I couldn’t bring myself to care. I wasn’t sure that I could keep anything down either.
So I tried to think of literally anything else. Like this place. I had been to Cillian’s place twice before. The space was vast. far too large for one person, but it suited him. Sleek, modern, expensive. Everything about it screamed power and control, just like him.
“You should eat something,” Cillian who was hovering nearby, finally said, the irritation in his voice barely concealed.
“I need to shower.” 1 murmured instead, my voice boarse, foreign.
He studied me for a moment before nodding. I’ll show you to your room.”
I followed him down the hallway into the room he had prepared for me. It was large, pristine and vaguely impersonal. The bed looked inviting but I knew I would hardly sleep today.
Cillian stood in the doorway for a second longer than necessary before stepping back. “Bathroom’s through there.”
I nodded without a word, my limbs moving on autopilot as I shut the door behind me.
The bathroom was beautiful, like something out of a five star hotel, but I barely took it in. My fingers shook as I turned on the water, twisting the knob as hot as it could go before stepping beneath the stream. The second the hot water hit my skin, I felt my shoulders relax, just a little.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there. Time seemed to have lost its meaning. I kept my hands braced against the cool tiles, letting the water run down my back. Maybe I thought it would wash away the exhaustion, the fear, the guilt, I didn’t.
Eventually, the heat faded, replaced by a biting chill. I blinked at the change, realizing how long I must have been standing there. My angry from the temperature
V skin was red…
With slow, sluggish movements, I stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself before walking back into the bedroom. I barely had the energy to move, so I sat on the edge of the bed, pressing the heels of my palins against my eyes.
A knock at the door made me lift my head, but before I could say anything, the door pushed open, and Cillian stepped in
I didn’t have the energy to car that I was in nothing but a towel. He didn’t seem to either, though his eyes flickered to the exposed skin before quickly looking away
His gaze narrowed as he took in the state of my skin. “That looks like it hurt?
ngry marks across my shoulders and
1 looked down at my armas, nothing for the first time hune raw and red they were. The scalding water had left angry chest, and I realized, distantly, that a probably looked worse than it felt.
“It didn’t” I murmured, my voice hmatic
Callian exhaled sharply but didn’t argue. Instead, he lifted a few shopping bags and set them on the bed beside me. “These are some clothes,” he said. “We can go get your things from your apartment whenever you want, or I can have someone bring them for you”
wallowed, nodding absently as I stared at the bags. I didn’t have it in me to go back there. Not yet. Maybe not ever
Chapter 105
But also couldn’t unagine bringing all my things here. This wasn’t permanent. It couldn’t be.
Cillian studied me for a moment, and for once, he didn’t have a sharp remark. He didn’t tell me to stop being ridiculous. He just nodded and
When the door shut behind him, 1 exhaled shakily, lening my head fall into my hands.
I wasn’t sure how long I sat there. Maybe minutes. Maybe longer. My body felt weighed down, and exhaustion chung to my bones like a second skin;
I knew I should get up and change, but the thought alone felt overwhelming.
But I couldn’t sit here forever.
Sighing. I pushed myself off the bed, grabbing one of the bags before slowly pulling out the clothes inside. Everything was soft, expensive, and undoubtedly chosen by someone else. Probably his assistant.
I changed quickly, not bothering to look at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see the person staring back at me.
When I finally slid into bed, the exhaustion hut me full force. My limbs ached, my head pounded, and the moment my head hit the pillow. I felt my body giving in.
But even as sleep threatened to pull me under, my mind wouldn’t quiet. Images flashed through my head, memories I wished I could erase. Nero’s lifeless body. The stained lace on my bed. The note.
I clenched my fists, squeezing my eyes shut.
I was safe here. I had to believe that.
As I by there, I looked up at the ceiling aimlessly. I couldn’t help but feel like nothing would ever be the same again
田
