Page 82 of House of Lies
“She doesn’t want me by her side. I’ve fucked up.”
Focusing on the physical pain allows me to momentarily ignore the shattering feeling inside me. It seems I can’t make things right with her, no matter what I do.
“Apologize. You couldn’t have done something worse than what others have done to her,” Vanya advises.
No. I did exactly what my brother did before me, and now I want her to trust me and speak with me. It won’t be easy, and I fear what will happen the next time my patience wears thin.
“Apologize? Who the hell are you?” I retort.
“She prayed for you. Anyone who prays for you has my respect,” Vanya taunts. “Though it seems like wasted prayers to me.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not asking for your opinion,” I snap back.
“Here, I’m done. I think you might need this,” Vanya grins, retrieving a key from his back pocket. “She’s upstairs.”
I understand why he handcuffed her to the bed. I might have done the same, but I can imagine it only pissed her off even more.
“Thanks. Make sure everyone is accounted for, and don’t wake me up unless you have to.”
My vision blurs as I stand up. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve apologized to Caelia, and I don’t think it has done me any good so far. I’ve apologized for things I didn’t even do, yet she still stabbed me.
I need a moment to familiarize myself with the layout of the house. I’m tired of being in unfamiliar places. Before seeking Caelia, I decide to take a shower and change. She won’t be going anywhere. Opening five doors, I finally locate her. A floor lamp dimly lights the room, and she lies in the middle of the bed, her body curled uncomfortably with her hand cuffed and bent at an awkward angle, the restraints digging into her skin.
As I touch her wrist and free her hand, Caelia stirs. Her eyes widen in fear before she understands what’s happening. She rubs her wrist.
“You’re alive. What happened?”
“Don’t be so disappointed, solnyshko,” I smirk, lying on the bed. “Nothing happened. Everything’s fine.”
Instead of responding, Caelia surprises me. She moves closer, slipping one foot between mine, her arm resting on my abdomen, and her cheek against my chest. She fits perfectly, and I can’t let her go. I wrap an arm around her shoulders, taking advantage of her sleepy, confused state. I don’t know when she’ll allow me to touch her again, but it’s all I can think about. Her bruises have turned yellow-brown, and most of the swelling has subsided.
“Undress,” I growl.
I remove my T-shirt as panic crosses her face.
“What are you doing?” she questions.
“Undress, Caelia. If I ever see you wearing another man’s clothes, I’m going to bury him alive.”
She raises an eyebrow, looking at me as if I have lost my mind.
“Vanya borrowed me a T-shirt and some shorts. You’re being irrational.”
“Do you want those as well?” I stand up, unzipping my jeans. I stand before her in nothing but my underwear. Her cheeks flush, even though she’s seen me naked countless times. “Here. Take them.”
“Have you lost your mind?” She questions me when I lay my clothes on the bed, crossing my arms, waiting for her to get rid of my cousin’s clothes.
“I’ve never been sane to begin with.”
Caelia scoffs before grasping the edges of her T-shirt, maintaining eye contact with me. Without warning, she removes it and throws it in my face, her eyes focusing on the dressing on my shoulder. She doesn’t inquire about what happened. Standing on her knees at the edge of the bed, she stares defiantly at me. My heart rate slows as I observe the bruises on her body. It infuriates me to think she wasn’t wearing anything under Vanya’s T-shirt.
I swallow, my throat feeling parched. Caelia places her hands on the sides of my pelvis, tilting her head back.
“Can you please make me forget?”
“Tell me what you want to do, and I will do it.”
“You won’t like it.”