Page 62 of His Dark Pull
Be strong, Ava. Your parents would have wanted you to be strong.
I force the words past the tightness in my throat. “Alright,”I say. “I’ll do it.”
A flicker of something crosses Harvey’s face – pride, maybe relief. He gets up and leads me down the hallway, his hand resting on my shoulder. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with you and Tyler,”he says quietly.
I nod, unable to speak. Tyler is a good man.
My stomach clenches with every step we take towards the interview room.
Be strong, Ava.A spark ignites within me.This is my chance. This is my chance to end this nightmare.
Harvey explains the protocol, his voice a low drone that barely registers. He opens the door, and I step inside. Dexter sits at a small steel table, his hands already cuffed, his eyes cold and calculating. His hair is a mess, andhis jaw is clenched tight.
Harvey secures the cuffs to the table, his movements practiced and efficient. “Just knock if you need anything, Ava,”he says, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he turns and leaves, closing the door behind him. “We’ll be right outside, watching.”
I nod, turning to face Dexter. He looks up, a smirk playing on his lips. “Ava,”he drawls. “Good to see you again.”
My voice, to my surprise, is steady. “Cut the crap, Dexter,”I say. “Why did you want to talk to me?”
He leans forward, his eyes boring into mine like twin ice picks. “I wanted to see the look on your face when I tell you the truth.”
Hot coal ignites in the pit of my stomach. “What truth?”I step closer. My heart hammers against my ribs. “Why did you do it, Dexter?”
He leans forward, his lips twist into a grotesque parody of amusement. “I did it for the thrill,”he purrs. “For the power. I never thought I’d get caught; it’s a pity, really. But I’ll manage. I always do.”
I shake my head, my fists clench, nails digging into my palms. “That’s not good enough,”I spit, my voice rising defiantly. “There has to be more to it than that.”
He’s not telling the truth; something is off, but I don’t know what.
A low chuckle escapes his lips, devoid of humor. “There’s always more, darling. You just have to dig deep enough to find it.”He leans back, a smug expression settling on his face, a predator satisfied with its prey’s discomfort.
Be strong, Ava, just walk out.
I turn on my heel, desperate to leave the room.
“Ava,”his voice, low and urgent, stops me in my tracks. I freeze, my back stiffening.
“Wait— I’ll tell you the truth, but you have to promise me one thing.”
“What?”I whirl around, my fists clenched at my side. My eyes narrow.
“Make sure she’s safe,”he pleads, his voice suddenly stripped bare, revealing a vulnerability I hadn’t expected. The change is jarring, so different from the arrogance he’d displayed just moments before.
What’s going on? Another game?
“Who?”
“Michelle.”
Michelle Bourne?What has she got to do with it?
He leans forward, pleading as if his very life depends on my answer. “You want to know why I did it? Why I become the monster behind all this?”His voice hardens, venomous. “It’s because of your precious Alexander. He ruined my life, ruined everything.”
My mind reels, struggling to grasp the implications. “Ruined? What do you mean?”
“I fell in love with Michelle, his sister.”He pauses, his voice cracking. “And he tore her away from me. She was, she is everything to me, and he took her away.”
The words hit me like a physical blow.Michelle? Dexter?The pieces of the puzzle scatter before me, a jumbled mess I can’t make sense of. Can this be true? My hand flies to my mouth, stifling a gasp. I sink back into the chair, my body heavy. “Michelle? You were in love with Michelle?”