Page 63 of Tempting Devil
“Just trying to be prepared.” I brought the water to my mouth, wincing slightly as I sipped.
Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, but I’d be fine later. Henry may not have understood why I felt the need to subject myself to such brutal abuse, but it wasn’t just about being strong physically.
It was about being strong mentally, too.
This was where I fell short, especially after everything I’d endured. Sometimes all it took was a smell to bring me back to that cage. I couldn’t have that. Not with what was on the line.
“How are things?” Henry asked after several silent moments.
I knew him well enough to know he wasn’t asking to make small talk.
He wanted to know how things were with Imogene now that I’d told her the truth.
“I think she’s still processing everything.”
“It’s better than her turning you in.” He passed me a sideways glance. “Do you think she’ll turn you in?”
I bent my legs, resting my forearms on my knees. “I don’t think so.” I ran a towel over my sweat-dampened face. “I went to the beach this morning.”
“I figured you would.”
“I like my routine.”
After my escape, my routine was the only thing that got me from one day to the next. It gave me structure. Helped to prevent me from retreating into the dark recesses of my mind. If I could just get to the next waypoint of my day, I’d be okay.
“Did you talk to her?” Henry asked.
“No.”
He blew out a long breath and took a long pull from his water, sweat dripping from his dark hair and landing on the mat
“But she talked to me.”
He darted his gaze toward mine. “What did she say?”
“She believes me.”
A small smile tipped on my lips from the memory of hearing those three little words escape her mouth.
I thought hearing her tell me she loved me was the best thing I’d ever hear her say. I was wrong.
“I knew she’d eventually come around.” He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Don’t forget. I had trouble believing you in the beginning, too. Not that I think you’d lie to me, but your story is fucking intense. Granted, I’d seen some horrible shit during my time in the military, but Imogene… I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for her to learn what you went through.”
“It was,” I admitted, recalling the tears she shed for me when I shared this part of myself with her.
“Did she tell you what changed her mind?”
“No, but my guess is Liam.”
He straightened, furrowing his brows. “Liam?”
I slowly nodded. “When she wasn’t sure whether she could believe me after all my lies, I told her to mention to Liam that a detective was asking her questions about my death, then watch his reaction. Considering he paid her a visit yesterday, I assume she did as I asked, and his response was enough for her to realize I was telling the truth.”
“So that explains it,” he exhaled, shifting his eyes forward.
“Explains what?”
“Last night, Liam took a last-minute trip to D.C. Which is where James Turner is at the moment, although he hasn’t shown up to any senate hearings or to his office. But he has made a few more calls to a burner phone belonging to a certain funeral director. Apparently, he doesn’t like the way his previous meeting ended.”