Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 54899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
His face goes carefully blank, but he offers me an honest answer. “My parents didn’t leave me with anything, much less money.”
My heart twists. I hear what he’s not saying: they didn’t offer him the love he deserved as a child.
I lost everything when my parents died, but at least I had a loving home with them before they passed. Losing that care and stability is a wound that will never fully heal, but I know what it is to be loved unconditionally.
“I earned my money when I was a fighter,” he admits. “It was lucrative.”
“You must be good,” I observe, watching him intently.
His stoic expression doesn’t betray a hint of emotion. “I am.”
For a moment, I hear the crunch of my stalker’s neck snapping. I see his lifeless eyes staring at me.
“Who was he?” I ask softly. “My stalker… He was a stranger to me. He spoke in Russian or something. Did you find any ID on him when you were…” I swallow hard. “Cleaning up?”
Rand’s eyes darken. He’s clearly remembering the threat to my life and the man who’s been terrorizing me for weeks.
“There wasn’t any ID. I don’t think you’ll ever know who he was. All that matters is he can’t hurt you now.”
My brow furrows. “But it doesn’t make sense. If he hated me for murdering Brandon, why would he kill Rich for flirting with me? He sent me those anonymous messages.” I think back to how different those possessive texts were from the violent threat in the note he left me.
The note was addressed to Karolina Taylor. My real name.
“I don’t understand,” I admit. “He seemed obsessed with me at first, but then he tried to kill me.”
“Nothing about what happened is right,” Rand rumbles in that low growl that makes him sound like Bones. “The man was clearly fixated on you. All that matters is he can never touch you again.”
“I have to tell you something,” I force myself to say. “He knew a big secret about me. It scared me more than any of his creepy texts. The man who threatened me in the café knew it too.”
“You can tell me anything.”
I eye him warily. “You lied to me about who you really are, but you don’t know who I am, either.”
How could my stalker have known? I bought my new identity five years ago from an unscrupulous man I found online. He promised he was good at what he did, but then again, it’s not like I’m connected to his criminal underworld. It was a miracle I found him on some dark corner of the internet in the first place.
Maybe he did a sloppy job covering my tracks.
I take a breath and brace myself to make my confession to Rand.
“My name isn’t Lena Williams. It’s Karolina Taylor. My stalker and the stranger in the café knew that somehow. The note my stalker left was addressed to my old name.”
Rand tenses.
“I know I lied to you, too,” I say quickly. “You didn’t tell me that you’re Bones, but I hid this from you. Everything I’ve told you about my past is true, but I omitted that part.”
He shakes his head. “You think I would hold that against you? I’m the one who’s been keeping secrets. You told me your name when we first met online. Maybe not your full name, but I’ve known the real you all along.”
A shiver races over me when I hear the ring of truth in his words.
I accused him of looking me up and digging into my life.
He did those things, but I revealed enough of myself to him that he was easily able to find Lena Williams online. Some part of me always wanted Bones to see me.
He’s the only person I’ve allowed a glimpse at my true self since Brandon died.
No. He didn’t just die.
I ended his life with my own hands.
His ruined face flashes across my mind, and I can’t suppress a flinch.
“Does that scare you?” Rand asks, strained.
He’s asking about the fact that he researched me on the UNC website.
But really, I know it’s not uncommon for people to be curious about their intimate partners. People look up their dates online all the time.
“It only scares me because I’ve been keeping this secret for so long,” I admit. “I’m scared for you to know the real me. Karolina Taylor isn’t a good person.”
His chin takes on that stern tilt that makes me melt. “You’re good down to your core. I’m the one who isn’t worthy, but I can’t help myself. I want you, Karolina. You’re all that matters to me. I’ve already told you I’m not a good man. You saw it for yourself when I handled your stalker.”
“That’s not true,” I counter. “You killed him to save me. If I’d been strong enough, I would’ve done it myself. You’re not the only one who’s killed to survive, remember?”