Page 30 of Dark Surrender

“I’m nothing like him,” Maxim grumbles, insulted.

“Aren’t you?”

“No. Not even close.”

“Oh, really? Then tell me.”

“I’m a cheater.”

Rolling my eyes, I snort. “That isn’t helping your defense. Harold also cheated on his wife. I thought you had an open relationship?”

Maxim chuckles darkly. “Did Harold tell you that?”

“No. You told me that. That night I drugged you. But I’ve also seen her out with other men and you with other women.” Not that I know what goes on behind closed doors, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together.

“Hmm,” Maxim hums, cocky as hell. “I see. But I’m not talking about her…I had a life before… Christ. I shouldn’t be talkin’ about this.”

“But you are. So keep going,” I urge, oddly excited to hear more, even though I can’t see him. It’s like we’re the only two people in the world. Locked in a dark room, with an opossum that keeps sniffing around.

“Only if you share, too.”

“Maybeee,” I sing.

“Not maybe, Iris.”

“Okay.” Fine. What harm could it do?

“I had a wife once. A beautiful, loyal wife… and kids... and I fucked it all up.”

Wow. Okay.

“How old?” I ask.

“My kids?”

I hum, desperate to hear more.

“Two sons, both grown now… and a daughter. Fuck. I miss her. She’s almost ten. Looks just like me… What about you?”

“No husband. No kids.”

“Just a sister then?”

“Yes.”

“Parents?”

“A mom I don’t remember and a father I had a complicated relationship with.” That’s putting it mildly.

“I don’t remember my mom either.”

Not knowing how to respond, I hum.

“Why are you really here, Iris?” Maxim asks, his voice low, almost pained.

“I don’t know,” I lie.

“You should go.”