Page 30 of Cruel Hearts

“Don’t deny our chemistry,” he said.

“You’re nothing special. I could have felt that with Orlando, Sammy Kettering, or any guy with a working dick.”

Maxwell winced. “That’s harsh.“

At the end of the courtyard, Kendrick and Orlando stepped through the gates into the driveway. I turned my gaze back to Maxwell. “You’d better hurry. They’re leaving without you.”

As Maxwell descended the entrance steps, a pang of sadness struck my heart. Why did I feel disappointment that he’d given up so easily? I didn’t want him, and after reading through Mother’s letters, the thought of anyone stalking me gave me the shivers.

At the bottom of the steps, he turned around. “I’d never felt so connected to another human being since that night.”

The words lit up my pent-up sorrow like a thrown match. “If that’s true, why didn’t you warn me about the raid?” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “You knew what the barking dogs meant but you didn’t warn me to hide in the bathroom or get dressed.”

His shoulders drooped. “I did it for my brother.”

My head shook from side to side. “So he could become the next Lord Liddell?”

Maxwell spread his arms wide. “Elizabeth was all he’s ever wanted. My parents were counting on him to join our families.”

“And now?”

He shrugged. “Now that she’s turned on us, Ken despises her.”

I pinched the bridge of her nose. “Can’t either of you see she’s never been interested in men?”

“She’s saving herself.”

“You idiots put virginity on a pedestal.” I shook my head. “If you judge a girl based on what happens between her legs, it’s no wonder she’s playing you all for chumps. How many lives has she gotten you three to ruin?”

Maxwell didn’t answer. Maybe because the answer was too vast.

“It might look like I’m apologizing for the wrong reasons, but I regret ruining what we might have had. These past few weeks getting to know you have been incredible.”

“Eat shit.” I stepped back and shut the door.

“Lilah?” Gideon placed a hand on my shoulder.

I whirled around, buried my face in his neck, and let the tears flow.

He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and gave me several awkward pats on the back. “You made the right decision not to join their plan.”

“They make me so angry!” No version of the godfather ever wept into the shoulder of his consigliere. I needed to get a grip on my emotions, focus on what really mattered before I became the knights’ whipping girl.

Gideon’s hand stilled. “You might have feelings for them.”

I drew back and glowered into his ebony eyes. “What?”

“It’s more than sexual attraction. You’ve never been able to walk away from those boys, even when you’ve known their malicious intentions.”

My mouth flapped open. I wanted to deny it. Wanted to tell Gideon he was wrong and didn’t know anything about what I had with the knights, but I held my tongue. He’d been at my side nearly from the beginning.

“I don’t know.” My gaze flicked down to the Templar Academy logo on his school blazer. “Something about them really infuriates me.”

“Infuriates or attracts?”

Sucking in a deep breath, I shook my head. Gideon had told me more than once to stay away from the knights and to be careful, but I’d always insisted that I knew what I was doing. Yeah, right. I’d known they were tricky bastards, but no one could have predicted that Maxwell could pose for weeks as Kendrick. The worst part was that I hadn’t trusted him until after our escape across Glasgow town center. Ugh.

“I was such a pawn, I didn’t see it coming,” I snarled.