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He turned, walking away as he fastened his belt. “I don’t kill women, Nirah.” He casually said before rounding the corner and my chest caved with a sigh.

Squeezing my eyes shut I brought my knees to my chest, hugging my legs as my head fell forward.

CHAPTER 28

Nirah

Coward. The biggest coward known to man, I was.

I couldn’t face Antonio after what happened last night, so I skipped breakfast and lunch by locking myself up in my bedroom and watching TV. Not only was I humiliated, but part of me couldn’t stop thinking about what he said. I didn’t use them… I didn’t.

Rosalia had agreed to be Sally’s nanny for the time being until we figured it out. She was over the moon when we asked, and I quickly learned that she unfortunately lost her seven year old daughter to a rare lung disease years ago.

According to her, even with the best doctors that Antonio had paid for, and all the money he spent on her hospital visits, medications, etc, they couldn’t save her. Because there was no cure.

It hurt knowing she went through that, but it also explained why she was always so nurturing when it came to me. She possessed the kind of love only a mother would be capable of.

I glanced up, starting my fourth movie of the day. I had run out of snacks halfway through the previous one, and contemplated leaving my room.

There was a knock at my door, sending my heart tumbling to the pits of hell. As though it were a portal to some ancient dimension, I stared at my door.

The knock came again and I dragged my body out of bed. I yanked the door open and groaned.

“What do you want, Antonio?”

“For you to come downstairs with me.”

I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest. “Why?”

He wordlessly stepped back and I narrowed my eyes at him.

I gave in regardless and stepped out of my bedroom, making my way down the hall. He trailed behind me and I rolled my eyes.

“Stop looking at my ass.” I reprimanded, not needing to look back and shortly after he was at my side, attempting to suppress a grin.

I shook my head as we took the stairs and he led me into the living room.

I stopped dead in my tracks when my eyes landed on… Nereus.

He shot to his feet, eyes soft with concern and I blinked back tears, shifting my eyes to Cesar standing behind him.

“You’re… here.” I choked out, stumbling forward and a smile spread across his lips as he hurried toward me, pulling me into his arms.

I swung my arms around his neck and he lifted me off the ground, his chest vibrating with a chuckle. With my eyes squeezed shut I buried my face in his shoulder, my hand holding the back of his head. “You’re here,” I breathed.

Slowly, he lowered me back down and I glanced back to see Antonio slide both hands into the pockets of his slacks. His eyes shifted to Cesar, who then excused himself and both of them disappeared out of the room.

“You’re alive.” I sadly chuckled, taking Nereus’s hands in mine and he nodded.

“Yeah…”

“What happened?” I pulled him to the sofa and his smile faltered as he looked down then back up at me. “Nereus?” I hesitated.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner,” he murmured, shifting in the same place and I scrunched up my nose.

“Come sooner? What are you talking about?”

He angled his body to face me entirely, throwing his arm over the back of the sofa.