The words hit me like so many bullets to the chest as she finally turns to look straight at me. Her eyes are red-rimmed, her expression stony.
“We’re done.”
No. “Excuse me?”
“As in over,” she spits venomously. “Finished. I’m done with these ridiculous games we keep playing, and I’m done with you.”
There’s nothing behind her eyes. No anger, no pain. Just…blank emptiness.
“What the fuck is this,” I whisper quietly.
A single tear trickling down her cheek is the only emotion she lets out.
“This is me growing a spine, Kratos. This is me taking control of my life.” She stares right at me. “We’re done. I’m leaving.”
It feels like I’ve been punched in the throat. Or shot. I just stand there, stunned, as she storms past me to the front entryway. Suddenly, I snap.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
It’s like a reflex. She flees, or tries to run, and I give chase. It’s part of my nature I can’t change. I whirl and grab her arm, tighter than I intended, a raw impulse not to let her go.
Bianca shivers, her eyes dropping to my hand gripping her forearm. She swallows, and the walls around her waver for a second. But then she sucks in air and the defenses go back up. Her eyes burn into me as she thrusts her chin up at me.
“Or what?” she says coldly. “You’ll hurt me?”
The feeling of my heart breaking when she says it almost brings me to my knees.
“You know I wouldn’t ever hurt you,” I choke quietly. “Not like that.”
Her arm yanks from my grip.
“Kratos,” she whispers. “Apparently, I don’t know who you are, what you’re capable of, or the first thing about you.”
She starts to back toward the front door.
“Bianca—”
“Stay right there,” she chokes, her voice breaking a little but her face still stoic and cold, her emotions walled off.
“Baby—”
“I said stay there.”
My brow furrows as I advance on her, my heart shattering as it races.
“I’m not letting you just walk out of here.”
Her chest rises and falls slowly as her hands clench at her sides and her eyes fall shut.
When she opens them again and speaks, it’s like ice hitting me in the face.
“Vanish.”
My whole world shifts on its axis.
“No,” I blurt, shaking my head as the room spins. “No, you—”
“Vanish.”
“You don’t get to use that fucking word! I love you!” I choke.
She flinches, like I’ve just struck her. Another tear trickles down her cheek.
“If you really love me,” she says coldly, “you’ll listen to me, and let me walk out that door.”
Her eyes lock with mine. All the pain in the universe shatters behind them. Without another word, she turns and she walks out.
And my world crumbles.
29
KRATOS
I give her twelve hours.
For twelve hours, I allow her to be away from me. To ignore my calls and texts. To not be in our bed.
After that, I snap.
