Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) by Rina Kent

Adrian hasn’t uttered a word since he grabbed me by the elbow and ushered me inside the car. I didn’t even try to fight. What’s the point now that he’s caught me?

I wish he’d spoken, though. I wish he’d let go of his anger, because if there’s anything I’ve learned about Adrian during all this time, it’s that his emotions simmer under the surface, especially his rare anger. When he does release it, the one in his path—me—will be ruined beyond repair.

My throat fills with bile due to the sickening type of fear tugging at my stomach.

Even Yan shakes his head at me when we step out of the car. I lift my chin, although my teeth are chattering. I did what I had to do in order to protect myself and my baby. If I had the chance of a redo, I’d do it all over again. I won’t let anyone tell me I did something wrong.

Adrian grabs me by the elbow and drags me behind him up the stairs. I flinch when he unstraps the baby carrier and a sleeping Jeremy from my arms, and barks, “Stay there.”

Then he strides with his son to his nursery.

My throat constricts more by the second as I remove my backpack and coat with shaky hands. I remain in the middle of the bedroom like a prisoner waiting to be judged. Thoughts of what he’ll do to me invade my mind, magnifying by the second.

I can take his punishments, and although I will never admit it aloud, I do enjoy the depravity of them. But what if my punishment this time will surpass anything he’s done to me before?

I try arming myself with courageous thoughts, but nothing, absolutely nothing could prepare me for the dead look in Adrian’s eyes when he returns to the bedroom. The sound of the door closing slices in my chest and sends a whole body shudder through me.

He’s wearing a black cashmere coat over his white shirt, but it’s not the clothes that make him seem broader and harsher. It’s the shadow across his face and the slight twist in his lips, as if he wants to rip someone to shreds with his bare teeth.

Adrian is a tall man, huge compared to me, but now, he seems to have gained more height, filling the room and my air with his unforgiving presence. Even his handsome face looks like the devil’s right now.

When he speaks, his dark, threatening voice sends my teeth chattering again. “Now, Lia. Why don’t you tell me where you were planning to go?”

I swallow past the solid lump in my throat.

“Where the fuck were you planning to go?” His voice increases in volume.

I flinch even as I lift my chin. “Anywhere but here.”

“Anywhere but here,” he repeats, musing as he stalks toward me. I’m tempted to step back, to escape his wrath, to put as much distance between us as possible. However, my feet remain glued to the floor.

I did nothing wrong. If anything, he’s the one in the wrong by exposing me and his son to this life when he knew we’d be in constant danger.

He stops in front of me, larger than life and scarier, too. “Did you say anywhere but here?”

“We’re not safe,” I blurt. “I don’t want to raise my child in a world where he could be killed any second.”

“If I hadn’t seen you, I would’ve found your corpse tomorrow or received a ransom call. Did I or did I not tell you that the moment you step a foot outside, you’re fucking dead?!”

I jerk at the building force behind his words. I finally manage to step back, startling when I hit the solid wall.

Adrian is on me in a fraction of a second, his hands slamming on either side of me. I can breathe his rage, his merciless wrath, and it’s even scarier than if he were touching me.

“Answer me, Lia,” he grinds out.

“You did.” I hate how my voice trembles.

“Apparently you didn’t listen, or you wouldn’t have put yourself and Jeremy in fucking danger. Did you want to witness his death before they kidnap and rape you, is that it?”

“No!” The images make bile rise to my throat once more. “I just…I just wanted to protect him from…from…”

“Me?”

“From your life,” I confess slowly, staring at my feet.

He doesn’t say anything, but his arms tighten on either side of me, as if the tension will burst free from them. I think he’ll punish me now, he’ll turn my skin red, and I hope that will be the end of it.

His quiet voice fills the air. “You’ll make it a habit, won’t you? No matter what I do to make you happy and comfortable, no matter how much I try to make progress with us, you will try to escape every chance you get.”

My head snaps up and I shake it slowly. I don’t want him to think that or else he’ll take away whatever freedom I have left. “Adrian, I…won’t.”

“Liar. I can see it in your eyes, Lia. You’re scared of me and how I’ll retaliate, but you won’t stop. Not until you accomplish your goal.”

“Adrian…please…please…”

“Please what?”

“Don’t take it all away. I’ll be suffocated to death.”

“You should’ve considered that when you planned to run away.”

“Adrian…”

He wraps his hand around my jaw in a firm hold that forbids me any movement. His hands might kill and maim, but they’re usually warm and gentle whenever he touches me. Even when he punishes me, his hands are firm, but they’re never as freezing cold as right now. “Where did I go wrong, hmm? Was it by allowing you to go out? Allowing you to treat Yan as a friend? I should take care of those two things first.”