Semua Bab Divorced, Desired, Dangerous : Bab 91 - Bab 100

NILAHThe quiet inside the penthouse felt different tonight. In the nursery, baby Alexander was fast asleep in his solid light oak crib. He had been fed an hour ago, his small stomach full, his tiny hands curled into loose fists over his soft cotton blanket.I was sitting in the corner rocking chair, watching his chest rise and fall in a slow, steady rhythm. The soft green forest mural painted on the wall caught the pale yellow glow of the nightlight, casting gentle shadows across the quiet room.Darien stepped into the nursery without making a single sound on the dark hardwood floor.He had taken off his dark blazer, his white dress shirt unbuttoned at the neck and his sleeves rolled up past his elbows, showing the dark ink covering his broad forearms. He walked over to the crib with slow, quiet steps, placing his large hands gently on the top rail. The cold, dangerous look that usually stayed in his dark gray eyes softened completely as he stared down at our sleeping son."He sleeps

DARIENI stepped out of the shower, my feets squeaking against the wet tile. I didn't bother grabbing a towel. I didn't care about the blood still oozing slowly from the gash above my left eye, dripping down my cheek to join the cold water soaking my collar.I walked back into the bedroom like a man heading to his own execution.The bedroom was silent. The heavy blackout curtains were drawn, shutting out the pale, gray light of dawn that was beginning to bleed across the city skyline.Nilah was still lying on her side in the middle of the massive king-sized bed.She hadn't moved an inch. She hadn't pulled the heavy duvet over her shoulders. She just lay there, perfectly still, her dark eyes open, wide and fixed on the small, silent bundle wrapped in white wool resting on the pillow next to her.Alexander looked like he was sleeping. That was the most cruel, twisted part of it all. His features were calm, his tiny lips closed, his fine dark hair sticking slightly to his forehead. But t

DARIENThe sun came up, but the penthouse stayed dark.I sat on the floor outside our bedroom door. My back was pressed hard against the cold wall. My clothes were dry now, stiff with dried blood and dust. My head hurt. My shoulder felt like it was on fire. But I did not care about the pain in my body. The pain inside my chest was too big. It felt like my heart was dead.The apartment was too quiet. The floor in the hallway was clean now. Marko’s men had washed away all the dark spots. They had fixed the doors. But they could not fix the smell. The sharp smell of soap and cold wind filled the dark rooms.Down the hall, the nursery door was half open.I looked at it. I could see the light green wall inside. I could see the edge of the empty wooden crib. Three days ago, my son was in that crib. He was small and soft. He smelled like warm milk. He slept with his tiny fists close to his face. Now, that room was just an empty box filled with cold air.I put my hands over my face and squeez

NILAHThe penthouse was completely quiet when I walked through the heavy front door.All the lights were turned off. The big living room was dark, lit only by the gray rain hitting the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I stepped over the soft carpet with slow, heavy steps.My black wool coat was wet and heavy on my shoulders. Water dripped off the bottom hem, making small dark circles on the floorboards. I did not take off the coat. I did not take off my wet shoes. My body felt frozen, like ice was running through my veins instead of blood.Marko stood by the front door behind me. He held his big black umbrella in his hand, his head bowed down low toward his chest. Tears were still wet on his rough face."Nilah," Marko said in a very quiet, shaky voice. "Do you want me to carry your bag to the car?""No, Marko," I whispered.My voice was soft and thin, like paper tearing in the wind. I did not turn around to look at him."I will put my things in a small bag," I said. "I want you to wait

NILAHThe hotel room was small and dark.I had left my grandmother's cabin early in the morning. The quiet woods were too loud with my own thoughts, so I had Marko drop me off at a simple hotel on the edge of the city. I paid with cash. I did not want Darien's money. I did not want his name attached to my room key.I stood near the small bed, my small black bag lying on the floorboards.My body felt like lead. A deep, heavy ache filled my whole stomach and lower back. Every time I took a breath, a sharp pain pulled at my chest. I had not eaten in days. I had not slept a single hour. My mind was spinning with dark images of Alexander's little white box falling into the wet earth.A quiet knock came at the wooden door.I walked over slowly, my legs shaking under my cotton pants, and opened the door two inches.A middle-aged woman in a clean hotel uniform stood in the hallway, holding two fresh white towels. She looked at my face, and her eyes went wide with sudden shock."Oh, sweet lord