Part 7 (1/2)
”I live here.”
”The h.e.l.l you do.” He turned on his brother. ”I want her out of here.”
Tiernan shrugged. ”According to your own words, she's your wife.”
”Tiernan,” he said in warning.
”Adron,” he shot back.
Livia came forward and by all appearances, she didn't look a bit shaken by his anger. ”Thank you for bringing him home, Tiernan. I think I can handle it from here.”
Tiernan arched a doubtful brow. ”I don't know if I feel right leaving you at his mercy. He can let blood with that tongue.”
”I'm used to people insulting me.” She directed a meaningful stare at Adron. ”As well as being unwanted. I promise you, there's nothing Adron can say to make me cry.”
And in that moment, Adron felt low. He'd never wanted to hurt her.
Turning away, he headed for the bedroom.
Livia said good-bye to Tiernan, then followed after Adron. In spite of her brave words, she was terrified.
But then, she was used to living in fear, too. At least Adron wouldn't beat her.
He was lying on the bed with his arm over his eyes.
”Are you hungry?”
”No.”
”Well thena””
”I want to be alone.”
”It seems to me you've spent far too much time alone.”
”Dammit, why are you still here? Why didn't you do what I told you to?”
She took a deep breath and counted for patience. ”Because I have nowhere else to go. My father has disowned me.”
”If it's a question of moneya””
”I don't want money,” she said sternly.
”Then what do you want?”
”You.”
He removed his arm slowly and looked at her. ”You must be deranged.”
”Why? Because I want to be with you?”
”Yes.”
She moved to sit by the bed. ”You know, while we were making love, I felt a connection with you. Did you feel it, too?”
”No.”
”I don't believe you. You were too tender. You held me too close. I might be innocent, but I'm not stupid. I know men don't treat women that way.”
He gave her a droll stare. ”And how do you know that?”
”Zarina told me.”
He grimaced at her. ”Oh, jeez. You discussed it with my baby sister?”
”She was very informative.”
”I can imagine.”
”So, are we just going to sit in here all day?”
”No, you're going to leave.”
”I'll leave when you do.”
He growled at her. ”Do you have any idea how much pain I'm in? It hurts to breathe, so if you don't mind, I'd like to just lie here in silence.”
”Fine.” She got up and pulled a small holo-cube out of his night stand. ”I just wanted to show this to you.”
Adron frowned as she handed him the cube and turned it on. Static flickered until the image of a brunette woman and a small, blond girl appeared.
”Hi, Commander,” the woman said, holding the girl in her arms. ”This is my daughter, Alycia. I don't know if you remember me or not, but I'm the woman you saved from Kyr and this is the daughter I had six weeks later. Say, hi, Alycia.”
”Hi, Commander.” The little girl waved. ”Thank you for saving my mommy and me.”
Livia watched the agony play across his face as the woman and child talked to him. Then, he snarled and threw the holo-cube against the wall, shattering it.
”Adron!” she snapped, losing patience with him.
He turned on her then with a vicious snarl. ”What? Did you think showing me that would make all this okay? Did you think I'd look at them, then cry and say how grateful I am they are alive while I'm trapped like this? What of the children I wanted to have?”
The bitter misery in his eyes scorched her. ”Good G.o.d, Livia, I'm only twenty-nine years old and all I have to look forward to is a future where I will slowly, painfully disintegrate into an invalid.”
His words brought tears to her eyes. She had stupidly thought it would make him feel better.
”I'm sorry,” she whispered. ”I was just trying to help. But you won't let anyone help you, will you?” She turned and ran from the room.