The Dead Man in My Bed

CHAPTER ONE THE MAN MY FATHER HATED Evelina Saint knew her father was furious when he stopped shouting. Richard Saint stood behind his enormous mahogany desk, both hands planted against the polished surface, staring at her with the kind of silence that made the room feel ten degrees colder. Lina shifted in her chair. This was worse than yelling. Much worse. “Say something,” she finally muttered. Her father’s jaw tightened. “You want me to say something?” “No. Actually, I’d prefer you scream. You’re much easier to understand when you’re screaming.” Her mother made a tiny choking sound from the sofa. Lina glanced at her. “Sorry.” “You're not sorry,” her mother whispered. “Not particularly.” Her father’s palm came down against the desk. Lina jumped. “Victor Leonardo is not the man for you.” There it was. The name that had somehow become a forbidden word in this house. Lina folded her arms. “You’ve said that approximately four hundred times.” “And you haven't listened once.” “Maybe because you haven't given me an actual reason.” “I have given you every reason.” “No, Dad. You’ve given me warnings. There’s a difference.” Her father stared at her. Lina stared back, even though every instinct in her body was telling her to look away. She loved her father. That was the problem. If she didn't, this would be easy. She could storm out, slam the door, block his number and never look back. Instead, she sat there with her fingers twisting nervously around the thin gold ring on her right hand and tried to understand why the man who had always supported her suddenly believed the person she loved was some kind of monster. “Victor has never hurt me,” she said quietly. Her father's expression changed. Not softened. Something worse. Fear. “You don't know what he is.” Lina swallowed. “Then tell me.” Silence. Her father looked away. And that tiny movement told her more than any speech could have. Lina slowly rose from the chair. “You don't know, do you?” Richard’s eyes snapped back to her. “You think he's dangerous because of rumors.” “I know enough.” “Enough to what? Decide who I'm allowed to love?” “I'm trying to keep you alive!” The words cracked across the room. Lina froze. Her mother immediately stood. “Richard.” But Lina barely heard her. Alive? She stared at her father. “What exactly do you think Victor is going to do to me?” Her father’s face had gone pale. He didn't answer. Lina's heartbeat began pounding. “Dad?” “Leave him.” The words were quiet this time. Lina blinked. “Excuse me?” “Leave Victor Leonardo.” Her father's voice had lost all its anger. It sounded like a plea. “Walk away from him now, Lina. Before you become something he can use against his enemies.” Her stomach tightened. “You're being ridiculous.” “Am I?” “Yes.” “You think a man doesn't need security around his house because he's a businessman?” Lina's mouth opened. Closed. Her father continued. “You think the men following him are assistants? You think the people who lower their heads when he enters a room are employees?” Her pulse stumbled. She had noticed. Of course she'd noticed. The black cars. The men with earpieces. The strange phone calls Victor always took somewhere private. The way restaurants sometimes emptied entire sections when he arrived. But Victor had never brought that darkness to her. With Lina, he was different. At least, she believed he was. “He loves me,” she said. Her father gave a bitter laugh. “Love doesn't make dangerous men safe.” Lina felt something inside her c***k. “You don't even know him.” “I know exactly enough.” “Then tell me!” Richard went silent. Again. Lina shook her head. “That's what I thought.” “Lina—” “No.” She grabbed her handbag from the chair. Her mother moved toward her. “Sweetheart, please don't leave angry.” “I’m not angry.” Her mother looked at her. Lina sighed. “Fine. I'm furious.” Her father rounded the desk. “Where are you going?” “To Victor.” His face changed. Lina noticed. For the first time, she saw genuine panic in her father's eyes. “Don't.” She stopped at the door. “Why?” Richard stared at her. “Because if you walk out of this house for him, you may never come back.” Lina's fingers tightened around the doorknob. For one horrible second, she almost cried. Then she thought about Victor waiting for her. About the way he'd looked at her last night when she'd told him she was tired of everyone treating their relationship like a disease. He hadn't argued. He'd simply said, “Then choose what makes you happy.” Lina had spent her entire life trying to be the daughter her father wanted. The obedient one. The sensible one. The girl who made good decisions. But she was tired. And maybe love wasn't sensible. Maybe that was the point. She looked over her shoulder. “I love him.” Her father's expression hardened. “And if you walk out that door?” Lina's throat burned. She forced the words out. “Then I guess I'm choosing him.” Her mother whispered her name. “Lina…” She couldn't look at her. If she did, she'd stay. So Lina opened the door. Her father's voice followed her down the hallway. “If you choose Victor Leonardo, Evelina, don't expect this family to be waiting when you come back.” She stopped. Her hand trembled around her bag. The cruelest part was that he knew exactly where to strike. Lina slowly turned. “Then don't wait.” Her father's face fell. She regretted it immediately. But pride was a stupid thing. It made people say words they couldn't swallow back. Lina walked away before she could change her mind. Outside, the afternoon sun hit her face. Victor's black car waited at the curb. And there he was. Leaning against the passenger door in a dark suit, sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, his expression unreadable. Victor Leonardo looked at her once. Then at the house behind her. His eyes narrowed. “What happened?” Lina walked straight toward him. “My father hates you.” Victor didn't look surprised. “He's not the first.” “Victor.” His mouth twitched. “Sorry.” She stopped in front of him. “I left.” His amusement vanished. “Lina.” “I chose you.” For several seconds, Victor simply stared at her. Then his gaze moved toward the house. Something dark passed through his eyes. “You shouldn't have.” Lina's eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?” “You heard me.” She shoved his shoulder. “Don't start.” Victor caught her wrist automatically, then immediately released it when he saw her expression. Lina glared. “Your timing is terrible.” “I've been told.” “My father basically disowned me.” Victor's face became completely serious. “And you're still here.” “Obviously.” “Why?” Lina stared at him. The answer should have been easy. Instead, it frightened her how quickly it came. “Because I love you.” Victor went very still. Lina suddenly felt exposed. So she pointed at him. “And if you make me regret this, I will personally ruin your life.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “There she is.” “Don't smile.” “I wasn't.” “You were.” Victor opened the car door for her. Lina hesitated. Behind her, the front door of her childhood home remained open. Her father was somewhere inside. Waiting. Maybe hoping she'd turn around. She didn't. Lina got into the car. Victor closed the door. And as the car pulled away from the Saint family home, Lina watched it disappear through the rear window. She didn't know that it would be years before she saw that house again. She didn't know that choosing Victor would cost her far more than her father's forgiveness. And she certainly didn't know that the man sitting beside her..the man she had just chosen over everyone..was carrying a secret capable of destroying everything she believed about him. For now, Lina only knew one thing. She had chosen love. And she had no idea what that choice was about to cost her.