Page 10 of Broken Strings

The way he says it…I almost believe him. Almost. Except he could never lie to me. I was always able to see straight through him. He's lying right now. I don't know why. I don't even know what parts of his story are made up. I don't guess it really matters. All that matters is that he's standing in front of me, real. And he's lying.

And I'm so damn tired. I can't do this anymore. I can't be here, standing in front of him when just looking at his gorgeous face hurts. I need to get out of here before I break. I feel it coming. The cracks are already forming.

"You have a concert," I mutter. "You should go do that."

"Mina, please," he pleads quietly. "Let me explain."

"You explained." I turn for the door. "I don't believe you. So I'm going home, and I'm going to pretend tonight didn't happen. I'm going to tell myself you died six years ago, and I didn't spend the last six years of my life mourning a man who never loved me. That's what I need to believe right now."

Because the truth is too damn tragic. I'm still in love with a man who spent six years letting me think he was dead. One who can't even tell me the truth now.

"I always loved you," he growls, grabbing me. Before I can even move, he has me pinned up against the wall, his body pressed to mine. He looms above me like a hot, pissed-off wall, his eyes on fire as he glowers down at me. "Even when I didn't think you were real, I loved you."

"Let me go," I whisper, hating the way his heat sears into me. Hating how familiar he feels pressed against me. Hating how much I don't hate it. God, this hurts. And yet…having him right here, pressed up against me feels exactly right. This is where I'm supposed to be. In his arms. He's supposed to be looking at me like he can't live without me.

This is the life I was supposed to have.

But it isn't mine.

It's a lie because I don't even know this man. I'm no longer sure I ever did.

"Hell no," he snarls, his lips inches from mine. "I will never let you go, Mina. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not fucking ever, baby. You're my wife."

His lips come down on mine, his kiss hard. And damn me to hell, but I don't stop him. I don't fight him. I don't even resist him. I kiss him back, practically sobbing into his mouth as my body ignites, heat rushing through me in a molten wave. It's bright, white, exquisite torture.

And it's the only thing real between us.

The rest was just a lie. It was always a lie. I was just too naïve to see it.

I bite his bottom lip hard, shoving him away from me.

He growls, bringing his thumb up to his bottom lip. His eyes glitter as he wipes away a drop of blood. Even now, when I want to hate him, he's still the most beautiful man I've ever seen, fierce in his desire. His cheeks are flushed, his pupils blown wide. He's a fortress, standing tall and strong.

But he isn't mine. Not anymore.

"I'm not your wife," I whisper, grasping for the door. "You were legally declared dead four years ago. And you're still dead to me. So stay the hell away from me, Grayson."

I throw myself out of the green room, my heart pounding in my ears. I don't wait around for him to follow me. I take off down the hall, running as fast as I can.

When I reach the end and glance back, he isn't behind me.

That hurts more than it should.

Brinley's sleeping when I get home. I pay the babysitter and then head straight to her room, desperately needing to set eyes on her.

I crack her door open and peek inside. Like always, she's sprawled across her bed, her blankets all twisted around her. One little foot hangs off the side of the bed. One pillow is on the floor. But she still has her favorite teddy bear clutched in her hand.

I smile at the sight and tiptoe inside to fix the mess she made of her bed and kiss her goodnight. She huffs in her sleep when I untwist the blankets from around her ankle and cover her with them.

"Goodnight, lovebug," I whisper, brushing my lips across her forehead.

"Mommy." Her little eyes flutter partially open. "You're home."

"Yeah, lovebug, I'm home." I brush my fingers through her wild hair. "Did you have fun with Jen tonight?"

"Yes." She meets my gaze. "Did you meet Kasen?"

"Afraid not."