Page 188 of Taming Seraphine

“You’re not taking me back to Anton,” I say, my voice low.

“He’s dead,” Leroi says between panting breaths.

I press the scalpel deeper into his flesh and nick his skin. A bead of blood gathers on the dirty blade before it rolls down Leroi’s neck.

“Don’t lie to me,” I say. “I overheard the doorman say your father was on his way up.”

Leroi swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. He’s calculating whether he can step away without his throat slit. I press the scalpel a little harder, and he shudders.

“Why do you think I rushed upstairs so quickly and left you behind in the room? It was to keep you hidden from Anton.”

Clashing thoughts and emotions swirl through my mind, making a mess of confusion. I shake off the doubts and stay focused on Leroi and his half-truths.

“But you were working for him all this time.”

“No,” he snarls. “Anton retired over five years ago. He left his firm to me.”

“That doesn’t mean a thing. I saw the fishing photos.”

He closes his eyes, every muscle in his face tightening. “It’s been months since I took Miko to Anton’s lake house, but that doesn’t mean we were working together.”

“Why did you lie about not knowing him?”

“I…” He sighs. “I should have said something, but I didn’t want to overload you with the truth. Seraphine, you’ve got to believe me when I tell you that I wanted to keep you away from Anton.”

“Why are you lying about him being dead?”

“I shot him upstairs and wanted to present you with his head.” He swallows. “It’s waiting for you in the refrigerator.”

My eyes narrow. Would he really decapitate his father figure?

“Finding you in Capello’s basement was a coincidence. The next day, Anton called to say that the girl he’d trained to be an assassin was missing, and I thought I could keep you hidden.”

“So you could train me to work for you?”

He clenches his teeth. “Because you were innocent. Because you didn’t deserve to be corrupted by those sick bastards. Because I wanted to keep you safe.”

There’s a harshness to his voice that betrays his emotions, and the way he stares down at me with glistening eyes says he means every word. I shake off that thought. Leroi has already proven himself to be a liar. At least by omission.

“You killed Miko,” I say.

“He shot at you, brought you to your abuser.” His gaze darts toward the exit, where Roman just left. “You’d be dead if he’d finished what he was about to say.”

Tears sting the backs of my eyes. The bitterness in his voice makes me pause, because Leroi hardly ever shows so much emotion.

Maybe he’s telling the truth?

My throat thickens, and it’s my turn to swallow. He’s trying to throw me off. Make me think I’m confused. At any moment, he’s going to find an opening, and I’ll be the one with a blade to my throat.

Or a pistol to my head.

“Why haven’t you reached for your gun?” I ask.

His jaw tightens. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve killed two of the most important people in my life for you. For your protection,” he says through gritted teeth. “Isn’t it obvious, Seraphine?”