He Chose the Girl Who Tried to Kill Him novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Night She Left the House

Langston sat down on the end of my bed, in his own house.

He set the key beside him on the lace counterpane.

"Mother tells me you struck a bargain," he said. "Three conditions. I admired it."

"Then you will let me see Nan tomorrow."

"I will let you see anything you like." He smiled and put out his hand, palm up, the way he had on the night he proposed. "Come here, Ada. We have not been alone in a week."

I went and sat beside him, because I needed him to believe I would.

His hand slid along my jaw into my hair.

He kissed me.

It was a good kiss, and it was practised, and I felt nothing at all, not even anger.

He drew back and looked at me.

"You are not here for me," he said, quite gently. "You are here for the paper."

I did not move.

"I am here because there is nowhere else," I said. "My father has put me out."

"Of course." He stood and picked up the key. "Sleep, darling. We will talk in the morning."

He went out.

The key did not turn in the lock behind him.

I sat still for a count of one hundred, and then I understood he had left it open on purpose.

He wanted to see which way I would go.

I took the tin box and the receipt, and I went up the servants' stair in my stocking feet.

On the third floor, outside the end door, I knocked once with my knuckle.

"Nan," I whispered.

A pause, and then her voice came from the other side, flat with exhaustion.

"Go. He's watching you. I can feel it."

"I am coming back for you."

"You'd better."

I went down the same stair, past my own landing and on to the kitchen.

The kitchen door was bolted on the inside, and I drew the bolt.

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