Chapter 13
Thirteen
CULLEN
I’m trying to concentrate on the conversation happening between Dr. Young, Dr. Ko and Josiah, but my thoughts keep racing back to Nardi.
She’s hanging in the back of the conference room, eyes locked on her phone, looking bored and out of it.
I wanted to approach her the moment the presentation ended, but I keep getting caught up. With every step I take in her direction, someone stops me to talk.
On one hand, I’m pleased by the positive reception to Dr. Ko’s speech. Since the copycat problem and the lawsuit against Cullen Tech, morale has been down. We’ve been through a lot as a team and there’s more to come.
We’re still in the middle of a lawsuit, and the simulation needs to be ready for the board meeting.
It’s been a rough couple of weeks and it will get worse, for sure. I’m glad that Dr. Ko’s speech was so inspiring and reminded everyone of our commitment to pilotless commercial planes.
However, I’m massively distracted.
I can’t stop looking over at Nardi.
She looks back at me and frustration tightens her lips. I’m not surprised by the frosty stare. There are many reasons she could be upset.
Starting with me sending Ashley over without telling her.
And me picking up Josiah from school without asking her.
Among a variety of other wrongs that I might not be aware of.
“Cullen? Cullen?” Dr. Young waves to get my attention. “What do you think?”
I get a summary of the information I missed and give a satisfactory response. When I’m done, the older men nod in agreement while Josiah jots down notes on his phone. He seems particularly invigorated. I know he’s going to remember this day for the rest of his life.
My eyes flick to the back of the room. The chair Nardi occupied is empty. Did she leave already?
I spin around, frantically searching every face until I spot her. She’s halfway to the door, talking to Asad. He’s saying something that makes her smile. A frown instantly takes over my face. I excuse myself from the conversation with Dr. Ko and head in her direction.
The scowl she lays on me when I get nearer is toxic enough to kill a small rat. If I hadn’t already made up my mind about her, that expression would have sent me running and ducking for cover.
Instead, I slide right up to her, my hand on the small of her back, needing to touch her.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
She shifts so my hand falls away. “Please continue, Asad. What were you saying about the summer camp for young programmers?”
“Uh,” Asad snaps his eyes between me and Nardi, “yeah, my parents went through a program called Coding Camps for Kids.”
“Nardi,” I insist, “I need to talk to you.”
“Do they have scholarship opportunities?” Nardi asks.
Asad shifts from one leg to the next and pushes up his glasses in discomfort. “I think so. Many of the previous attendees give back to the camps. The initiative helps tons of underprivileged kids get access to training.”
“I’m interested in hearing more?—”
“Nardi—”
“Can’t you see I’m having a conversation?” Her tone is sharp and cutting.
My eyes narrow and I restrain the urge to throw her against the wall and devour her rude, perfect, luscious lips. We’re in public, in front of my team, no less. And also her little brother is a few feet away.
I don’t allow myself to touch her, but my glare is thick and focused.
Asad goes quiet, sensing the tension.
“Asad, please continue,” Nardi says in that stiff tone.
“I think I should give you two a minute.”
“It’s fine.”
“Asad, you have work to do.” I jut my chin at the door.
“Aye, aye, captain.” Asad gives me a quick salute and darts off with an uncomfortable smile.
Nardi tries to walk away from me.
I grab her hand.
She shakes me off. Our eyes collide. The intensity shifting through her gaze isn’t all from anger. I can sense something more. Especially when her gaze drops to my lips and her eyes flash with something close to need.
“Mr. Cullen, there you are.” An innocent technician wanders into the middle of our silent battle of wills.
“Looks like you’re busy,” Nardi says with a prim, tight-lipped smile. “I’ll get out of your way.”
I press her closer. “Stay.”
“Mr. Cullen?”
“Just a second, Renland.”
“Should I… come back when you’re done?”
Nardi looks past me to Renland. “He’s all yours.”
I slide my fingers over her waist as she walks away. “Wait for me in my office. First door straight down the hall,” I say for her ears only.
Nardi scoffs and stomps out of the room.
I listen to Renland’s concerns and field a few more questions from other team members. However, I’m far more impatient during this round of discussions and I keep checking my watch.
“Josiah,” I call when the crowd thins out a bit, “do you know where the computer lab is?”
His eyes brighten. “I saw it coming in.”
“Tell Asad to give you an unmanned station. You can play around on one of our experimental mainframes.”
“Sweet.” He darts off.
I figure that’ll keep him occupied for a minute.
Dr. Ko approaches me next. “Mr. Cullen, this was very enjoyable, but then that comes as no surprise. A programmer of your caliber would only surround himself with other brilliant minds.”
“We’re all working towards one goal at the end of the day.”
“Very true.” Dr. Ko checks his watch. “Are we still on for that tour of Adam Harrison’s engineering studio?”
I hesitate. Dr. Ko won’t be in town for long and I want to maximize the time he has to work on the PLP, but if I leave for a tour now, Nardi will be waiting for too long.
“Sara will drive you to your hotel first. Adam Harrison and his wife, Nova, are hosting an invention competition, but they promised to meet us tomorrow.”
“Great.” Dr. Ko nods. “I look forward to it.”
“Sara,” I mumble, jerking my chin in Dr. Ko’s direction.
My assistant smiles brightly. “Dr. Ko, I really enjoyed your presentation.”
“Thank you, thank you.”
“Cullen asked me to prepare a tour of the city for you. Take a look at the itinerary and let me know if it suits your tastes…”
Sara and Dr. Ko head toward the exit while I stride in the opposite direction to my office.
Half of me doesn’t expect Nardi to be there and my chest caves in relief when I see her standing with her back to the door.
Without a word, I let down the blinds and shut the door for privacy. The lock clicks in the silence.
She points at the entrance. “What do you plan on doing to me in here that requires a locked door?”
I back away from her. “Don’t tempt me, Nardi. I’m barely restraining myself as is.”
“Restraining yourself?” She counts off on dark fingers. “Sending over your housekeeper, picking up my brother from school, oh, and canceling my gig with Sunny Hastings, which one of these was you restraining yourself?”
“Which one are you punishing me for?”
“Punishing you? Can anyone ‘punish’ you, Cullen? Because it seems to me like you just do whatever you want and hide behind your money and your narcissism.”
“Narcissism?”
“The ‘oh I’m dying and time moves differently for me’ crap is just your way of hiding your sick, twisted desire for control. Well, I’m not your plaything. You don’t get to manipulate my world because you have too much power over your own.”
I prowl toward her. “If I’d asked for permission, you never would have let yourself rest. Picking up Josiah, sending Ashley, talking to Darrel Hastings, if you call that manipulation and control? Fine. You’d push yourself past your limits out of sheer stubbornness and I won’t let you do that.”
Her fingers reach up to massage her temple. She closes her beautiful eyes as if the sight of me worsens her headache. “You… you overbearing, presumptuous blowfish! ”
“Blowfish?”
“Would you prefer ‘swine’?” Her eyes stew with rage. “You don’t get it. You don’t ‘let’ another human being do anything. I’m not your property. You don’t own me. You will never own me. I don’t care how desperate you are. I don’t care how much money you throw at me or how you meddle and interfere. I will never fall for you. I will never let you take over.”
“I never asked you to do any of that. Fall for me? Let me take over? Screw it, Nardi. All I need from you is one thing.”
“There’s no need to beg for it, Cullen. I already hate you,” she spits.
I’m in front of her in a flash, my resolve to hold out completely dissipated. “Say that again.”
Her eyes widen with something like fear. She trembles, backing up a step. I rope my hands around her waist, being careful of her wrist brace.
“Again, Nardi,” I whisper low and fierce.
She pins her lips together.
I lean forward, kissing the sensitive lobe of her ear. Her skin is so sweet on my tongue.
Damn, she’s intoxicating.
The silence twines with tension, creating a pulsing, buzzing electricity through the air.
“Or were you lying to me? Did you not mean it?” I taunt her.
Nardi stares me right in the eyes. “I meant it.”
“Then say it.”
“I hate you.”
Like a panther to its prey, I pounce on her. There’s nothing gentle, nothing decent about the way I slam my lips against hers. The kiss immediately sets to a feverish pace and I grip the back of her neck, tilting her head back to deepen the onslaught.
Heat envelops me. The whipping frenzy of my pulse threatens to send me to the grave early.
And still I hold on to her.
Her lips taste of paradise and purgatory. Of everlasting bliss and never-ending torture. I take from her, punishing her, holding her tight to my chest while I plunder her mouth with my tongue.
She fights back, clawing at my shoulders so forcefully it’ll leave marks. I cherish every line she indents in my skin. Let her mark me. Let her stain me. This failing body is hers anyway.
“Tell me again,” I growl, pulling back just far enough to press my forehead against hers.
Nardi’s eyes are hazy and I can feel her fingers twitching as they twine in the shoulder of my shirt. If I didn’t know that her knees were buckling and she wouldn’t be able to stand without holding me, I would think she’s yanking on my shirt to punch me in the face.
Her breath hits my chin, scattered and uneven.
I slip my hands under her shirt. My fingers slide across her stomach, waking her from her daze. I feel something like a healed incision mark when she suddenly grabs my hand and pushes it away.
“Nardi.”
“Don’t say my name like that.”
“Let me hear it again,” I plead.
“I…” She clamps her mouth shut. Swallows hard. Licks her lips.
The sight of her tongue makes me feral.
“Sweetheart,” I growl, running my nose up and down her neck.
She shudders.
“If you don’t want our first time to be against this desk, say it now,” I command in a low, thrumming voice.
Nardi inhales shakily. “I… hate…”
The last word shatters as I slam back against her mouth. This time, Nardi wraps her hands around the back of my neck. She meets me slant for slant, possessing me fully. We collide like a dangerous mix of explosions. Fireworks. A Molotov cocktail.
Her angry nips send a bolt of pleasure straight through me.
It’s not enough.
More. More.
A surge of possessiveness roars through my chest. It prickles under my skin, squeezes my heart so tight that I’m sure it’ll burst into rubble and stone.
I dig my fingers into her side, keeping her steady, keeping her against me, fastening her in place so she can’t move even as I take her mouth the way I’ll soon take her body.
“Don’t you ever forget.” I speak through gritted teeth. “Don’t you ever forget who your hatred belongs to.”
My hands roam up her back, feeling the smooth, dark skin. The indent of her spine. The place where her spine meets the back of her neck.
Holy…
She feels so good.
Nardi whimpers. Her wrist. I’m holding her too tight and her wrist brace is caught between us. In answer to her cry, I back her up without disconnecting our lips and lean her against the desk. With her so far below me, I switch the angle of the kiss. Softer. Deeper. My tongue glides across her bottom lip in a sweeping motion.
She moans.
Everything inside me contracts at the sound.
There’s a knock on the door.
Who would dare to interrupt us?
My receptionist’s voice seeps through the door. “Mr. Cullen, Mr. Sullivan is here.”
Nardi disconnects her lips from mine, her attention on the door.
I grip her chin, forcing her attention back to me. Leaning over, I suckle on her bottom lip. It’s not a kiss so much as it is a daring, impulsive outlet for my obsession. I don’t care who’s here. I’m not finished with her yet.
Nardi starts pushing me away, but I don’t release her.
She hates me.
Thinks I’m a monster.
So I’ll give her a beast.
I feel a sharp, sudden pain as Nardi bites hard on my lip. I pull away in surprise, and it’s just enough that she wiggles out from under me. Her sneakers thump on the ground as Nardi flees all the way across the room.
Her hair is frizzy and a few strands stick up in all directions. Her shirt is wrinkled and her lipstick is smeared.
Silence rings heavily between us.
“Mr. Cullen?” My receptionist knocks on the door again.
I grit my teeth. “Take him to the conference room. I’ll be right there.”
The receptionist’s heels click away.
I open the door. Suddenly, Nardi’s in front of me. Hand extended, she pushes the door shut.
I immediately lean toward her, ready to continue kissing.
But when she reaches up, it’s her thumb—not her lips—that swipe my mouth.
Shocked, I stare at her.
Nardi shows me the lipstick stain she cleaned from my face. “You don’t want your visitor asking questions.”
“I’ll tell him the truth.”
“Do it and I’ll kill you.” She turns away.
Amused, I force myself to slip out of the room.
Just before I open the door to the conference room, I adjust my pants and swipe my tongue across my mouth.
I was right.
Nardi’s cooking was amazing, but nothing beats the taste of Nardi herself.
“When were you going to tell me that Cullen Tech was being sued?” Sullivan asks calmly.
The adrenaline from kissing Nardi is still lingering, and that makes it difficult to focus. “How long have you known?”
“Long enough that I couldn’t wait any longer for you to tell me.”
I run a hand over my beanie. “We’re handling it. We have our lawyers working around the clock.”
“My lawyers are better.”
“We can compare sizes after this crisis.”
Sullivan freezes and looks at me with incredulous eyes. “Was that… a joke?”
Technically, it was sarcasm.
Sullivan narrows his eyes.
“Are you here to inspect the company or me?” I grip the back of a chair and take a seat.
“You are the company,” Sullivan says. “The leader is the one who points people in the direction they need to go. Anything goes wrong, it’s his fault.”
“And anything goes right, it’s the team’s hard work?”
“Exactly.”
I smirk.
Sullivan smiles too.
I relax in my chair, at ease.
When Cullen Tech was ready for its first round of investment, I met with an exhausting number of CEOs. There were plenty of leaner, light-on-their-feet companies that wanted a piece of my technology.
Though I’d heard about Sullivan’s company, it wasn’t on my list of partnerships. I knew there would be board meetings, red tape, and a lot less flexibility with a billion-dollar big brother looking over my shoulder.
Then I met Sullivan in person and I was impressed.
Sullivan is the heir of a massive fortune handed down from one generation to the next. His family weathered two world wars and the Great Depression, flourishing in every era despite the unique challenges introduced by the shifting of time.
Sullivan—his full name is actually Richard Sullivan the Second—built his company atop the impressive foundations of his family’s empire.
There was never a problem his name couldn’t solve.
He negotiated contracts with his pedigree. He convinced banks to lend him money with his family status alone.
No one rejected him.
No one said no.
Sullivan has weathered neither wars nor great economic relapses. To earn his stripes, he had to invent his own fire.
Which is why he invested in the PLP.
Sullivan made it clear that he wants to make his own mark in the world. In that regard, our visions align but, on my end, it was also a tactical decision to bet on him.
Sullivan’s entire estate does not rest on Cullen Tech. He has enough money and enough momentum that immediate profits from the PLP program aren’t his main goal. It’s rare in the tech-conglomerate world to have the scientists rushing more than the investor. But that’s exactly how the roles have switched in our business venture.
“How have you been, Cullen?” Sullivan asks, leaning back and watching me patiently.
“You put a lot of work into asking that question.” I arch a brow.
“Are you referring to Darrel?”
I nod.
Sullivan lifts his chin. “I have no regrets.”
“You stayed out of my sight because you crossed a line and you knew it.”
“Fair.” He makes the sign with his fingers.
Sullivan knows American Sign Language because he’s married to a very famous deaf social media model.
I saw her at the company once and thought that she was there as a spokesperson for Dare’s new venture with Ru-Carpsel. It wasn’t until Sullivan emerged from a meeting with me and my team, saw the woman and immediately went over to kiss her that I noticed them both wearing wedding rings.
“How’s the wife?” I ask.
His mouth curls into a soft smile. “She’s great. She just came back from fashion week so we’ve been making up for lost time.” He gets serious again. “How’s the simulation?”
“We’re making headway. Adam Harrison agreed to open access to his satellite signals. I appreciate the introduction by the way.”
“I was happy to help. I should have thought of it myself. Linking the two of you is a no-brainer.”
My smile inches up a bit. “Harrison is excited about the PLP prospect.”
“Not a surprise. He’s just as obsessed with the impossible as you are. If not for Nova, the guy would be on the first rocket to Mars to start his own colony.”
I chuckle.
Sullivan’s eyes narrow on me.
I wipe the smile immediately from my face.
Sullivan whips out that ‘big brother’ tone of his. “Are you taking enough breaks?”
“Here we go again.” I sigh.
“It’s just a question.”
“It’s a threat assessment. You’d cart me off to the hospital now if you had a right to.”
“I’m your emergency contact. I have some rights.”
“I’m fine.”
“You seem,” Sullivan taps his chin, “I don’t know. Something’s changed.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“I need examples,” I grumble.
“Come on, Cullen. You’re standing in an example.”
“What do you mean?”
“You hated the thought of working in an office with your employees. For years, Cullen Tech was completely virtual. Hell, our first two negotiation rounds were online. That’s unheard of.”
I shrug. First time for everything.
“Now,” Sullivan gestures to the conference room, “you opened up a physical location. Your technicians work in the same building. You see your team in person, talk to them in person every day.”
“Virtual is still a more efficient way to work. We’re only doing this because we’re battling a crisis.”
Sullivan leans forward, his eyes narrowed. “Did talking to Darrel help?”
“This isn’t because of Darrel.”
“Then?”
I glance off to the side.
Sullivan covers his mouth with a hand. The ring on his finger catches my eye and I glance at my own finger, noticing how empty it looks without a wedding band.
Nardi deserves a rock the size of a continent, but she’d prefer something small. Something that won’t get in her way while she’s cooking.
“You met someone, didn’t you?” Sullivan guesses.
I look up.
He must read something in my expression because he grins so hard his cheeks will probably hurt tomorrow. “Who is she? What does she do? Does she work with you?” He pauses and braces himself. “She’s not a robot, is she?”
I recall the taste of Nardi’s lips. The warmth of her skin. The desperate cadence of her heartbeat. “Do I seem that delusional to you?”
“AI is making serious strides in being human-like. Given your personality and your thing with germs…”
“Since you’re talking nonsense, can I assume the meeting is over?” I rise to my feet.
“You’ll let me meet her?”
I grunt.
Sullivan smirks. “Now I’m curious.”
That’s not good. Sullivan has all the time and the resources in the world to track Nardi down. He’s got Clay Bolton in his billionaire circle. I run into Bolton at a few cyber security conferences during the year. Former military, the guy is renowned for his success rate and doesn’t know the term ‘give up’.
“I’ll introduce you when the time is right,” I concede for my own safety.
“Oh, she must be really important to you.”
“There’s someone else I’d like you to meet,” I say, thinking of Josiah. “He’ll be an important part of Cullen Tech’s future. But now isn’t the time. I’ll set that up later.”
“When is later?” Sullivan arches a brow.
“Soon. I can’t afford to put things off.”
He sobers. “About that?—”
I hold up a hand. “Darrel already shared your sentiments.”
“Allow me to repeat myself. Cullen Tech isn’t a separate entity. You are the heart of this company. I consider your health under the purview of our partnership contract.”
“I don’t remember that being a part of our terms.”
He pretends not to have heard. “Let me know if you ever decide on re-starting treatment. I’ll have my office transferred to your hospital room.”
I internally smirk. Perhaps it’s because he’s a billionaire who’s had it easy, but Richard Sullivan can make the most mundane things sound extremely dramatic.
“Good luck with that. Those nurses don’t let anything slide. And they can’t be bribed,” I joke, choosing to make light of it instead of reminding him that I won’t ever return to the hospital.
Sullivan’s phone rings and he lifts it to his face. “It’s my wife.” He tells me. And then he proceeds to sign to the camera with one hand.
I wait until he’s finished with the conversation to say, “Thanks for stopping by, but I have a full schedule today.”
He pockets the phone. “With a frosty welcome like that, I’ll have to visit more often.”
“Please don’t.” I escort him to the lobby.
“It’s good to see you, Cullen. I’ll be waiting on your news.”
“About the lawsuit or about my personal life?”
“Whatever comes first.”
I shake my head.
Sullivan smirks and heads to his town car, answering another call on the way.
I turn to the receptionist. “Did Nardi leave already?”
She doesn’t seem to hear me and keeps peering out the window as Sullivan’s town car pulls out of the lot.
I tap my hand on the desk to get her attention.
She jumps and notices me for the first time. “Mr. Cullen, I’m so sorry. What did you say?”
I glance over my shoulder at the glass door. “I asked if Nardi left already.”
“Yes. She and her brother left about twenty minutes ago.”
“Did she seem…” I search for the word, “unhappy?”
“I’m not sure.” The receptionist looks to the ceiling in contemplation. “She seemed to be in a hurry.”
I bet she was. I can imagine Nardi fixing her hair, brushing down her shirt to smooth out the wrinkles, fixing her makeup, and going in search of Josiah to drag him away from the computer lab. After what happened in my office, I doubt she’d want to stick around.
Still occupied with thoughts of Nardi, I walk away.
The receptionist calls me back. “Mr. Cullen?”
I turn to face her.
“Would it be okay if I asked Mr. Sullivan for a selfie the next time he comes in? Or would that be too unprofessional?”
I don’t know why she’s asking me for permission. Plenty of technicians asked for pictures with Dr. Ko today. The man is a legend.
“If you want.” I shrug.
She squeals. “Yes! Thank you. Oh, I can’t believe Richard Sullivan was here.” Her eyes widen and she shakes her head incredulously. “He’s so much hotter in person.”
Sullivan is hot? I don’t look at other men, so I wouldn’t know. But, based on my limited understanding of what women want, I wouldn’t assume it would be someone like Sullivan.
I take one step away, but my brain has uncovered a problem and I’m forced to turn back to seek out the answers.
The receptionist seems surprised by my return and shoots to her feet. “Mr. Cullen?”
“What exactly is so attractive about Sullivan?”
Her mouth falls open and she stares at me like I asked her to explain the Pythagorean Theory. “Um…”
“Is it his wealth?” My brain pulls on all the scenarios of young, beautiful women dating men for their wealth and status.
I can’t speak for other industries, but the tech industry is thriving with high school rejects who struck out with women all their lives, but suddenly scored someone out of their league after they sold their company.
“Yeah, I mean. That might be part of it.” She shrugs. “But it’s more than that, you know? There are rich guys I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole because they’re so shallow and self-absorbed. It’s a huge turn off.”
“Shallow and self-absorbed, huh?” I run my hand over my beanie. Didn’t Nardi call me a narcissist earlier?
“And he seems really classy and gentle, you know? Men think women are into guys who bark at them and order them around, but that just gives us the ick.”
Say it again.
Hate me, Nardi.
Don’t you ever forget who your hatred belongs to .
I rub the back of my neck. “What’s the ick?” I ask.
“It’s just a feeling. Like a turn off.” She flips her hair over her shoulder.
Was Nardi turned off? I didn’t sense that she was, but maybe I misread it because of my obsession with her.
“Anyway,” she smiles, “this is just a harmless little crush. Richard Sullivan gets photographed with his wife Yaya all... the… time . She’s super pretty and he looks one hundred percent into her. I wouldn’t stand a chance even if I tried.”
“Thanks.” I lift a hand because I couldn’t care less about her justifying her crush on Sullivan. But when I turn to go, my body tightens.
A striking pain suddenly lashes into my chest. It comes out of nowhere and leaves just as quickly.
At first, I assume it’s heartburn.
Then the lashing-hot pain strikes again.
“Ah.” I grimace.
Is it vertigo?
No, my eyes aren’t spotty and the room isn’t spinning. This must be something else.
“Mr. Cullen? Are you okay? You look really pale all of a sudden. Do you need to sit down? Do you need me to call Sara?”
“Sara’s with Dr. Ko.” I wave her off. “I’m fine.”
“Let me help you to your office.”
I shake my head, unwilling to accept the offer. The entire company knows about my health struggle but, even if they’re all aware I’m on my way out, I refuse to appear weak. I want them to believe in and trust me. Limping around, looking like death warmed over, isn’t going to aid that cause.
“Are you sure?” The receptionist still has her arm extended as if prepared to catch me in the middle of a fall.
I ignore her and struggle down the hallway. It’s slow going. My hand presses into the wall to keep me upright and balanced.
The pain withdraws.
And then slices into me with a deeper force.
Would it be better if I crawled?
I can make it.
But with every step I take, the pain in my chest intensifies. The pangs of discomfort come closer and closer together, leaving little relief in between.
“Cullen?” Jenna’s voice resounds behind me. The urgent cadence of her heels against the carpet feels like nails slamming into my skull. “Cullen, oh my gosh. What’s wrong? Do I need to call the ambulance?”
Her voice sounds like it’s coming out of a tin can.
I shake my head. “I’m…”
My knees give out and I lurch forward. It’s only my hand on the wall and Jenna’s grip on my arm that keeps me upright.
“Cullen, it’s either I call the ambulance or I drive you to the hospital. You’re going to collapse at this rate.”
The pain isn’t letting up and I give in to the wisdom of her words.
Jenna wraps her arm around my waist in support and with the little energy I have left, I pry her hand away and limp forward on my own.
“Cullen, let me help you,” Jenna sputters, standing behind me.
“Let’s go,” I whisper.
Jenna glares. “Is it Nardi? Is that why you won’t let me help? Are you going to let her control you like that?”
I keep moving, pretending not to have heard the question.
Jenna storms after me. “Cullen?—”
Agony claws into my chest. My knees hit the carpet, my teeth lock up in my mouth and all I feel is gravity pulling me to the ground as the entire world fades to black.