Page 190 of Pregnant By A Rich Demon 2

“Exactly what I said. He’s gone. No one knows where he is.”

“Winston—”

“Winston doesn’t know either. Or if he does, he’s not saying.” Amai ran a hand over his face, and for the first time, I saw the exhaustion there. The cracks in his armor. “Everything is falling apart.”

I straightened, trying to regain some semblance of control. “My father said the marriage arrangement still stands. He said Winston is counting on it—on us—to keep the alliance strong.”

Amai laughed—a bitter, hollow sound. “Your father can tell Winston whatever he wants. I’m done playing by their rules.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’m moving to the 9th Ward.”

The words hit me like a slap. “You’re what?”

“You heard me. I’m moving back to my old house. I’ll be out by the end of the week.”

“To be with her.” It wasn’t a question.

He didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

“You can’t save her, Amai.” The words came out before I could stop them. “You think you can, but you can’t. She’s goingto fall apart just like everyone else. Just like your mother. Just like me. Just like every woman who’s ever been stupid enough to love you.”

His hand shot out again, but this time, he didn’t grab my throat.

He grabbed my jaw, forcing me to look at him.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” he said, his voice shaking with barely controlled rage. “Truth is nothing like you. She’s nothing like any of you.”

“She’s human, Amai. She’s going to break. And when she does, you’re going to be the one holding the pieces because you’ll be the one to break her.”

His grip tightened, and I saw something flicker in his eyes. Something that looked almost like fear.

“Get out of my way,” he finally said, releasing me.

I stumbled back, and he pushed past me into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

I stood there in the hallway, breathing hard, my throat aching, my jaw throbbing.

And for the first time since this whole mess started, I understood.

Amai was gone.

Not physically—not yet—but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

He’d crossed a line I couldn’t follow him over.

He’d fallen in love.

Real, consuming, destructive love.

The kind that made men do stupid things. The kind that made them burn down empires, destroy alliances, and throw away everything they’d built.

The kind that got people killed.

I pressed my hand to my throat, feeling the bruises already forming beneath my skin.

He’d choked me.