The Drazen World: Irrelevant (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Allyn Lesley

heart beats. “You’re here,” I tell him again low but happy. I didn’t need him to live, that much was proven when my life carried on the day following his funeral. But his love, his presence rounds me out ... makes my life that much richer, more complete. He’s my other half. The one I didn’t know I was searching for. The man with the indecent proposal who changed my entire life.
    “I know I have a lot to tell you, but it’s so good to see you.” Jon captures my hand, planting a sweet kiss on each fingertip. “To see with my own eyes that you’re all right.” He pans the cozy living room with my simple furnishings that I put together on a shoestring budget.
    “The money you left in the safe was just enough to cover my deposit and to get a few things,” I tell him as a way to explain the missing curtains over the windows and the snack table holding up my television. “I planned to—”
    “It’s perfect.”
    I look down at his large hand over mine and still can’t believe what’s going on. So many thoughts whir around my head and I spew the first one out in nervousness. “I-I was kicked out of your funeral.” His hand tightens on mine, and I wonder what’s running through his mind. This morning’s news story comes back to me. “I told you about the voices in the library but I wasn’t specific.” That conversation was brief because I wasn’t sure Jon wanted to hear what I had to say. “I heard Monica, definitely, and someone else, a male. The day when—”
    “When she pushed you.” His chin dips and his profile is closed off. “I should’ve told you what was going on, but they weren’t sure of your involvement.” He turns to face me, and his green eyes are filled with sorrow. “I wasn’t sure of your involvement.” I slide my hand from under his. He didn’t trust me ? “The police came to me with Maria and Monica’s plot from the very beginning. Back then I was running on revenge and the quest to get Monica back for the way she treated me, discarded my love when I worked for her family.”
    I open my mouth to say something but he shakes his head and I keep my peace, giving Jon the space to go on.
    “What I’m about to say, please, I need to beg for your forgiveness. I wasn’t thinking. I was foolish, selfish, and filled with rage. I wanted to see who Monica had conned into her play. I came to Maria with the idea of having you work and live with her daughter and myself. Instead of anger as I assumed, she demanded payment.”
    My face is hot. Now I’ll finally hear the truth.
    “‘A king’s ransom to fuck the whore’ she told me.”
    “Ho-how much was that?”
    Jon grips my hand. “Katie, look at me.” I can’t though. The events in the parlor. Being bought like chattel. “Please,” he says, voice broken up with pain. And when I finally raise my head up, his cheeks are wet with his tears. “I’m sorry. I am.”
    “I know.” But I still need to hear the number. How much was I sold to get out of Maria’s home when she knew the details of Jon’s intentions toward me. “How much was this ‘king’s ransom’?”
    “A million and a half. But I couldn’t go through with it. Not after the time I spent with you in the parlor. I wanted you. That much was true from the day of my reception but you were such an innocent. I wasn’t thinking straight. I shouldn’t have gotten you involved in my revenge, baby girl. That’s the reason I left for all that time. I couldn’t take you back to Maria’s and I was too selfish not to have you near me. But I didn’t want to hurt you either.” On my lips, he begs low, “Say you forgive me. Please? You’re my heart. I need you to forgive me.” His voice cracks. “Anything could’ve happened to my heart, Katie. I left you with that madwoman! I should’ve fought to have you brought into police protection.” All I see is his face wet with tears. “I could’ve lost you because I was blinded by my need to avenge decades-old shit