Chapter 171 - Nik

Turo yanked the receiver from my hands. "Momma, we'll call you later." He slammed the phone down without looking away from me. "Explain. Now." His eyes were blazing, his brows lowered over his nose.

I licked my lips. "Annie Pells. I killed her." Might as well burn all the bridges I'd made recently.

He stared at me for a long moment. Ended up shaking his head. "I don't believe you. No. You're too strong for that. Unless she was somehow hurting you or something else heinous, you wouldn't have killed her. Not really. Not physically."

I flinched.

He stepped closer. Narrowed his eyes at me. "You did kill her. In your own way. Who is Annie Pells to you, Cricket?"

"It doesn't matter. She's gone. Has been for a long time." I tried to step around him. Tried to ignore the searching gaze that held a hint of tenderness in it.

He braceleted my wrist gently. "Tell me, Cricket. Whatever secrets you're keeping are killing you," he said softly. "I can carry them for you."

I shook my h