The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 234

Petty felt like she was caught in a nightmare she couldn’t shake off. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t wake up. Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but she could feel it—a cold, rough fingertip moving slowly across her face.

It traced a path over her brow, slid down the bridge of her nose, and then, like a snake, crept lower until it reached her lips. The finger pressed against her lower lip, lingering there and gently prying it open. She felt the rough texture of his skin brushing against her mouth.

“Don’t…” The word slipped out as Petty suddenly managed to force her eyes open. A pair of cold, dark eyes stared back at her. Her heart twisted in her chest. “Franco…”

He grabbed her wrists and pinned them over her head, his grip iron-tight. She was forced to arch her torso, her chest almost touching his own. She could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady.

Petty stared at his face, so close it filled her vision. After her grandmother died it felt like every last connection between them had been cut. She never thought she’d see him again. She’d even changed the lock code on her door, so how did he walk in like it was nothing?

“When you found out your name was taken off the list, why didn’t you call me and demand an explanation?” Franco’s hand moved to her chin, his fingertips warmer now, brushing along her jaw. The touch was soft, almost careful, but his voice was as cold as winter rain.

“Were you planning to just quit and leave Cabinda? Thinking about how to make your big escape?”

Petty was still reeling. Her chest heaved, her thoughts racing as she tried to process everything he was saying. Did he really show up just because she never called to confront him?

That idea alone made her break out in goosebumps.

Being pinned like this left her feeling exposed, humiliated, and furious. Thinking about how she’d been kicked off the Everell assignment only made her angrier, her eyes burning hot with tears she refused to shed.

“What kind of backup plan could I possibly come up with? You’re everywhere, Franco! No matter where I go you’ll find a way to chase me down.”

She tried to calm herself, but her mind was a mess. Deep down she knew he was bluffing—he’d left her parents’ ashes alone for years. He was only trying to scare her. Even so, her eyes stung as tears slid down her cheeks and soaked into the pillow.

“If you refuse to acknowledge me, just let me go. What’s the point of keeping me here?”

He took her chin in his hand, wiping away one of her tears with his thumb. He let out a strange, quiet laugh. “The point doesn’t matter to me.”

“You’re a lunatic!” The words barely left her lips before he leaned in and kissed her. She tried to turn away, but he gripped her jaw, forcing her to face him as his mouth crashed down on hers. The kiss was wild and possessive, his tongue searching for hers in a feverish rush.

Burning with humiliation and rage, Petty bit down, refusing to give in.