Page 90 of Angelic Vengeance

She wasn’t wearing anything crazy; baggy jeans and an even baggier crewneck. But fuck, I guess they were right about leaving it all to the imagination. Every time I saw her form move under those goddamn clothes, it was like a reward. Every curve and dip... I needed to know whatshelooked like.

We both remained quiet, silently fighting with our eyes from across the dining table while the others talked or at least attempted to have a normal conversation. I could tell something was off about Trevor, like he had something on his mind. I thought he’d bring it up at one point, but he never did.

When the dinner party ended, everyone got up to help with cleaning up, except for Maria who’d been the one to cook the food. She made a pretty mean pasta. Even Tony, who wasTony, said it was better than the ones their Sicilianprivate cooks made. Guess someone was getting fired at the Cosa Nostra.

I caught Maria slipping away from everyone, heading into a separate hallway. Obviously, I followed behind, only to catch the sight of the guest bathroom door closing behind her.

Standing alone in the dark hallway, I waited. Dim light came from the open living-kitchen space behind me, and the thinnest thread of light spilled underneath the bathroom door.

How easy it would be to follow her inside and put a bullet in her head.

I didn’t bother to turn the lights on when I got back to my place, the city lights coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows providing sufficient clarity.

When I stepped into my bedroom, I halted; hands in pockets, and stared at the painting hanging above my bed.

A black-and-white, abstract painting of a girl’s face, almost fully blurred. Her long, dark hair, messy and wild, cascaded down her shoulders. Only her siren eyes remained intact – extremely detailed and vibrantly green.

I had it made two years ago to never forget my objective – a problem I’d anticipated and was proven to be right. I needed to get this over with soon.

It was settled.

The next time I saw her, it would be the last.

CHAPTER 30

Present

SHOCKER. I DIDN’T STICK TO the fucking plan.

There’d been plenty of opportunities. I could’ve slit her throat in the library and left her to bleed out between the bookshelves. I almost went through with it on the abandoned outskirts of town; my blade had been against her neck, but again so had hers against mine.

I was… To say the least, impressed by her skills. I was bigger and stronger but her technique always exceeded mine.

Sure, I could’ve still taken her out right there, but it all seemed… Anticlimactic. Boring.Meh.

I’d been hung up about this assassin for the past two years of my life and all I was getting was a mere stab wound?

No. I was capable of worse.

Similarly, there’d been a window tonight, when I cornered her in the staff kitchen at Francesca’s apartment. We were all alone, away from the party. No one would’ve heard her scream.

However, after spending more time with Maria than intended, I quickly came to learn from her that the best way to destroy someone was by breaking through their walls. I wanted to fuck with her head the same way she had fucked with mine for those two years. And what better way to rip someone apart than right from the inside?

Hencewhy I’d switched my strategy from homicide to romanticize.

But of course, she had to make this complicated. Had to make me lose my fucking mind trying to keep up with her. Despite every-thing, it still felt like she was the one in control.

And to clarify everything, there wasno fucking guy.

If there was, I would’ve been the first to know.

I’d pushed her too far and now had to deal with the consequences. I knew I was risking it when I insinuated she was scared of me, but continued regardless. Now, I was competing with some imaginary guy. I wouldn’t tell Maria I knew he didn’t exist – that Kali had lied for her – she’d only find some stranger to not lose face.

This girl was not making it easy for me.

Maybe she didn’t believe what I’d said in her ear earlier, but that didn’t matter. She’d see for herself soon enough.

I returned my attention to the party. Everyone was drinking and enjoying themselves – except for me.