Page 131 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

It went off in their scuffle, the bullet ripping through the outer edge of Anika’s arm. It was a flesh wound, but it bled profusely regardless.

“You bitch,”she seethed.

Blood splattered across nearby surfaces making everything slippery, both of their hands struggling to find purchase on the gun and each other’s skin. She was strong, but Mikko spent hours in the gym preparing for moments like these—had trained to be the best. He focused on his physique, determined to be the strongest version of himself, honing his body into a lethal weapon.

His father had always used his height and weight against Mikko—no one else would.

Bucking and screaming, her teeth gnashed at him, fingers clawing and searching for flesh to shred. Her hair spread out in a wild halo around her head. Tangled and bloody, they fought. Unable to hang onto his gun, it fell from his hand as he attempted to control the woman below him.

If it hadn’t been for her scheming—her elusive nature—he would’ve found the chase enticing, adrenaline racing and fingers aching to dip themselves into the crimson splattered around them.

But he was too pissed.

With her arms beneath his legs and his hands around her neck in warning, he finally asked, “What’s in the mason jar?”

“You’re the alcoholic,” she gasped, words still steeped in venom, “take a guess.”

Mikko’s hands tightened around her throat in an effort to tame her. As much as it pained him, heneededanswers, and she was making it really damn difficult to hang on.

Red encroached the corners of Mikko’s vision, his own obsession getting in the way of his success once again. And this time, it costhim more than himself—it involved Levi.

Stupid, stupid,stupid.

Mikko acquiesced. “Vodka sodas don’t impair men of his size that quickly.”

“He had a few…”

“Bullshit!” His muscles ached and sweat gathered beneath his clothes.

“I put…” she spit past Mikko’s harsh grip, “violets in…hisdrink.”

“What?”

Squirming, she flashed bloody teeth at him. Somewhere along the way, she’d bit her tongue or lip in their scuffle. “They make you…drowsy.”

She’s good.“That was stupid of you,” he threatened aloud.

Instead of cowering in fear like he wanted her too, she laughed, the sound manic and raspy from his ever tightening hold around her neck. He felt the vibrations of it against his palms. Fury mounted in the back of his throat, a feeling he’d always held dear to his heart—an emotion that never let him down.

All the others got him in trouble, but this one…

“You’re gonna be next if…you don’t let me go.”

His harsh laugh echoed around them. “As if I’d accept a drink fromyourtainted fingertips.”

“You already have…when we first met.” Blood splatter stained her skin, her eyes glinting with malicious intent. The light colored strands of her hair surrounding her face were also stained with crimson flecks. It was an obvious taunt, one he tried to ignore. He could finish this, even if she’d fucked everything up.

Despite Anika’s skin being on display, the warmth of her body pressed against his as he held her down, Mikko stayed focused. Now was not the time to be thinking of all the things he’d done in her house, or the way she occupied his mind when he relieved his bodyof all the tension late at night when no one was watching.

All of that had to disappear; he had to start over.

And inside his head, his father’s voice echoed above them all.“Kill her. Be done with it.”

But he couldn’t, even as his fury increased; something stopped him. If only he could get past hisfuckingemotions—

Whack!

Hot pain flashed across his jaw. Looking down, a smear of blood marred Anika’s forehead. She’d headbutted him.Again. Last time she’d done it, he swore he’d lost brain cells.