Page 14 of Cruel Possession

“What do you come up with?”

“Nothing much. You and I are both forty-four, sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch, wishing we hadn’t wasted the best years of our lives being absolute badasses, but at least we’ll have good stories to tell our children.”

My nose wrinkles. “I don’t want kids.”

“Okay, fine, I will be raising a bunch of baby assassins, and you will be Aunty Zoe, who they will love and adore more than anyone else.”

I laugh and lean closer to her, resting my head on her shoulder. “Tell me more about this fantasy life.”

“Well, I, of course, am married to a super-hot man or woman. Don’t know who they are, but they will, in fact, be the most attractive person to walk this earth. I’ve popped out at least three children, each one of them a little walking model.”

I smother another laugh when she shoots me a glare.

Sitting up, I reach for my wine glass and get up to go put more in. “You’re going to have to figure out names for these children.”

“They’ll go by a group stage name. Mommy’s Little Moneymakers.”

I burst out laughing, the wine nearly slipping from my hands. “All right, so I guess I’m going to have to save enough money to cover all of their future therapy bills.”

She turns to “shoot” me with little finger guns, a bright smile on her face. “You got it.”

“Perfect. Just what I wanted to do with my retirement from a life of crime. I wouldn’t want anything else, if we’re being honest here.” I glance at the time on the stove as my stomach starts rumbling. “I’m going to go get changed and order a pizza.”

“No banana peppers!”

“I’ll order you a separate one.” I head to the stairs and take them two at a time, eager to get my tight jeans off and slip into something a little more comfortable.

Instead, when I walk into my room, there’s a dark figure lingering in the shadows.

I reach for the gun I keep on me, but it’s not there because I put it down after I made sure the house was empty.

Except the dark figure in the corner isn’t the one I need to be worried about.

No, the one I need to be worried about is putting a knife to my throat.

He’s turning me to look at a wedding dress hanging on the back of my door, the scent of his familiar cologne lingering in the air.

Aiden’s warm breath skates over the side of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. “I think I’ve found something much more enjoyable than killing you.”

Chapter Five

AIDEN

“You better behave.”I press the blade against her skin, keeping it from slicing through.

I love messing with her, and I couldn’t believe my luck when I found that wedding dress at a street sale today. And I wasn’t even looking for anything of the sort, but as soon as my eyes landed on it, I knew I had to have it.

This is the perfect mind fuck. It’s going to drive her crazy for a while. I’ll be able to steal her shipment and fuck with her at the same time. And there’s nothing she can do about either.

Zoe glances at me in the mirror hanging over the vanity across from us, dim light flooding in through the crack in the door.

Sean slips out the window and disappears, likely climbing back down the side of the building. He only had to be here for the start of my plan. The rest should go off without a hitch.

Zoe’s breath hitches, those perfect breasts rising and falling.

I should’ve bitten them harder the last time we were together. I could’ve left her with the memory of us. Something that was hard for her to ignore. Something she couldn’t deny.

Like I can’t deny she’s spent the last year or so fucking me when it’s convenient for her, then trying to kill my family and expand her territory.