Page 133 of Merry Fake Bride

My heart punches violently against my ribs.

I’m panting so hard that the taste of iron coats the back of my tongue and my vision is fuzzy around the edges.

But I see him.

Axel stands at the top of the hill leaning against a streetlight, smoking.

Clouds escape past his lips and carry on up to the fuzz of light spreading out from the bulb as the snow falls thicker.

He sees me and immediately bursts out laughing. “Holy shit, you’re a fucking mess.”

As I stumble to a stop, desperately gasping for air, he checks his phone and wrinkles his nose.

“Huh. You actually made it. Should I be impressed?”

Seeing him without Kairo next to me is a whole different level of fear.

At a glance, he’s not completely intimidating, but those hands have hurt me more times than I can count.

But that’s not the most terrifying thing. As he pushes off the streetlight and faces me, metal glints in his other hand and my chest seizes.

A gun.

He has a gun.

“I’m here,” I gasp after catching my breath. “What do you want?”

“I only want one thing, Devon. I’ve only ever wanted one thing.” He steps toward me. “You.”

“I’m n–not yours anymore.”

My hammering heart causes my voice to tremble.

He takes another step forward and I’m locked, like I’ve frozen to the ground the second I stopped walking.

“You think this is a fucking joke?” he snarls. “You think I liked having my wife up and disappear in the night? To travel across fucking Europe to look for you?”

He actually searched Europe for me? It would be funny if I weren’t so scared.

“I thought you weredead, and then to go to Colorado and see those fucking pictures because the Sycamore galas are all anyone can talk about. You on the arm of thatprick? I took the first flight out here and instead of welcoming me with open arms, you treat me like I’m a stranger?”

Closer and closer he walks, and I can’t take my eyes off the gun.

“Don’t you miss me? Don’t you want to come home? Don’t I deserve somethanksfor coming all this way to get you?”

“You hated me,” I whisper hoarsely. “Youcheatedon me. You hurt me.”

“Because you wouldn’t put out! A husband needs sex and you were fucking useless, so you can’t blame me for that. All I asked is that you lose a few pounds, and you couldn’t even do that!” His eyes rake down me. “Gained a few, if you ask me.”

“I’m not yours anymore, Axel. I’m sorry I lied to you, but think about it, you deserve to move on! You deserve someone better than me.”

“Shut up!” He lifts his hand and the gun glints once more in the light. “Get in the car.”

“What?” I blink and my eyes burn. The vehicle I never noticed before suddenly sits next to the curb.

“Get in the car, Devon.”

“No.” The word escapes me like a reflex, and Axel’s face darkens.