Page 23 of Nemesis

He chuckled, his eyes slightly crinkling up at the corners as he scrubbed his free hand over his beard. “Noted.”

His expression turned serious and for a few moments, we simply stared at each other. My mind drifted to the reminiscence of us in the same position when we first started living together after I was discharged from the hospital.

The injuries I’d sustained hadn’t allowed much mobility for the first few weeks post-surgery and Theo had to pretty much help me with everything, which wasn’t something I particularly liked.

I’d never been good at handing over control and fought him over every little thing. I didn't need help. I didn'twanthelp. Rationally, I knew he was just trying to make it easier for me, but I didn’t deserve to be helped. Not when both my parents weren’t granted the same opportunity.

With the small glimmer in his eyes, I wondered if he was thinking about the same thing. But then I remembered that even if he was,Iwas someone else.

The longer I stared at him, the more I felt the jagged scar in my chest slowly tear open.

The clearing of a throat pulled us from our thoughts and we both turned toward the source, only to find Victor leaning against the frame of the door that connected the hall to the kitchen. The ingrained response to his presence engaged my mask to slide firmly back into place.

I straightened my back and approached him, painting a smile on my face. “Buenos días, mi amor. How did you sleep?”

I let him wrap his arm around me, his fingers gripping my shoulder tightly as he pulled me closer. I turned to face him and tilted my head back as he placed a small kiss on my lips. I barely masked a scowl at the contact before pulling away.

“I’m okay,mi amor, although I did feel a bit groggy when I first woke up.” He paused. “Wait, why weren’t you in bed this morning and why are you so damp?” he asked, slightly pushing me back in disgust when he realized I was sweaty.

Knowing Theo was watching our interaction, I placed a hand on his chest and giggled. I fucking giggled, because that’s what women in love with their husbands did, right?

“I went out for a run.” I kept my voice sweet and innocent.

“And since when do you run?” Victor asked, a skeptical look on his face.

“The girls at the country club thought it would be a good idea.”

“I agree, you need it.”

And you need a bullet in that head of yours.

I ignored his statement, keeping the smile on my face. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“You do that,” he said before finally turning his attention to Theo, as if he had just noticed he was in the room.

I headed toward the hallway, their chatter fading into the background once I reached the stairs and made my way to the shower.

CHAPTER10

THEO

I’d been her bodyguard for only three days. Just three fucking days and she was already driving me insane.

Since the job entailed being with her almost twenty-four seven, she had spared no minute in making my life a living hell, trying to evade my protection any chance she got.

Going against everything I said seemed to be her new favorite pastime. It was like anything else was against her nature. I would bet good money that she woke up every morning and plotted my demise as her meditation.

The mental exercises I found myself engaging in when we were alone were strenuous as I forced myself not to strangle her pretty neck and cuff her to my side to make sure she didn’t wander anywhere without me.

I would never hurt a woman, but one glance at Olivia and I swear she made me want to forget about my principles and teach her a lesson or two on how to behave.

Not that the idea to take her over my knee wasn’t appealing.

The thought washed away when I heard the front door slam shut, the garage door whirring open.

Not again.

I made my way outside and stood in the driveway in front of the garage door. Our eyes clashed through the rearview mirror once she noticed me, but instead of coming out of the car, she engaged the gear and reversed the car.