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THREE

KAGE

It shouldn’t make a difference that she’s stunning, but it does. She’s so extravagantly beautiful I almost laughed out loud when I saw her.

I was ready for anything but that. It surprised me.

I hate surprises. Usually when I’m taken off guard, someone starts to bleed.

But now I know. The next time I see her, I’ll be prepared. I won’t let that face or those legs or those incredible eyes distract me from what I came here to do.

Or that hair, either. I’ve never seen hair so glossy and black. It’s like something from a fairy tale. I wanted to plunge my hands into that thick, shining mass of waves and pull her head back and—

Fuck.

I know better than to mix business with pleasure. I just need to focus and do what I came here to do.

If only she weren’t so goddamn beautiful.

I don’t like to break beautiful things.