Page 62 of Severed By Vengeance

ME

Good. In bed. Flight is in five hours. Are you at our coffee spot?

EVANGELINA

I didn’t know we had a coffee spot.

I pictured her dimpled grin and felt the pull of a smile at the corner of my own mouth.

EVANGELINA

I’m at a cute little outdoor shop on 8th Street. You’d like it.

ME

You’ll have to take me when I get back.

EVANGELINA

It’s a date.

EVANGELINA

Goodnight, Derek. Have a safe flight <3

Since the day I’d told her I would fuck her over every surface of my home—which I had full intentions of doing—things had been strange between us. Our text conversations were kept light and always to the point. She wasn’t cold or distant, but… guarded. I convinced myself it was because she was still broken over her missing friend. But there was an odd feeling in my chest. Heaviness. A longing I’d never felt before. And it wasn’t until two days ago that I realized what it was. The foreign sensation surprised me, sending an icy chill through my body.

I missed her.

I fucking missed her.

Her smell. The smoky sound of her voice. The way her pouty upper lip curled up when she smiled.

Fuck me. When had I ever noticed or cared about those things in women? All I needed was a pretty face and a wet cunt.

Simple.

But why did I crave more?

The French whores who’d thrown themselves at my cock checked those boxes, but for the first time, I wasn’t interested.

None of them were Eva.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets as I turned the corner on a busy street near downtown Philly. Once she came into view, I came to a full stop. The weight in my chest was gone. She was exactly where she said she’d be and looking every bit as gorgeous as when I left. I’d wanted to surprise her, though I didn’t understand why, and finished the job in Paris sooner than planned before jumping on the first flight out of France. And while jet lag was a bitch, I couldn’t wait another day to see her, so I raced through rush-hour traffic the moment she’d given me her location. Now, there I was, behind a tree, watching her like some creepy fuck.

Her partner spent a lot of his time with his face glued to his phone or fixed on whatever he was penning into a notebook, even as they engaged in conversation. While I was happy their relationship was strictly professional, I was also baffled by his disinterest. Evangelina was fucking stunning, even with her hair pulled up into a messy bun at the top of her head. I’d never tire of looking at her. Though I supposed I was glad I didn’t have to be the reason she mourned another person in her life.

I’d never regret killing that bastard, James, though the thought of her hatred filled my chest with angst.

Wasn’t that the point?

It was—is.

Maybe Ronan had been right. I just needed to purge her from my system. Her pussy was no different. I’d have my fun and move the fuck on.

Evangelina slid her chair back and pushed to her feet, heading toward a coffee truck and giving me the perfect opportunity to approach. I took a few moments to admire the sweet curve of her ass and toned little thighs in those black leggings and signature combat boots.

The scent of her perfume assailed my senses and heated the blood in my veins. I wanted nothing more than to pick her up, take her back home, and burn the whole fucking house to the ground.