Page 83 of Steal My Heart

“I’d much prefer the bad bitch lessons,” I say in a disgruntled tone as she walks out.

Nolameows, headbutting me, and I resume petting her.

“What if we move to the desert after all this is said and done? No water in sight.”

Meow.

I sigh, dropping my hand. “What does Angelo have to do with it?”

Meow.

“Nola, I’m not with him. Yes, I’m naked in his bed, but that’s because I nearly froze to death last night!”

Meow.

“Fine, so the man kissed my forehead, but it doesn’t mean anything!”

Meow.

“Ugh, I can’t with you.” I grab a pillow, covering my face.

There’s a knock on the door. “Remi, can I come in?” Maks calls.

“Just a second,” I call, crawling out of bed and throwing on a robe. Climbing back into bed, I pull the covers around me. “You can come in.”

Maks enters holding some kind of device, with Nola hissing at him like crazy. “You don’t want to go another round with me, jungle cat,” he warns Nola before handing me the device.

“What is this?”

“Video console. Play this game for twenty minutes. Do not stop until the timer goes off.”

“Why?” Looking at the screen, it’s one of those falling blocks video games where you have to shift them to line up.

“It’s a post-combat decompression strategy.”

“Knew you were either a former military or a cop,” I gloat.

“Play it,” he says, ignoring my comment. “Your entire focus for twenty minutes.”

“This is weird, but alright.” I press start on the game as the bricks fall.

Without a word, Maks walks out.

Chapter

Angelo

Waiting until each and every household staff member is lined up on the boat dock, I pull out my gun. “Someone has been leaking information about the goings-on in my household. Someone is about to die. And if you don’t come forward and confess,everyoneis about to die.”

No one says a word.

“Who has been talking about my houseguest?”

Silence.

I am my gun, taking out the first guard with a bullet to the head.

Muffled cries and gasps of shock as his lifeless body falls into the lake.