Page 48 of Vicious Behaviors

What game is she playing?

“If you’d rather we be enemies,” she says with a wicked grin, “that could be fun, too.”

And with that, she walks out of the parlor before I can make any sense of what she means by that remark.

‘She’s toying with us,’the voice grunts.

I know. And I don’t fucking like it either.

There’s a difference between dangerous and lethal. She’s the former, I’m the latter. If Izzie keeps pushing her way into my life, I’ll ensure she understands exactly what that difference means.

By the time I get to the car, I’m fuming. Annamaria waits patiently in the passenger seat, and once she senses I’ve calmed down—at least on the surface—she ventures to speak.

“She seemed nice,” she says carefully.

“That woman is not nice,” I growl.

“Are you sure? She seemed like she wanted to be more than nice to you.” Annamaria presses her lips together, trying not to laugh.

“It’s not funny, Anna.”

“I disagree.” She giggles. “It’s very obvious she likes you, and you can’t handle it.”

“She doesn’t like me,” I mumble, checking the mirrors to ensure we aren’t being followed.

“Again, agree to disagree. That whole bit about training her client? It was just an excuse to come and talk to you.”

“Trust me, it wasn’t.”

It wasn’t about a client. Because there is no client.

This… was a warning. A message that she can get to me whenever she wants.

‘You let your guard down, and now we’re paying the price. What if she came for Anna? What then?’the voice hisses through my mind, angry for not putting Izzie in her place.

“I can’t wait to tell Stella.”

“What?” I snap, turning toward her. “You’re not telling Stella anything.”

“Why not?” she asks, confused.

“Because.”

“That’s not a reason, Mar. Besides, when was the last time a girl showed any interest in you?” Never. I’ve never let anyone get close enough for that to happen. When I don’t reply to Annamaria fast enough, she fills the silence. “Stella will want to know that you have an admirer.” She wiggles her brows.

That’s exactly why she can’t. If Izzie is a Fed like Kirill warned me, then either he or Stella will slit Izzie’s throat before she can even open her mouth to offer an excuse. And that can’t happen. My father’s instructions were very clear. Keep my head down. Nothing raises more alarm bells than an FBI agent getting killed.

‘That’s not our problem. Let them kill the noisy bitch,’the voice whispers, laughing.‘Tell Stella. Tell Kirill. Let them handle the problem. Since you’re too much of a coward to do it.’

“No!” I shout, punching the steering wheel. Annamaria instantly flinches, cowering towards the door.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Now, I’ve scared her. I’ve scared my own baby sister.

I take a deep breath and let the rage bleed off. Let the monster inside me crawl back to the depths of hell where he came from.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize once I regain full control. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay, Mar. I know you’d never hurt me,” she replies gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”