ALEXA "Wait..." I blinked at him, bewildered. "You're allergic to cats?!"Killian who was six-foot-something of tattooed intimidation stood there looking as if he'd just been caught in a crime scene he'd orchestrated.He sniffled once. "Apparently still am."I stared at him, bewildered."Oh my God," I muttered, bringing a hand to my mouth. "You brought me to a place full of cats to impress me...even though you're allergic?"He tried to play it cool, but the slight red tinge creeping up his neck betrayed him."I didn't realize they had cats here," he said flatly. It was a dumb lie."Really?" I tilted my head. "So what? You thought this was an alpaca-only petting zoo?"He ignored me, rubbing his temple. I crouched again to stroke the kitten's fur, deliberately glancing up at him."You're turning red.""No, I'm not.""You are. You're blotchy."Another sneeze exploded from him. The tabby kitten looked personally offended.I let out a laugh.He pulled a pristine handkerchief from his
KILLIAN I yanked her back. She slammed into my chest, and I swear, my knees nearly buckled from the sheer terror that had gripped me."No," I growled into her ear. "No, Alexa. Don't you dare."My voice cracked.It never cracked.But it did just now.My grip tightened around her middle. I could feel her ribs beneath my hands. I could feel her heart racing just like mine.And fuck, I hated her.I hated that she made me feel this much.I despised the fact she could still crush me with a single step.But I also...God help me, I loved her.Even with the past choking me like tendrils of smoke that I couldn't escape from.And seeing her broken didn't bring me satisfaction.It gutted me.She didn't fight me. That scared me more than anything. She just... went limp, collapsing against my chest. My fingers curled tighter around her.She was smaller than I remembered. Or maybe just... hollow. And that hurt worse than the goddamn bullet.....The cursor blinked at me, taunting me as if it
ALEXA The comments blurred together the longer I stared at them. I tipped the half-empty whiskey glass to my lips again, my eyes stinging as laughter bubbled up from somewhere hollow inside me. It wasn't funny, none of it was. But I laughed anyway."'Gold-digging widow poisons husband and seduces her way into a billionaire's bed.'" I read aloud, my voice wobbling with every word. "Wow. They really pulled out the literary knives for that one."I let the glass dangle from my fingers, swirling what was left in the bottom.Another comment popped up on the screen."I heard she laughed at Vincent's funeral. How much did she make off his death?"My lips curled as I tapped at the screen, my heart hammering beneath my ribs. "Bitch, mind your fucking business."I took another drink. The burn was nothing compared to the ache screaming in my chest.Laughter bubbled up again. It cracked halfway through and turned into a sob.God. I was losing it.I stumbled to my feet, knocking the empty bot
ALEXA When Killian tensed after I'd asked him that simple but weighty question, a thousand scenarios scaled through my mind. But then, he released a sigh."You really believe what that note said, don't you? Would you believe whatever I tell you?" He asked, and I pulled away enough to gaze into his blue eyes."Can I count on you to tell me the truth?" I asked, and he brought a hand to my face, cupping my cheek."No, I did not have a hand in what happened to your family. Your father brought it upon himself. He was reckless. He made too many enemies."I blinked at him."You're telling the truth?"My throat constricted. Part of me wanted to believe him. Another part whispered that I'd be a fool to. Considering his personality and who he really was.He nodded once. "Do you remember anything about your family?"I lowered my gaze, a knot tightening in my guts. "Just bits and pieces.""It's alright, you will remember eventually. Have you been seeing a therapist before now?" He asked,
KILLIAN I reached for the black silk tie I'd kept close by for tonight's purpose. Her eyes darted to it, her thighs clenching together."You don't trust me," she whispered.I smirked. "It’s not about trust. We’re playing by my rules tonight.”I moved back over to her, watching her every breath, until I was hovering over her on the bed. The tie dangled between my fingers."Hands," I said, the tie dangling between my fingers.She hesitated for only a second before raising them above her head.I bound her wrists, not tight enough to hurt, just enough to remind her who was in charge. Then I leaned down, my lips grazing the corner of her mouth, and whispered, "You'll probably regret your choice later."Her laugh was bitter. "I won't."I grinned. "You will. Right around the time you're begging me to stop while you scream my name."She arched against me involuntarily, and I caught the moan she tried to muffle. My lips dragged down her throat and over her collarbone.I bit her shoulder e
KILLIAN My Angel still doesn't understand. She thinks she's playing a game. But the truth is, she was always a piece on my board. So I let her think she was in control.I played along and let her drug me.She doesn't realize... I've been ten steps ahead since the day I found out what the Phoenix wanted.And when I walked into that ballroom behind her in disguise and got her to hand over the exchange item, that was a confirmation.She chose them. Over me. Again.Now, all I needed to do was make her understand exactly how it feels when the devil holds you tenderly, right before he breaks you.Alexa didn't even flinch when I mentioned punishing her. Her fingers ghosted towards the knife strapped to her thigh as if it could save her from me."Don't," I warned. But she didn't stop.She should know better by now.I moved faster than she could, one hand wrapped around her wrist, twisting it just enough to make her freeze. And with my other hand, I pulled my gun from the back of my wa