~5

Quinn

Warm brown eyes were the first thing I saw when my eyes fluttered open again.

“About time you woke up.”

My breath stalled at the chocolate effect of the voice, and I sat up with a jolt.

Where was I?

I looked around with curious, groggy eyes, the painful memory from a few moments ago replaying in my head. That crime boss and his gang had succeeded in taking something from me. My life.

But how was I still on my feet? There was no way I survived that shot point-blank in the chest.

“Come on, we don't have much time.”

I warily eyed the dashing man in a long dark coat swirling behind him. “Uh, excuse me. Who are you?”

He flashed a charming grin that caused my heart to fall to its knees. Why the heck did I keep meeting this godforsakenly delectable men?

First the crime boss that deceived me, another woman's betrothed…

Now him with the warmest brown eyes I’d ever seen?

“Pardon the late introduction.” He pulled off his hat and ruffled raven black hair, then he tipped his head in a bow. “Adrien Draven. Your grim reaper.”

“Draven?” My brows furrowed into a frown. Why did that sound familiar? But… “Grim reaper?!”

He smirked, seemingly amused that I was just getting it.

“Fear not. You're not dead yet. But you'll be in a matter of time. After we cross the bridge.”

“What bridge?” I stared at him like I was seeing a clown for the first time. “Is this some kind of joke?”

“No. We've got to move fast if you want to live.”

“I don't quite understand what's happening—”

“You were shot by Luciano Draven’s men, and you've been taken to a hospital and currently under surgery. But there's a greater chance you're not going to make it, given that you've met me. But I can help you, and you would get to carry on living. It comes at a price, of course.”

I swallowed a lump down my throat, staring at him for a long moment. “So, you're really a grim reaper then?”

I looked around. We seemed to be inside a really high skyscraper. I could feel it in my bones, the wind in my hair. Tall glass windows surrounded us, marble walls adorning them.

This world around me… it seemed pretty much like the human world. Nothing like the land of the dead. How was I supposed to believe this dashing man?

“Maybe you'll trust me only after we cross the bridge.”

“No, wait!”

He turned, eyeing me with boredom.

“Can I really not die?”

“If you agree to help me, yes.” He watched me carefully, like he was weighing how to deliver his next words. “My brother's wreaked enough havoc in the human world. He needs to be taken down a peg.”

“Your brother?”

“Yes. You've met him. Luciano Draven.”

My jaw fell open. The man that sent me on my way to death was the grim reaper's brother? The one betrothed to the richest woman in Chicago? What a humorous twist of fate.

Where was the resemblance, though?

“He's the reason you're here before your time,” dashing grim reaper continued, “he has to be stopped before he—”

“Well, what does that have to do with me?”

“You'll know what you have to do when you get to live again. Just say yes, and it's a done deal.”

Why did he keep pressuring me to say yes? And why was he after his brother? Was there some kind of rivalry between them?

“You'll get to live a life you've never dreamt of. Just trust me. Everyone will be proud of you. Your mama. Ethan.”

I watched him warily, not sure I wanted to get into a deal with a man that smiled like the devil he knew he was.

“What do I have to do?” I finally asked in a quiet whisper.

His lips stretched into that dashing smile again, and he suddenly closed the distance between us and pulled me into him. His arm rested on the small of my back like they belonged there, confident and large.

“Nothing. I'll do it all.”

Before I could say a word, he swooped down and sunk his teeth into the skin of my neck.

I gasped in pain and pleasure, sharp as a needle and soothing like warm milk.

His tongue darted out and lapped at the skin a second later, his warmth sending my nerves racing in excitement.

“What was that for?” I demanded, rubbing my neck.

“That’s a seal of our pact.” His eyes had turned a deep hue of brown now, easing down my face to the spot on my neck. “That’ll be all for now. I'll see you again soon, Lilith.”

I only realized what he'd called me after he snapped his fingers, and the world spun so quickly before my eyes.

~~~

For a good moment, I wasn't sure what had happened. Then my eyes fluttered open. Was this some circular torture ritual?

Someone stirred and groaned next to me, and I turned to see a man lying next to me, broad back and broad shoulders and brown hair.

My heart flipped out of my chest when he turned and I saw his face.

Holy fuck. What was I doing lying next to this man?

My heart picked up a race as I carefully peeled the sheets off my body and swung my legs over the bed.

I was shocked to see I had a piece of white hospital gown clinging to my body. What the hell was happening to me today?

My feet had just landed on the cold floors when the coffee-whiskey voice stopped me.

“Lilith? What the hell are you doing here?”

I stiffened. Lilith again? Why did everyone keep calling me that?

My brain raced to come up with lies about how I got to be in Luciano Draven’s bed. I didn't even know half the truth of it.

Suddenly, strong hands grabbed my shoulders and whirled me around. My heart stumbled as my eyes collided against a pair of steel gray ones.

Fuck. Even though I hated this man now, it didn't stop me recognizing every single time, just how insanely gorgeous he was.

“How did you leave the hospital?” he asked, shaking me.

“What hospital?” I demanded, confusion swirling in my head.

He did not answer. Instead, his eyes locked onto a spot on my neck. The same spot I remembered the grim reaper biting and kissing.

Luciano’s eyes darkened like a storm. “Who touched you?” he growled, his grip tightening on my shoulders.

I flinched and glared at him. “Get your hands off me and stop acting like a mad man.”

“You're the one acting like a mad woman, Lilith. You were in a fucking accident, and you're supposed to be in the hospital.” He leaned in close, his breath warming my lips. “Did you miss me that much?”

I shoved him backwards and stood from the bed. “Don’t kid yourself. I hate you with every bone in my body.”

He scoffed. “I didn't force you to marry me. Your father owes me a shit-ton of money, and apparently, he thinks you're the perfect gift of appeasal.”

“Marry you?” I scoffed. “I don't know—”

“We're done talking about this, Lilith.” He cut me off cleanly and rose from the bed. “I'll send my driver to take you back to the hospital. Come on.”

Still shocked and very much confused about what exactly was going on here, why everyone kept calling me Lilith, I followed him out.

I gasped when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Dark blonde hair. Curvier body. But I didn't get a good enough glimpse to be certain I was really seeing my reflection, before I was pulled away by Luciano.

We just got to the foyer when the door flew open and a man burst into the room. He searched the house with wide eyes, and those striking violet eyes blazed hot when they fell on me.

My heart squirmed as he picked a brisk stride towards me.

“Good,” Luciano spat beside me. “Your guttersnipe of a step-brother's here.”

As the violet-eyed man got close, without stopping to take a breather, he yanked me by the hospital gown and crashed his lips down on mine.

I melted and shrank in shock.