You Didn't Hesitate. You Killed Him.

Celine Montgomery POV

I didn't open the door with force. There was no need for that. I pushed it open quietly, as if I were entering my own natural space. Maybe it is. It has become familiar.

I took off my coat first. It was heavy, as if the blood had added weight to the fabric. The edge was still wet. Not from the rain, but from something warmer. Then the gloves. Black leather, elegant, and stained with the traces of a life I had just ripped away. I tossed them on the table. They landed next to the gun like they were all part of one family.

I walked to the sink. No words. No looks. I didn't need to explain anything. Not to anyone, and not even to myself.

I turned on the water. My hands were under the faucet. I felt the blood sliding off my skin as if it hated me, as if it was forced to stay with me. The water turned from clear to pink, then a pale red, then finally clean.

But it will never be clean like it was before. And neither will I.

I felt his eyes on me. I didn't need to see him. He was there, in the shadows like always. Silent, like someone watching a ghost that had crawled out of his own ribs.

When he finally spoke, his voice wasn't angry. It was something else. Something I can't find a name for.

"I saw it in your eyes," Michael said with a dry laugh. "You didn't shake. You didn't hesitate. You killed him like you were just waiting for that moment."

I looked into the mirror. I saw myself, and I saw him behind me. I wasn't scared. I wasn't sorry.

"Did you think I would cry after my first mission?"

I grabbed a small towel. I dried my hands slowly. No need to rush. The blood was gone, but the cold feeling never leaves. Then I turned toward him. My eyes locked onto his.

Michael took a step forward. Just one, but it was enough. He wanted to see them. My eyes. The eyes he trained me to use exactly how he wanted. But now, I am using them how I want.

"I didn't train you to become like me," Michael said in a voice I had never heard before. It was a disappointment he didn't want to admit.

I smiled. There was no pity in my smile, only the truth. "But that is exactly why you trained me, isn't it? To create your own double. Or to create a curse for yourself."

His voice froze. He didn't answer. His eyes didn't leave my face, as if he was searching for any piece of the girl he saved in the woods. He didn't find her.

Long seconds passed. Then suddenly, everything felt too quiet. Even the sound of the clock on the wall felt like someone hammering a coffin shut.

I saw it in his eyes. He wasn't afraid for me anymore. He was afraid of me. Right now, I don't need anyone. Not even him. Was I getting revenge? No.

"I didn't know you would move this fast once you got the information. You didn't even wait for me!" Michael said with a cold, killer look. I knew he was mad, but I couldn't hold back.

"I’m going to sleep, Michael," I answered quietly, trying to avoid the fight. "I have a long day tomorrow."

******

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing nonstop. It was the crew. I could barely open my eyes. I forced myself to get up and walked to the bathroom. Then I left my luxury suite, which was like a fancy apartment with every expensive detail you could imagine.

Everything still feels like a dream. A pink dream I refuse to wake up from. Life under the lights, surrounded by fans. It’s a hard and tough life.

I finally got information about the person who killed my family. But how do I get to him? How do I find out who he is? I tried to push away thoughts of revenge and focus on my work for a bit.

As soon as I walked out of my suite after a million calls from the crew telling me to hurry, I saw Enzo Romano’s door right across from mine.

I stopped for a second. I stared at the door and whispered to myself, "Is it possible he already left?"

Because I was curious, I walked over and knocked a few times. A few moments later, it opened. Enzo stood there. His hair was still wet. He was wearing black pants but no shirt, showing off his bare, hard chest.

This view wasn't new to me. I’ve seen him like this many times. In the beginning, I used to get lost in the details of his perfect body. But now? I don't stare anymore. Or that’s what I try to tell myself.

"You're late, and you know it." I crossed my arms over my chest before stepping inside and closing the door behind me.

"Yeah, I know, Celine," he mumbled in a tired voice. Then he added with a teasing, begging tone, "I’m so exhausted. Can you give me some of those performance drugs of yours? I promise I won't tell anyone."

He winked at me. His eyelashes were impossibly long! How is it possible for a man to have eyelashes like that?!

Wait. Am I staring?! Dammit, I’m still staring! I can't get distracted from my goal. I have to be strong. I’m not in a place where I can fall in love. And with who? Enzo? He already has a girlfriend!

I quickly pulled myself together and gave him a wicked smile. "Since you’re so desperate... but promise you won't tell a soul."

His smile got bigger like he won a prize. He put on a black t-shirt that looked exactly like the one I was wearing.

"Finally! I knew it!" He laughed and reached out his hand to take the cup I was holding.

I raised my eyebrow slowly. "Do you think the drugs are inside the cup?"

He stared at me for a second, looking confused. "Aren't they?"

I laughed and shook my head. "No, you idiot. It’s coffee. These are my drugs. My eternal love!"

I said that before laughing and poking him in the chest with my finger.

He let out a deep sigh and took a sip from the cup without caring at all. He acted like it was totally normal. But for me? It wasn't normal at all.

I felt a heat creeping into my cheeks while I watched Enzo drink my coffee. The coffee he knew very well that I had already sipped from.

Have we become this close that we share the same cup?!

I kicked the thought away quickly, but my heart skipped a beat when he gave the cup back to me. I looked at him for a second, swallowed hard, and then put the cup to my lips. I took a sip while the heat inside me grew even more!

The smell of his mint cologne mixed with the coffee hit my nose. Coffee loves to mix with different scents, but it was amazing how much it loved the smell of Enzo’s cologne.

And I didn't mind the mix at all.

Enzo put on a black leather jacket with white details, full of gold zippers and pins. He looked flawless.

"Wow, great jacket, Enzo! You have to let me borrow it!" I moved the cup away from my lips, looking at him with clear admiration.

He gave a short laugh. "Stop stealing my jackets, Celine. I bet half of them are buried in your clothes. I need to break into your room to get them back!"

He stuck his tongue out at me playfully. He dried his hair with a towel and tossed it on the bed without a care.

I gave him a judgey look and whispered, "Messy."

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

But before either of us could say a word, both our phones rang at the same time.

Enzo looked at the caller's name and laughed quietly. "We have to go down now. Adam is already pissed."

We walked out of the hotel. I put the hood of my heavy coat up to hide my hair. The other half of my face was hidden behind my big, round sunglasses.

It looked like I was trying to disappear. But I knew very well that running away from the spotlight wasn't an option for me anymore.