~110~ BREAKING THE COMMAND

MARCELLUS His eyes go blank, and I know before he says another word that whatever version of Adrian I thought I knew has just died in front of me.He rises from the chair slowly, too calm for a man standing in the middle of a trap."You should lie down.""Who the hell are you?" I demand, ignoring his statement.His expression falters so slightly most people would miss it. I don't. I have spent half my life learning how dangerous people hide things.The fluorescent light hums overhead while he studies me, and then he exhales through his nose in disappointment."I had hoped we would have more time."My blood freezes over.He reaches into his coat.There are enough armed men behind these walls to turn him into meat before he can do much, but my body does not give a fuck about that. Every muscle goes rigid.His hand comes back out holding a pair of black gloves. And I recoil purely on instinct.Adrian pulls one glove over his hand, working the leather down each finger before doing

~111~ WITH CONVICTION

MARCELLUS By the time Sorrell is taken away, I am running on painkillers, spite, and whatever is left of my nervous system. Turns out Sorrell really was his surname, according to Collins' report.I would laugh if my throat didn't feel like someone had dragged a blade across the inside of it.Before sunrise, I am back in bed at the villa with fresh stitches, new medication, and enough people watching me to suggest that everyone thinks I might chase the federal convoy carrying Adrian.The thought has crossed my mind.Nora has changed into loose trousers and another one of my shirts. Her hair is tied messily behind her head, and one hand rests over her stomach while she scrolls through something on her phone.Collins is standing with Hayden near the windows, going through what was recovered from Sorrell. There are phones, financial records, storage drives, names, and enough evidence to keep several federal agencies busy for months.For the first time, I don't want to know every

~112~ RESET

MARCELLUS I wake up alone, and for several seconds that is the only thing my brain understands.The room is dark except for the faint light beneath the door, and for one disorienting second I don't recognize it. Then the familiar walls settle into place. Home.We came home this afternoon.CeCe had been waiting in the foyer, crying before Nora even made it through the door. She hugged Nora, hugged me, and then immediately signed that I looked too thin. I barely remember answering before exhaustion dragged me upstairs.Now Nora is gone."Nora?"Silence greets me.I push myself upright, ignoring the slight pain in my abdomen. Her side of the bed is cold. The bathroom is empty. Her phone isn't on the nightstand, and her robe isn't behind the door either.Fuck.I grab the crutch beside the bed and get to my feet. She said she would give me her answer when we got home.She waited until I fell asleep. No. There are a hundred normal reasons she could be downstairs or outside. CeCe is

~113~ YOU & I

NORA It has been four months since Las Vegas. Four months since Sorrell was arrested, four months since Mars found out I was pregnant, and roughly three months and twenty-nine days since he developed an unhealthy obsession with parenting books.He has opinions now. Strong ones.Car seats must pass his personal safety inspection. Newborn socks, according to him, are structurally useless.He has interviewed three pediatricians, rejected two nursery chairs for inadequate lumbar support, and once woke me at two in the morning because he had read that newborns cannot regulate their body temperature properly."Mars."He looks down at me as we walk through the old university grounds, Franklin trotting between us with his leash looped around Mars' wrist.Franklin is a shaggy brown-and-white rescue with one floppy ear and ridiculous paws. He reminds me of Biscuit, my childhood dog, in ways that still catch me off guard sometimes.Franklin suddenly veers towards a hedge and buries half his

EPILOGUE

NOVA Three Years Later My daughter has kissed her father fourteen times in the last six minutes. I know because I am counting. "Kiss." Mars bends without hesitation, and Lucia plants another loud, wet kiss directly on his lips. "Mwah." He looks delighted. I look at the clock. “That's fifteen." Mars glances at me over the top of her dark curls. "Jealous?" "Of a three-year-old?" Lucia giggles despite having absolutely no idea what we're talking about. She just knows Daddy is irritating Mummy, which makes him the funniest man alive. She has his blue eyes and dark hair, although hers curls wildly around her little face and refuses every attempt at discipline. Everything else is mine. Especially the attitude. "No, Daddy." She catches both sides of his face when he tries to straighten the gold bow in her hair. "Stay." Mars freezes instantly. "Yes, ma'am." This is the same man who can make an entire boardroom fall silent by leaning back in his chair. Now he is staying

All Chapters of 100 Days With My Nemesis: Chapter 111 - Chapter 115

~110~ BREAKING THE COMMAND

~111~ WITH CONVICTION

~112~ RESET

~113~ YOU & I

EPILOGUE