on.…
“Jeremy?” I called out, my heart racing.
Knowing he was here, waiting for me to come home as if nothing had happened, made me equal parts nervous and angry. When I found him, I was gonna kick his ass. I knew that with one look at him, the chemistry between us would roar back to life, but I’d be strong and resist him this time.
No one answered as I entered the kitchen, staring at the sauce. It bubbled slowly, painting the glass lid with little spurts of red. There was a bouquet of red roses on the counter, and the combination of the red sauce and the red roses set me on edge. Jeremy knew I didn’t like roses any longer, and, despite his terrible lies, he’d never remind me of the abusive dead ex-boyfriend I’d killed.
I made my way to the front door, walking slowly, heart pounding with fear. Even though it might seem crazy to think that Javi had broken into my home to make spaghetti sauce and turn on Mozart…I knew, I just knew, that something was wrong. I’d never doubted my instincts before, and since they’d saved my life more than once, I wasn’t about to start now.
I opened the drawer with my gun inside it slowly, lifting the Glock cautiously as I made my way up the stairs. I could leave, call Jeremy for help, but I was done leaning on other people for support. I’d taken care of Richard all on my own—I could handle Javi, too. Each step I took brought me closer to whatever waited for me up there. Whether it was Javi or Jeremy, there was going to be a fight.
The second-to-last step creaked as I put my weight on it, and I froze. The gun wavered, and I tightened my grip on it, trying to talk myself down. I was probably overreacting. Maybe it was Jeremy in my bedroom, putting together some grand romantic gesture, like sprinkling flower petals on my bed. Maybe this would all be a bad daydream.
There was no way in hell I’d call out his name again…just in case. I crept around the corner of the hallway, keeping an eye out for movement from any other rooms along the way. I passed Jeremy’s, which was empty, and sucked in a deep breath at the entrance to my room. The door was cracked open, and I saw a brown-haired male, his head lowered as he sat on my bed. The very sight sent a chill down my spine.
Because that hair…I knew it.
I’d run my fingers through it, once upon a time.
Biting down on my lip, I stepped forward, my knuckles aching and my heart pounding. My weapon wobbled in concert with my trembling body, as I nudged the door open with my foot. It creaked and the man lifted his head, locking eyes with me.
My gaze met brown eyes. Dark, soulless ones. His jaw was hard and unbreakable.
“No,” I whispered, staring with horror at the man on my bed as my stomach turned. “You’re…you’re…”
“Dead? Sorry to disappoint.” Richard gave me a small smile. One I recognized all too well. He usually smiled like that before he “corrected me.”
No. No, no, no, hell, no . He was supposed to be dead . I’d killed him. Watched him hit the floor, not moving, as blood sprayed from his chest. This couldn’t be…
Shaking my head, I aimed the gun at his chest and did the only thing I could do, given the situation. The only thing I could think of that might save my ass.
I pulled the trigger again.
Chapter 26
The resounding click of the striker was the only sound that filled the room, somehow managing to seem louder than an actual gunshot. I choked on a half laugh, half sob, because of course Richard had taken care of my only weapon. He wasn’t about to be taken down by the same weapon, or person, twice.
He tugged on his tie to straighten it. “I wasn’t sure if you had the balls to pull that trigger again, but you understand my hesitation to find out firsthand.”
“Go to hell. I should have known the devil couldn’t be taken down by a bullet.”
He laughed, pressing a hand to his flat stomach. He looked so handsome standing there, laughing as if everything were normal. That
“Jeremy?” I called out, my heart racing.
Knowing he was here, waiting for me to come home as if nothing had happened, made me equal parts nervous and angry. When I found him, I was gonna kick his ass. I knew that with one look at him, the chemistry between us would roar back to life, but I’d be strong and resist him this time.
No one answered as I entered the kitchen, staring at the sauce. It bubbled slowly, painting the glass lid with little spurts of red. There was a bouquet of red roses on the counter, and the combination of the red sauce and the red roses set me on edge. Jeremy knew I didn’t like roses any longer, and, despite his terrible lies, he’d never remind me of the abusive dead ex-boyfriend I’d killed.
I made my way to the front door, walking slowly, heart pounding with fear. Even though it might seem crazy to think that Javi had broken into my home to make spaghetti sauce and turn on Mozart…I knew, I just knew, that something was wrong. I’d never doubted my instincts before, and since they’d saved my life more than once, I wasn’t about to start now.
I opened the drawer with my gun inside it slowly, lifting the Glock cautiously as I made my way up the stairs. I could leave, call Jeremy for help, but I was done leaning on other people for support. I’d taken care of Richard all on my own—I could handle Javi, too. Each step I took brought me closer to whatever waited for me up there. Whether it was Javi or Jeremy, there was going to be a fight.
The second-to-last step creaked as I put my weight on it, and I froze. The gun wavered, and I tightened my grip on it, trying to talk myself down. I was probably overreacting. Maybe it was Jeremy in my bedroom, putting together some grand romantic gesture, like sprinkling flower petals on my bed. Maybe this would all be a bad daydream.
There was no way in hell I’d call out his name again…just in case. I crept around the corner of the hallway, keeping an eye out for movement from any other rooms along the way. I passed Jeremy’s, which was empty, and sucked in a deep breath at the entrance to my room. The door was cracked open, and I saw a brown-haired male, his head lowered as he sat on my bed. The very sight sent a chill down my spine.
Because that hair…I knew it.
I’d run my fingers through it, once upon a time.
Biting down on my lip, I stepped forward, my knuckles aching and my heart pounding. My weapon wobbled in concert with my trembling body, as I nudged the door open with my foot. It creaked and the man lifted his head, locking eyes with me.
My gaze met brown eyes. Dark, soulless ones. His jaw was hard and unbreakable.
“No,” I whispered, staring with horror at the man on my bed as my stomach turned. “You’re…you’re…”
“Dead? Sorry to disappoint.” Richard gave me a small smile. One I recognized all too well. He usually smiled like that before he “corrected me.”
No. No, no, no, hell, no . He was supposed to be dead . I’d killed him. Watched him hit the floor, not moving, as blood sprayed from his chest. This couldn’t be…
Shaking my head, I aimed the gun at his chest and did the only thing I could do, given the situation. The only thing I could think of that might save my ass.
I pulled the trigger again.
Chapter 26
The resounding click of the striker was the only sound that filled the room, somehow managing to seem louder than an actual gunshot. I choked on a half laugh, half sob, because of course Richard had taken care of my only weapon. He wasn’t about to be taken down by the same weapon, or person, twice.
He tugged on his tie to straighten it. “I wasn’t sure if you had the balls to pull that trigger again, but you understand my hesitation to find out firsthand.”
“Go to hell. I should have known the devil couldn’t be taken down by a bullet.”
He laughed, pressing a hand to his flat stomach. He looked so handsome standing there, laughing as if everything were normal. That
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