Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 132498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Marcus’s gaze drops, just for a second. That second is the only mercy he gets.
I swing the tubing.
Marcus grunts.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to kill you slowly, and you’re going to enjoy it.”
His gaze flicks back to me. “Where did you hide Victoria?”
The question comes out of nowhere, like a slap. Matteo’s posture goes rigid.
“Don’t say her name with your mouth,” I hiss. “You haven’t earned that privilege.”
“Was just wondering how you kept her alive so long.”
I know what he’s doing.
He wants me to kill him faster.
He wants me to snap.
I won’t.
“How about instead of you asking me a question, I ask you one . . .? How does it feel? Being the final loose thread in a noose I’ve been tightening for years?”
Marcus smiles. It’s faint and bitter. “Your revenge turned you into a monster.”
I tilt my head, considering. “Yes. It did.”
Marcus breathes out, a sound like resignation. “We called you the Shadow.”
I still.
Matteo’s brows lift. “A nickname. Cute. Can’t wait to tell the boys.”
Marcus’s gaze stays on me. “Because you didn’t hit us fast. You stalked. You watched.”
My grip tightens on the tubing in my hands.
Marcus’s gaze flicks down briefly, then up. “You made it collapse from the inside.”
“Good.”
He braces, shoulders tensing.
I stare at him for a long second, then I smile. “It’s time to end this,” I tell him. “I’ve been washing blood off my hands, then going home to kiss my family for too long.”
I walk behind him, lift the tubing to wrap it around his neck, and pull.
He struggles against me, his body jerking, but I’m too strong.
I watch as the life leaves his body. As he ceases to struggle, his legs no longer kick.
When I know he’s dead, I let go of the tubing.
“Thought you were going to take it slow?”
“I decided he was right.”
“About?”
“Happily ever after and all that shit.”
That makes Matteo smile.
And then my own lips tip up.
I’m finally free.
“You realize what this means.”
I don’t answer.
Matteo smirks. “It means…that your secret soap opera can finally end.”
I raise a brow, not fully understanding where this is going.
“It’s time to tell the boys,” he clarifies.
I’ve put this off for so long, I don’t even know how to broach the topic, but no fear because apparently Matteo already has an idea as he’s pulling his phone out.
“You’re enjoying this.” I shake my head in mock annoyance.
“Immensely.” He smiles so broadly; I think he might break his jaw. Or maybe I’ll do that…
Before I can come up with a plot for murdering my cousin, my phone buzzes.
Fuck. I don’t even need to look to know what he did, but like the glutton for punishment that I am, I still check.
Matteo: Meeting. Cyrus’s place. 30 minutes.
Jaxson: If this is about murdering someone, I’m out. You know I hate that shit.
Trent: Context? I’m a little busy.
Matteo: Shut up, Trent. This is important.
Gideon: Someone better be dying.
Tobias: For someone who retired, you’re really fucking annoying.
Alaric: You really are.
Matteo: It’s Lorenzo-related.
There’s a pause. In the texts, and I wonder what they’re all thinking and who will break first.
Jaxson: Oh shit.
Cyrus: What did he do now?
Matteo: You’ll want to hear this in person.
Gideon: That’s ominous.
Tobias: Did he finally snap?
Alaric: I thought that happened years ago.
Matteo: 30 minutes. Cyrus’s
Cyrus: Why is this at my house?
Matteo: Because Lorenzo won’t host.
Cyrus: I hate all of you.
I put my phone down and look up to see Matteo smiling.
“You find yourself really clever, don’t you?”
“I do.”
I stare at him.
He grins wider.
Thirty minutes later, we head into Cyrus’s estate and straight into the poker room.
While there’s no game tonight, everyone is hanging around the bar having a drink.
Jaxson is already halfway through a drink and Tobias looks annoyed that we summoned him.
Gideon leans against wall, while Trent sits calmly. He’s most likely afraid to piss off Matteo again. Alaric and Cyrus stand together in the center of the room, both with drinks in their hands.
“You have exactly one minute,” Cyrus says as we enter. “And if this about some investment—”
“It’s not,” Matteo cuts him off. Cyrus narrows his eyes but waits for him to continue as do all the other men in the room. “Lorenzo has something to confess.”
Every single one of them turns in my direction and looks at me.
“There’s something I should’ve told you a long time ago,” I say evenly.
Jaxson squints. “If this is about you secretly reading rom coms, I’m leaving.”
“I’m married.”
Silence. Complete and utter silence. And shock too. It’s so quiet, you’d be able to hear a pin drop.
Cyrus mouth hangs open then he snaps it shut. “You’re… what?”
“Married.”
Trent stares at me. “To… a human?”
“No to an alien.” I roll my eyes.
Alaric lowers his phone slowly. “No fucking way.”
“Yes.” That’s all I can say.
“For how long?” Trent asks calmly.
“Yeah, so…it’s been awhile,” I admit.
“How long is awhile?” Cyrus chimes in.
“Over a decade.”