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I had better things to do than obsess over my friend’s fiancée. But like I said, my good judgment paled when it came to her. Jordan and Ayana. The happy fucking couple. Something unspooled in my gut—a slow, insidious poison that crawled into my throat and made me choke. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t dispel it because of them. Because they were getting married. Because I saw her first. Because she was his when she should be mine.
Professionals and psychopaths aside, it separated those who killed for purpose and those who killed out of impulse. Only the former possessed the conviction to follow through when they could feel their victim’s last breath on their skin.
Ummmmmm anya maybe not this one...
That was why I preferred knives. They were precise, versatile, and always personal.
UMMM...
Jordan said something else to Ayana before leaving her side. His hand grazed her hip on his way out. The empty glass cracked in my hand. In six months’ time, I’d have to watch them kiss. Marry. Fuck off to the type of happily ever after that was never meant for people like me. The glass shattered.
I wasn’t trying to date Vuk—this was not a man who “dated” anyone—but when I was around him, my world opened up again. The potential, the possibilities…the rush of what if. He gave me a glimpse at what my life would look like if it were mine again. Vuk stepped closer to allow another attendee past. His shirt grazed my chest, ever so lightly, and little fireflies danced all over my skin. His eyes appeared darker up close. More heated.
All the banked heat I thought I’d detected earlier was gone; not a trace of emotion marred those features carved of ice and stone. The corners of my world folded in again. Possibilities blinked out one by one like stars dying in the night. Once more, I was Ayana Kidane, the supermodel and doting fiancée. I wanted to scream.
If I’d said something about Ayana after I first saw her, would he still have pursued her? If he hadn’t, would she be by my side instead? No. I would’ve kept watch from afar, she would’ve gotten engaged to some other bastard along the way, and unburdened by the debts of gratitude or friendship, I would’ve killed him. Instead, I was trapped in a hellish limbo where I couldn’t act either way. I couldn’t have her, and I couldn’t kill him. I finished a second glass of scotch and returned to my desk. Loathing turned my blood to acid. My obsession with Ayana was a double-edged sword. I craved her
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I want to know if you’re in love with Jordan. “Why?” He’s my friend. You’re marrying him. Connect the dots. It was incredible how quickly I went from being happy to see him to wanting to slap him. “You,” I said, squeezing my cup so tightly a drop of liquid splashed over the side,“can be a real jerk.” I’ve been called worse. The bastard didn’t even blink. Answer the question, Ayana. Are you in love with him? Yes. One word, one syllable. It was a simple enough lie. The response hovered on the tip of my tongue, yet I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I chose a workaround instead. “I love Jordan,
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“The bachelor party is next weekend. Have you figured out what you’re doing yet?” Yes. “Okay. So what’s the big plan?” This is the second time you’ve asked me about the bachelor party. Vuk finally took a sip of his coffee. You say I’m obsessed. Maybe I’m not the only one. Blood rose to my neck and chest. “I am not obsessed. I’d hardly call one repeat question obsessed.” Whatever helps you sleep at night.
This bitchh
Vuk watched me quietly. If you were my fiancée, I wouldn’t look at another woman. Entertainment or not.
I hadn’t planned to come here—I hated juice—but my feet had a mind of their own. Or…My pulse sped up when the door opened and a stunning brunette stepped out. The universe has its own plans. What were the odds I’d show up at the exact same time Ayana was leaving? She stopped short in front of me. She carried a green juice in one hand and her phone in the other. “First the café, now the juicery.” Her eyes gleamed with surprise. “Mr. Markovic, are you following me?” No.
Loooolll yes he is
I placed the apple in his palm—softly, almost gently. A beat passed. The crinkle in his brow smoothed, and his shoulders relaxed. “If you—” He cut off with a piercing scream as I brought the knife down. It happened so swiftly Hank didn’t get a chance to react before I drove the blade straight through the core.
Dude. Fuck yeah protect your girl!!!
If I’d had my way, I would’ve taken things a few steps further. However, Ayana was the last person he’d been seen with—her building’s security would’ve documented his arrival—and I didn’t want to place her in the middle of a murder investigation. So no, I couldn’t deal with the agent the way I wanted yet, but I’d accomplished what I’d set out to do. What happened in Hank’s apartment proved you didn’t always need words to communicate. He’d heard my warning loud and clear.
“Kada te konačno budem poljubio, nećeš više nositi njegov prsten na ruci.”
"When i finally kiss you, you won't wear his ring on your hand anymore"
OH. He said WHEN. Ooohhhh
Dammit. Fucking Hank. He’d been suspiciously quiet since he showed up unannounced at my apartment. Usually he would’ve called at least four times to check in on me, but it’d been crickets. Maybe it was because he knew I was onto him about his spying. As
Lol, nope! Its not that!
Ayana would never know what I did. She didn’t need to; all she needed to know was that the problem was taken care of. No one hurt her and got away with it.
“You’re mine, Ayana. I teško onom koji pokuša da mi te uzme.”
"Woe the one who tries to take you from me."
god damn Vuk.
“Vuk.” I turned. Ayana’s face softened. “Thank you for holding me.” A thick, foreign sensation invaded my chest. It was so warm, it was almost uncomfortable. I had no words to describe it, so I responded with the simple truth. “Always.”
As it was, he was a huge pain in my ass. I couldn’t wait for the day when everyone tired of him so I could drop him off at the nearest shelter. Shadow flicked his tail back and forth as if to taunt me. They’ll never tire of me, I imagined him saying. That’s why they bought me this collar. Bastard. I’d bought him that collar. Quite unwillingly, I might add. The staff had huffed and sighed until I had the collar made just to shut them up.
Complain all you want vuk. Thats your baby now
Tell me it’s not true. Please. Tell me it’s not true. His response shattered my fragile tendril of hope. “I did.”
Damn. Mad respect
“Do you…” Once again, the words escaped me. “Do I regret it?” Of course Vuk understood what I was trying to say. He always did. “The only thing I regret, srce, is that I didn’t have more time to work on him.” There wasn’t a single trace of remorse in his voice.
“Look at me.” Vuk’s command wrenched my eyes open. His stare burned into mine, equal parts unyielding and desperate. “This is who I am, Ayana. What I did to the man in these photos doesn’t compare to what I did to those responsible for my brother’s death. If I had the chance to go back in time, I’d do it all again a hundred times over. No one harms the people I care about and walks away intact.”
“I won’t hurt you. Ever,” Vuk said. “If you walk away right now and say you never want to see me again, I’ll respect your wishes. But I can’t pretend to be somebody I’m not. What’s done is done, and if someone came after you tomorrow, I’d deal with them the same way I dealt with the shooter.” His tone was hard. Ruthless. “It’s in my DNA, srce. I can compromise, but I can’t change the core of who I am. No matter how much I wish I could.”
I stared at my phone, my throat thick with desperation. I tried not to imagine Ayana tied up somewhere, terrified and alone. Hold on, baby. I’m coming.
A gray blur leapt from the top of a nearby shipping container and onto Wentworth’s face. He screamed.
Aaaaaaawwww its the cat!!!
You did what you had to do for the people you care about, and I would’ve done the same.
Torture ??
