Twisted Love (Twisted, #1)

by Ana Huang

My uncle and I had been born Ivan and Alex Dudik; we were now Ivan and Alex Volkov.

But I’d fallen prey to the same failing as all other humans—believing the best of someone simply because they were there for you at your worst.

Ughhh I hate thinking the worst of everything

“I’m sure. Your princess is waiting for you”—my mouth formed a half smirk—“so let me take care of the trash.”

Well, stupid, did you forget your sunshine is also out there "waiting" for you, at least for an explanation?

“You touched what was mine.” I pulled a wicked-looking knife from my boot. Camo’s eyes popped in terror. “You hurt what was mine.”

Let me hate you for a while, okay? And I think I need therapy for enjoying this.

But with a few handy tools and creativity? One could make a minute feel like an eternity.

This applies to everything

Leave before you embarrass yourself any further!

Yes, this is exactly what I'd do if I were you. But since I've been in his the entire time, I think you should give it a try.

What about me made me so damn unlovable? So gullible?

Something inside me broke, and I was no longer only crying for my shattered heart but for the girl I used to be—the one who’d believed in light and love and the goodness of the world. That girl was gone.

I'm also on my way.

I wanted to run after her and snatch her out of Bridget’s arms. To fall to my knees and beg her forgiveness for the unforgivable. To keep her by my side for the rest of our days so nothing and no one could hurt her again. Except I couldn’t, because I was the one who’d hurt her.

All the more reason why you should have done it

Every “police officer” and “paramedic” who’d showed up today was on my team, and they’d played their roles convincingly.

Dude, who are you? Good thing that this is fiction.

Josh’s fist slammed into my face, and I heard an ominous crack before I stumbled back.

Go brotherrrr

Was any of it real? Yes, Sunshine. All of it. Realer than I ever thought possible. Words I wished I’d been able to say, except I hadn’t.

Idiot

I wanted to tie her up and devour her all day, every day. The rest of the world didn’t deserve her. Neither did I, but she was here, and she was mine, so fuck what I deserved. I took what I wanted.

I'd appreciate it if there was more of that, actually. I'm sure there will be a redemption arc, but still. Come on.

I was grateful for my friends’ support, but I needed more time. Space. They meant well, but I couldn’t breathe with them hovering all the time.

Been there but I've noticed that the process is speedier when there are people around helping me. But I also need space a bit. So, I'm happy that they don't leave me to my devices for much longer.

I didn’t feel like celebrating, but I also didn’t feel like arguing, and they would bug me until I agreed to something.

Relatable

“You don’t have to do anything alone if you don’t want to.” “Just send a text, call, carrier pigeon, whatever,” Stella added.

Ahhh I'm not crying

I couldn’t change what happened to me or control what other people did, but I could control what I did. I could shape the future I wanted to have.

All my life, people had coddled me. Josh. My friends. Alex. Or at least he’d pretended to care about me. I’d let them, because it was easier to lean on others than myself. I’d thought myself free because I didn’t have a physical cage when in fact I’d been trapped by my own mind, by the fears that haunted my days and the nightmares that haunted my nights. I stuck with the safe choices because I thought I wasn’t strong enough for anything else.

He might be the one person in the world who had a better poker face and a shittier disposition than I did.

What can I say? It looks like that's the type of both the friends

Even if I was the one who’d pushed Ava away, I hated Bridget a little for that. For being able to comfort Ava when I couldn’t.

You should be happy that there are people that can comfort her. Idiot.

I didn’t give a flying fuck that she was a princess. This was my office. My kingdom. Bridget ignored me.

Bridget, Girl, I like you

Bridget somehow managed to look down her nose at me even though I was taller than her.

Queeen

That was why I’d hired the private investigator-slash-bodyguard—I couldn’t look after her myself without putting her in more danger, but I’d be damned if I left her defenseless and alone out there.

Baby I love you but be a fucking man

“Intellectual intelligence doesn’t equal emotional intelligence,”

Exactly

Another city, another country, another continent. She would be thousands of miles away from me. Fuck. That. The dread turned into full-blown panic. “Flight info,” I snarled.

You guys need to be on the verge of losing the girl to get to work? Be proactive, mfs.

“There, happy? I love her so much I would rather give her up than hurt her. But if you think I’m letting her go to another country alone, with no protection, you’ve got another think coming. Now give me her fucking flight info.”

Now tell that to Ava

I wondered if other people felt conflicting emotions like this every day. If so, I almost felt sorry for them. It was a pain in the fucking ass.

Boy, you have no idea

Most of all, I loved that it was a fresh start. No one knew me here. I could be whoever I wanted, and the creative spark I’d lost in those dark weeks after Philadelphia came rushing back.

I wanna do this so badly

I was too softhearted, and the world is not the place I thought it was. It’s cruel and it’s vicious, and there’s no place for soft hearts.”

Cooperate is the harshest place, in my opinion.

“I don’t belong to you.” The muscles in his jaw popped. “That’s where you’re wrong. I fucked up. Massively. But I will earn your forgiveness one day, and you are mine. Always. No matter how much time or distance separates us.”

There's something seriously wrong with me for liking this

I never thought Alex Volkov would become my stalker, but there we were.

Yes. This is the level of devotion and determination I want.

“I never claimed to be Prince Charming, and my love isn’t a fairy-tale type of love. I’m a fucked-up person with fucked-up morals. I won’t write you poems or serenade you beneath the moonlight. But you are the only woman I have eyes for. Your enemies are my enemies, your friends are my friends, and if you wanted, I would burn down the world for you.”

Oikieeee

I wanted to be my own person, with my own vision and creative ideas.

She threw her head back and laughed, not unlike the man in the photo. That was one of my favorite things about Diane. Whether it was joy, sadness, or anger, she expressed her emotions fully and without reserve. She poured herself into the world with the confidence of someone who refused to hold herself back to make others comfortable, and she shone all the brighter for it.

I love her already

“…special performance. Please put your hands together for Alex Volkov!”

Don't tell me you are going to SING. I'd be pissed if you are good at it.

“Do you know this is the first time you’ve let me touch you in over a year?”

You see, a man who yearns is a man who earns.

I’d forgotten how safe I felt in his arms, like nothing and no one could hurt me.

SOMEONE GET ME SOMEONE LIKE THIS

But I’d rather take a leap of faith than spend the rest of my life living in fear of something that might happen. I was sick and tired of letting my fears hold me back, whether it was over water, heartbreak, or something else. The only way to live life was to live it. No fears, no regrets.

“I’m the only man in your mind. In your mouth. In your tight little pussy. Do you understand?”

Just kill me already

I’d much rather be eating her out on our bed than eating takeout at my desk.

That's nutritious actually