Page 54 of One Rule

Betrayal is a bitter pill to swallow and right now, it tastes like acid. Flesh-destroying acid.

I don’t show him how deep my anger runs, though. Instead, I keep my expression neutral and unbothered. “It does. The legal copyright was filed and granted to Liliana Armas, and last I checked, that’s me.”

“Don’t make me hurt you, Liliana. Believe it or not, I respect you so much.”

“I’m not afraid of you.” It’s the truth. I’ll claw and bite and fight to survive.

“Will you just shoot her already,” Beverly snaps at him, and for a second I’d forgotten she was even here.Who does she get in this? Jeremy or Micah?That question brings bitter jealousy to the forefront, and I’m tempted to wrap my hands around her neck for insinuating there could ever be a possibility between them. She’d never be worthy of him. “Quit wasting time and end this. They’ll know she’s missing by now, and Royce will come looking for her.”

“Enough!” Jeremy waves the gun carelessly then; his inclination was to shoot but he held himself back at the last minute. There’s a nervous twitch in him, though. He’s jumpy, his right foot keeps taping the ground the longer we stand where anyone can find us. It’s speeding up, too. “Liliana, I’m going to need you to sign something for me, please. Now be a good—”

He’s cut off by the sound of multiple guns being cocked, and then the sudden blow from the door being kicked in behind him. This causes Jeremy to stumble and his finger on the trigger to press down, creating a loud bang inside the enclosed stairwell. My ears hurt from the sound and the loud screech that follows is nothing short of horror-filled, yet nothing can take my attention away from the second bullet dislodging from Micah’s gun.

It was almost in slow motion. The spark and then a sharp booming sound before the squelch of it entering Jeremy’s head.

I’ll always remember the crazed look in Jeremy’s eyes when he first walked in.

I will forever keep the way the disgust rolled through my stomach when he gave me an appreciative look, making me feel dirty.

I’ll never be able to forget the sound of part of his head being blown off seconds after the first body hit the floor.

Yet nothing registered more—burrows itself into my consciousness—than the dark look of satisfaction Micah wore while standing above his kill. He was a beast, not a man. A prideful monster that took in the two dead ex-employees before turning those same hooded blue eyes on me.

There was a fire there. Hunger and want.

Moreover, I can’t look away while he dares me to—my entire body feels flushed and my lips part—thighs clenching beneath the long flowy skirt of the maxi dress I’d worn today. Then there’s the way my nipples pebble into near-painful tips, throbbing behind the nonexistent cover of my sheer bralette that I’m quick to hide beneath crossed arms.

But more than that, I was attracted to the carnage bleeding out mere feet from me. A sick and twisted part of me felt vindicated, almost satiated and I know he saw it, too.

It’s why I backed away as he began to bark out orders I couldn’t quite understand.

It’s why when everything in me told me to run, I listened.

Yet I heard him. The warning. The promise.

“Run, Liliana. Run and hide because I’m coming for what’s mine.”

Chapter21

Micah

Liliana’s alone and completely unaware of the way I watch her from the other side of the open-access curved shower. No glass or door is needed, the space sinks down two steps and is deep enough to avoid spillage with two built-in-drains that don’t allow water from seeping out. Not that it mattered to me if she flooded the entire building with the way she was currently standing underneath the waterfall feature.

Eyes closed. Soaking wet.

Helpless while the jets from different angles massage her lithe frame in the dimmed light.

Slowly, she takes in shallow breaths—everything that happened today’s finally catching up with her. Rebel watched me take a life. Witnessed the depth of my darkness and obsession, two things I’ve always kept under control for her sake.

It no longer applies, though.

There are consequences for disobeying me, and I warned her just a few hours ago…

Run, Liliana. Run and hide because I’m coming for what’s mine.

“Fuck.” Four sinful words and they leave her on frustration-filled groan. This deep exhale as her body shivers and the blood on her skin drips down, mixing with the hot water as it sluices down her tan flesh. This is the first time I’ve fully seen her like this, enjoyed her curves—I’ve been blessed to be gifted such a pretty pussy as my reward for my years of patience. Devotion.

I’m going to bury my tongue deep inside her cunt, and the thrill and depravity of this hunt will only make the moment that much sweeter.

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