Page 41 of King of Omen

My mind raced, searching for an out, when Mauri shifted beside me.

‘Are we waiting for someone?’ he murmured.

I sucked my teeth and shook my head.

The heat of his side eye washed over me. ‘Should I turn the car around and leave?’

I tagged the concern in his tone but was too lost in my thoughts to respond.

‘No,’ I growled.

I didn’t know what I’d expected to see or find, but I needed to look closer.

‘Wait here,’ I ordered him again, more firm this time.

I exited the SUV and prowled towards the building, my muscles tight and locked as if prepping for battle.

I walked up to a gateway leading to her supposed abode and stared at it.

But there was nothing.

No sign of her, no indication of life.

A wave of disappointment washed over me, leaving me hollow.

Seconds later, voices sounded, coming down the walkway.

Reality and reason hit.

What the fuck was I thinking?

I strode back to the car and into the front seat, sliding in and slamming the door shut.

I was about to ask Mauri to roll when I glanced outside and saw two figures walking hand in hand.

One was a younger man in his late twenties, a lean, lanky, dark-haired guy.

He was accompanied by a woman, her distinct auburn hair in waves down her back, her lilac eyes shining in the light of a street lamp.

Mia.

Emotion surged through me. My heart pounded in my chest as they got closer. My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan.

‘Isn’t that -?’ Mauri rasped, his voice tapering off.

I wasn’t tuned into him at all.

My eyes were locked on the pair chatting at the small gate leading to the apartment entry.

Out of the blue, the man pulled Mia close, bent his head, and kissed her.

My breath caught in my throat as I observed their exchange, an agonising burn erupting from my chest.

In my next breath, a gut punch of pain left me winded and weak. My hand shook as I reached into my pocket, grasping the envelope.

I shut my eyes to block the image as another formed in my mind: Mia, in the other man’s arms, thighs wrapped around his waist, moaning, eyes closed, surrendered to his touch.

A sick nausea twisted in my belly, a wild tide of rage and jealousy rising.

---