Page 86 of Merciful Lies

And she’s looking at my man like the sun rises and sets on him. I take her in and pain begins deep in my soul.

She’s super thin and fit, like she spends all day exercising and tanning. She’s a knockout in a skimpy little getup and my mouth goes dry.

She is just the type of woman I could just imagine belonged with a man like Nico. And my heart cracks.

“Anna,” Angel starts.

His hands are up like he’s going to come between me and my destination. But I shake my head as a new emotion fills me.

Rage.

I take a step towards my husband.

Dirty. Lying. Cheating. Bastard.

Fury is his name, but he gave that name to me, and it is just so damn perfect for how I feel.

He looks so damn good. And it makes me even madder. My dark avenging angel of a husband is smiling at this stranger, and I want to scratch her eyes out.

And his. Mostly his.

The bass is really pounding now, or maybe that’s my heart as I stride across the floor. I’ve never felt like this.

Possessive and furious.

It’s like some comic book version of myself has been conjured from the depths of the fifth level of Hell and this new alter ego is bent on wreaking vengeance on him.

This man who belongs to me.

Images of the first time I ever saw him flit through my brain. I think of how he looked. Like a warrior. Tattooed and tall, his muscles rippling as he commanded me to get on all fours.

Heat pools in my belly and I’m shocked to feel arousal mixed with hurt.

The way Nico came at me that night, he was, well, he was divine. And my soul sang for him.

My body opened up like a flower at the slightest touch from his hands, and when he claimed me with his thick, heavy cock, I felt a freedom I had only ever dreamed of.

It scared me. So much so, I ran. But when I came back, when I needed protection, he gave it. He gave me his name. Took me to his home. Made me his.

He said he loved me.

Seeing him smile at this other woman is like a knife to my heart. The truth is so clear.

Nico is no angel come to take me to heaven.

He’s a snake.

A serpent slithering in the grass, just lying in wait. Like the one who tricked Eve into biting that goddamn apple.

I’m close now.

There are only a few feet separating us, but this woman has his attention, and he doesn’t seem to know I am there.

“—it’s why I came to Boston. I promise I’ll keep you safe. You’re my—what is it?” Nico says when her eyes look past him, landing on me.

He turns, and his blue eyes startle. He straightens his shoulders and his gaze rakes over me from head to toe.

“Guess I took the viper by surprise. I didn’t think that was possible,” I whisper, and my voice trembles.

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