Page 52 of The Phantom's Vice

I glance over, noting how she is now sitting at the table, looking out at the windows overlooking the sea.

“This place is really pretty in the evening,” she murmurs, twiddling her fingers on the tabletop.

“I’m pleased you like it.” I place the last of the bacon on the platter, then stalk over to the table, placing the platter directly in front of her. Brett looks up, her eyes going wide as they rest on my hand—myunglovedhand.

I jerk, nearly dropping the plate onto the floor in my haste to remove the disgusting thing from her sight. Placing the platter on the opposite end of thetable, I race back to the stove where I stupidly took my gloves off to make her breakfast.

“My apologies,” I say, slipping the leather gloves back over the mutilated flesh. “I hope that didn’t spoil your appetite.”

Brett shakes her head, a small frown between her eyebrows. When she doesn’t say anything else, I float back to the table, taking a seat directly next to her.

Brett scootches as far as she can from me, and I’m filled with a sickening feeling.She hates me. No, she’s disgusted by me, just like Xander said she would be.

I stay silent for a long time, waiting for her to say something. Finally, she reaches forward, popping a piece of bacon into her mouth. She leans back in my chair as she chews, regarding me with an inquisitive gaze.

“You brought me back. Why?”

I scoff, shaking my head slightly.How could she still be asking me that?“Because you’resafehere,” I say, crossing my arms as I lean back in my seat. I want to addwith me,but I doubt that would go over well with what happened yesterday.

“Oh.” She bites her lip again, gazing at the bacon like she wants another piece. I grab the plate, shoving it directly in front of her.

“Eat up,” I murmur, leaning closer and breathing her scent in deep. “You need your strength.”

“You keep saying that,” she whispers, popping another piece of bacon into her mouth without looking at me.

I tilt my head, trying to read her expression. Her cheeks are flushed, and she seems antsy, like sitting next to me is causing some sort of electric reaction in her body. I reach over, placing my hand on her thigh. To my surprise, she doesn't pull away.

“Brett, I…” I can’t finish that sentence. What would I even say to her? That I’m completely, utterly enchanted by her? That she makes me lose control? That she’s occupied my every last thought for the past three months? No, that wouldn’t do at all.

“What is it?” She turns her head to face me, putting her nose inches away from mine. My breath catches as I stare into her beautiful ocean eyes, the urge to pull her into my chest almost too strong to fight.

She leans in, her beautiful lashes fluttering. It almost looks like she’s going to kiss?—

“Sorry,” she murmurs, her cheeks heating as she leans back in her seat. “I don’t… I don’t know what I was doing.”

NO! No, no, no, no, NO! Don’t you dare shut down on me now. Not now. Not when I finally?—

“Where's the restroom?” she asks, the chair scraping behind her as she stands.

One one thousand. Two one thousand. Three one thousand. Splat. There goes my heart on the pavement. DOA.

“Down the hall,” I say, gesturing to the left in a grand sweeping motion. “If you need assistance, I’d be more than happy to?—”

“That won’t be necessary.”

I wait until she disappears down the hall before pulling up the feed to my bathroom. It’s wrong—I know that—but I can’t stop looking at her. When I do, I’m consumed by that terrible nothingness. Without her, I’m a soulless black hole, but with her…

I shake my head.There is nowithher. Brett hates me.A small part of me screams that I can change her mind, but I quickly squash it.Thoughts like that will get me killed. Or worse.

I watch Brett as she passes the door to the bathroom, and I get to my feet, moving toward the room she’s heading to.The library.

When I get there, Brett stands in front of the bookcase with the picture of me and Brenden, herfingers running lightly over the glass like they did yesterday. I’m not sure why she’s so curious about the photo—could it be because she can’t imagine me as a child? As anything but a ruthless, merciless killer in a mask?

“Who is he?”

Brett’s voice rings out, and it’s my turn to jump.I didn’t realize she knew I was here.

As if she heard my thoughts, Brett smirks. “Your aftershave. I smelled it as soon as you got close. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me…”

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