Page 39 of Vengeful Lies

Did I want him to kiss me?

Definitely not.

Another two cars pull up behind us, and two men in suits step out and walk into the scene of the crime. Efficient much?

I slide into the leather passenger seat, looking around the car. It’s nice and stylish, that’s for sure, but it’s just a shame about the company sliding in beside me. He pulls away from the curb and begins driving, the tension palpable. He readjusts his suit jacket, and we remain silent for several minutes.

When he breaks the silence, I’m confused. It’s as if this man has an on-and-off switch. He pulls into a fast food drive-through and stops at the ordering box. “Burger?” he asks me. I never would’ve imagined someone like Eli, raised using golden cutlery, being familiar with fast food. But I’m starving. I might not want to dine with this asshole, but I’m certainly not health-conscious enough to ever say no to a burger. I nod, and he orders us the same meal.

We’re quiet as we continue along the drive-through and collect our meals. He leans over, opens the glove box and hands me a wet wipe for my hands before he grabs one for himself. I try to hide the smirk because despite this killer getting bloodied all the time, he has an underlying obsession with perfection and cleanliness.

He hands me my burger and places the bag of fries between us. I take a bite, watching him. Witnessing him doing something so mundane is strange, especially straight after he decided to go on a crazed killing spree.

The burger hovers at my mouth as I look at him. “Were you jealous tonight?” It’s unthinkable, really, for a man like this to even have emotions, let alone one so childish as jealously. But I certainly didn’t expect him to kill two guys just for talking to me. That was a miscalculation on my part.

He wipes his mouth before he speaks, the burger already almost gone. “No. I wasn’t. You’re my property. My fiancée. You will not socialize with other men unless I’m with you.”

As if truly seeing me for the first time, he looks at my ring finger, and a slight frown appears on his face. “Why aren’t you wearing your ring?”

“How’s your leg?” I ask, changing the subject. “And besides, I’m sure our nuptials aren’t going to end your side shenanigans, so why shouldn’t I be able to fuck whoever I want?” Not that I wanted to fuck either of those men in there.

“I won’t be fucking anyone else during our time together, Kitten. And I’ll have it known, I’ll gladly fuck you.”

“Why? Because I’m the only woman daring enough to put a blade to your throat as we do the deed? Really gets your rocks off, doesn’t it?”

“If a declaration of sorts is what you’re after, then you can come with me as I cancel previous commitments.”

Fuck me, this guy is so business-oriented. Everything sounds like a transaction.

“With Michelle?” I ask. “Won’t it upset your relationship with her family if you choose me over her?”

“You are to be my wife, not her. People will accept it.” He says it like it’s a known fact.

Around a mouthful, purposefully to piss him off, I speak. “You can keep her if you want. I won’t be fucking you.”

“We shall see,” he says, pulling out of the parking lot. “You’re also slightly tipsy, so you’re not thinking straight.”

I roll my eyes. I don’t need to hear that from the asshole who just shot up a Chinese restaurant.

Twenty minutes later, we pull up at an address I know well, mostly because I’ve staked it out twice already when I first started stalking Eli.

He gets out of the car and walks around to open my door. He holds his hand out expectantly, but I ignore it and cross my arms over my chest.

“We’re not at the hand-holding stage. And you can do your breakups on your own; it has nothing to do with me,” I snidely say.

“It has everything to do with you. Michelle needs to see you, or she won’t believe I’ve moved on.”

“So, send her a photo,” I reply, stubbornly remaining in the car. “I don’t really give a shit about your personal drama.”

“Funny, considering you seem to be the center of my drama right now,” he says bitterly. “She and I were never in a relationship. Tonight will be the first official fiancée task you’re given. So you best remove yourself from that seat before I drag you out of it by your hair.”

Heat flushes to my core at the thought of him tugging at my hair, and I curse under my breath at my fucked-up body betraying me. Maybe it’s because I’m still tipsy. It has to be.

“Sorry, Romeo. But you told me I only had to impress the in-laws. Keep walking, I’m tired of your macho shit tonight,” I say, not looking at him. When he doesn’t leave right away, I glance up at him. “Unless you’re going to pay me to put a hit on her, then?—”

“You’re intolerable.” He curses and then storms away, leaving the car door open.

“That’s what I’ve been telling you!” I shout out after him. I’m quite enjoying the fresh air, so I leave the door open. I pull out my phone and start a message to Sage to check up on her. I know she’s seen some shit in her past, or so she’s told me at work, but I don’t think that kind of trauma covers witnessing a murder… or two. It’s fair to say she’ll never see that guy again, and I don’t think a “get well soon” card will exactly cover it.

---