Page 68 of Bound to a Monster

Nobody expects it from me. Charming, happy Lev. The guy with a brilliant smile. Even those two piece-of-shit teenage scumbags thought I was there to hang out, and it was like they still couldn’t believe it when I beat both of them to a bloody pulp with a baseball bat.

I broke the one guy’s ribs in three places and shattered the other’s wrist when he tried to protect himself. I bloodied them both pretty bad, and I’m lucky neither of them was killed.

Dad made sure they didn’t press charges. But they should have. I should’ve been locked away for what I did.

After that, Step made sure I learned how to control myself. He made it clear that I couldn’t let loose like that ever again, and I listened to Step. He was always my moral compass. He was the only person in my life that really understood me.

Now he’s dead and I’m alone.

That’s what I felt when I had Carmie pinned to the floor. I planned on confronting her about the card but the second she came into the room, I just lost my mind. I wanted her—I needed her—I’d been fighting my feelings for her. But finding my father’s number tucked away with her things on the kitchen counter felt like someone ripped out my intestines and wrapped them around my throat.

I’d never hurt her. No matter what, I’d never stoop so fucking low. But I knew I’d cross a line if I didn’t get out of there. I’d say something to ruin our fragile peace, and I don’t think I could live with myself if that happened.

I should’ve stayed and listened to what she had to say.

But I just couldn’t.

Which is why I’m up early and working at Fed’s before my usual time.

Anything to avoid dealing with my wife.

“You’re in a shit mood today,” Alex notes as we pack up a wholesale order. “You’ve been in a shit mood for a while, but today it’s particularly ripe.”

“Thank you.”

“What’s going on? Problems at home?”

“I’m not discussing my marriage with you.”

He laughs like I’m kidding around. “Who else are you going to talk about it with?”

“Nobody. It’s better to swallow it all down and pretend like the problems don’t exist.”

“Healthy.”

“I’m a role model.”

He knows not to push and lets it drop. I stew all day, but I do my best to keep my mask in place, especially when Dasha and Katerina call me up to handle a few higher-end clients.

Everyone goes home before I do. Alex seems like he wants to hang around and make sure I’m okay, but he’s got a pregnant wife waiting for him and I’m not about to keep my sister’s husband chained to a fucking desk all night. There’s always something to do around the shop, and since we’re waiting for shit to go down with Frank, I can keep myself busy getting ready for the inevitable.

But I have to go home eventually. I’m thinking about her on the drive and on the walk and the second I unlock the door. I’m thinking about her rage and beauty when we fight and how good she feels under me.

The second the door opens, something white hurtles at my face.

I barely have time to react. I flinch sideways, barely dodging the fencing mask as it hits the wall behind me and bounces to the floor.

“Put it on,” Carmie says. She’s in full kit, jacket and all, her mask under one arm and her foil in her hand. Her hair’s up and she looks fucking glorious.

“I’m not in the mood.”

“I don’t give a shit. Put it on. We have to talk.”

Then she’s gone. I watch her go, caught between awe and frustration. That girl is a goddess, especially when she lets loose.

We’re similar. More similar than she realizes. I have a monster inside of me, and I constantly work to keep it hidden. She has a monster in her too, except she needs to work to let it out. But when she does?

My god, I’ve never seen a more perfect woman before.

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