Page 21 of Sardonic Burn

I notice another car with only the driver on the inside. They arrived first and suddenly, my senses sharpen. I’m on high alert.

My eyes dart between the man inside of the car and the cabin, only to notice a candle burning through the window. It’s flickering and not enough to lighten the entire room.

An eerie feeling overwhelms me. Goosebumps tug on my skin, droplets of cold sweat slowly sliding down my forehead. My heart is racing against my ribcage, and my hands are trembling.

I can’t shake it off. Something feels wrong.

“Are you okay?” Father turns toward me and pulls out a little napkin. Carefully, he wipes the sweat off my forehead, his eyes filled with worry. I can’t quite place it, but one way or the other, something will terribly go wrong.

I’m hoping that it’s just my gut feeling and nothing more; however, my gut feeling has yet to fail me. It hasn’t happened once in my twenty-three years of life.

“I’m fine.” I swallow. “Please be careful.”

He gives me a puzzled look but once he notices the desperation on my face, he nods. “I will. You too. I don’t know what kind of tricks these people might pull.”

Father kisses my forehead, and we resume our walk.

He kicks the cabin door down in style, and we’re immediately met with the two De Santis men.

They look freakishly alike.

From the suit, leather gloves, and thick coats to their mannerisms and facial expressions. Even their hairstyles are the same, except that the older one has grays lingering in his hair.

“Campbell,” the older one, Henrick, greets. His voice is filled with distaste, matching the sullen look on his face. He doesn’t want to be here any more than we do.

“De Santis,” Father greets back.

“Did you have to knock the door down?”

“Of course.”

Hudson’s gaze doesn’t move from my face. His dull eyes stare at me, shining under the pretty moonlight. He’s very handsome; anyone with a functioning pair of eyes can tell that much.

But what I find tempting about him is the pure hatred. He’s not hiding the fact that he wants me dead, and, if looks could kill, I’d drop dead immediately. That’s what makes this so much more fun.

He’s so far up his ass that he can’t see how much that hatred works in my favor. He’ll be devoured by his own stupidity, and it will be an amazing opportunity for me.

One I don’t plan on letting go to waste.

SIX

Ibarely notice Ray Campbell shooting daggers at me. I only see the wrath on his face once he steps to his left, shielding Noelle from my view. His eyes narrow at me, trying to intimidate me. When he realizes it’s not working, a scowl appears on his face.

Noelle peeks through, falling into step next to her father.

Her eyes are locked on me. There’s nothing but pure amusement and humor dancing behind those dangerously sweet, honey eyes. A provocation is bound to happen. She sucks in her bottom lip, dragging it between her teeth, and I swear I can hear my heartbeat.

Her pale, delicate neck is in my view as she shrugs off the leather jacket, tossing it to the side.

I want to wrap my hands around her thin, pretty neck and squeeze the life out of her until bruises form and she dies with my mark on her skin.

I’ve found out everything there was to find out about her. She graduated at the top of her class and one year early. She has a degree in chemical engineering, and, at the moment, isn’t interested in furthering her education.

She’s skilled with guns, but she prefers knives and daggers. It gives her more control, and she likes the challenge that comes with that. Her first kill was when she was seventeen, and her body count is well into the hundreds already.

For an assassin, it’s impressive.

On paper, Noelle Liliana Campbell is a neat freak. Her space is always kept clean with minimal furniture and accessories. I know that because I broke into her apartment last night while she was gone.

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