Page 66 of Sardonic Burn

That seems enough to push him over the edge, and he steps closer to me, closing the gap between us.

All I can do is inhale the addicting scent radiating off his body and pray that it doesn’t ruin me.

“Should I put a bullet between your eyes, right here, right now, and prove myself?”

I raise a brow and stare up at him.

“How adorable. You need my approval.”

“You little—” He stops himself before he can say something that will put him in everyone’s bad graces. However, this isn’t enough. All I need is another little push, and it should tip over in our favor.

“Little, what? On second thought, I changed my mind.” I inch closer, getting on my toes and getting closer to his face. Our noses are inches apart, and my heart nearly bursts.

The proximity is dangerous. His hot breath hits my face, and I’m barely keeping myself standing straight. The effect this interaction has on me is both irritating and exciting. It’s something unexplainable; something new.

“Do it,” I dare with a grin, the tips of our noses touching. “Kill me if you dare, little De Santis.”

Electricity runs down my spine at the smallest touch, and I’m instantly reminded of that night when he sucked blood off my lips. It lasted barely a couple of seconds, but those secondswere too much for me to handle. I was impelled, captivated by the sadism he displayed.

Just like now.

The beast is slowly coming out, threatening to ruin everything in its path until the prey is caught and dealt with. And the prey is me.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he sneers, his anger peeking through the calm facade he’s been trying to hold up. “Why do you think death is the only way to ruin a little pest like you? I can do something far worse.”

“Really? Will your daddy help, or can you do it on your own?”

He brushes back a fallen strand of my hair and tucks it behind my ear with a menacing grin. Everyone else knows what it means. I know what it means.

It means I’m utterly and completely fucked.

“You’ll find out by the end of the night.” He then leans and whispers in my ear. “But worry not, I don’t share my toys with anyone.”

That sentence alone leaves me breathless as he leaves, glancing at me one last time.

I stare at his rigid shoulders and already know that this isn’t the last altercation of the night. I might’ve pushed it too far, and he’s bound to unleash his anger on me.

It makes my heart skip a beat.

EIGHTEEN

“That was amusing,” Lyla says as she pushes herself off the wall with a glass of wine in her hands. “Seems like you’ve found your match.”

I give her a threatening look. “One more word from you and—”

“And what?” She grins. “I’m your only cousin who actually likes you. Tone it down.”

With a sigh, I roll my eyes at her and continue to scan Noelle’s movements. The plan was a success, as Lyla overheard quite a few people talking about what just happened. It reinforced the belief that the two families are at odds with each other and turned out to be better than expected.

“Is my role for the night done?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. I’ll do something very stupid and impulsive, and I need you to stand guard.”

“How is it impulsive if you already know you’ll do it?” Her eyes widen, a small smirk tugging on the corner of her lips. “Ah, you’re doing something irrational and want to blame it on an impulse? Got it.”

“Smartass.”

“You love me.” She sighs. “Fine. Where should I be, and when?”

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