Page 39 of Never Fall for an Angel

Little brat.

“People are dangerous, Mila. What do you think those men would have done to you if they would have gotten ahold of you?”

She rolls her eyes for the second time since she’s gotten into my car, and I have half a mind to pull her into the back seat and make them roll for real.

“I’m well aware of what they would have done.”

“Are you?”

“What do you want?” she snaps, angry tears pooling in her eyes. “Unlock the door.”

I chuckle darkly. If only she fucking knew . . .

“No.”

I barely register her slapping me until the sting bleeds across my cheek. I run my tongue over my teeth, and her eyes widen at the dark chuckle falling from my lips.

Fuck, I’ve never been so hard in my life. It’s been too fucking long.

“I’m sorry,” she breathes, backing up until her back rests against the door, her eyes brimming with tears. “Just let me go.”

She’ll learn not to apologize for defending herself, but for now, I relish in the soft purr of her voice, filled with fear for what I might do. There was a time when all I wanted to do was protect her. That need is still there, but it’s also tinged with the desire to see her beg for me. Plead with me.

Need me.

“Let you go? We’re just getting started, sweetheart.”

She glowers, tears gathered in her long eyelashes. Like a kitten denied milk.

“What do you want?”

“You.”

She shakes her head. “No, you don’t. You’re here for a reason, and we both know that isn’t me.”

“Does it matter?”

I know I’m being cruel, but I’ve had six months to fantasize about this exact moment. When the scent of her honey and vanilla is back in my space, clouding my judgment. When she’s staring at me with those eyes like fucking moonlight, and I can finally reach out and touch her.

She’ll never know what I did. She’ll never know what it took to leave in the first place.

“Forget about me,” she pleads, soft gray gaze desperate.

And then she pushes the door open and runs before I can even think about reaching for her. I lean back in my seat, watching her take off down a nearby alleyway.

I’ll let her run and tire herself out even more. It’ll ensure a smooth flight to where we’re going.

Unfortunately for her, this chase is over. Not that it’s not been fun, but I’m getting tired of seeing her starve herself. It’s time to stop running and pay the piper.

She put a bullet in my chest. Now, she’ll pay for it with her life.

I chuckle darkly to myself, shooting off a text before I pull away from the stop light. I’ll let her think she got away. Let her pack in a frenzy. Maybe I’ll even give her a head start.

Either willingly or by force, this ends tonight. Mila Carpenter will be mine whether she likes it or not.

I’m a Cross; when I want something, I make it happen.

“See you soon, little devil.”

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