Page 99 of Ruinous Need
The final tool of destruction she wants to use is the flamethrower. I show her how it works and she giggles with gleewhile she sprays a stream of fire ahead of us, her face lighting up from the glow and from her own eagerness.
“Okay, it’s not the sledgehammer.Thisone is my new best friend.”
I take a step back as she glances at me, her sea-green eyes aglow in the soft light. “Don’t tell me we’ve got a budding arsonist on our hands.”
“I’m just saying, if you ever need something burned down, I’m here. With my best friend Monty.”
I splutter out a laugh. “Monty? You’ve given the flamethrower a nickname?”
We’ve both pulled on fireproof jumpsuits, but the look in Lisette’s eye has me wondering if this was such a good idea. All doubts in my mind cease when I watch her pour flames wherever she wants them. She’s reckless, she’s wild, and she is dangerous.
I can’t get enough.
Watching her in action makes me want to do crazy things like bring her into combat with me. Because the glee with which she lets go and torches every cursed object in that warehouse is one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.
At one point, I have to tackle her to the ground when she gets overenthusiastic with one of the sports cars and the gas tank goes up in a fireball. This was a fucking stupid idea, I think to myself, but she laughs wildly and pulls herself to her feet like it was some kind of attraction in an amusement park and not a risk to both our lives.
Fearless to the point of stupidity. I’ve never wanted her more.
It makes her so happy to spray flames all over Semyon’s favorite things that I let it go on for too long. I can’t put an end to this. I expected her to let out her rage, but I didn’t anticipate she would have this much fun.
By the time she’s done, we are both soot-covered and coughing despite the filtering masks and jumpsuits.
“Come on,” I urge her, tugging her out of the warehouse. “And put that down. We’re not taking Monty home or I’m afraid the house wouldn’t make it through the night.”
I can’t see her face behind the mask, but I know she’s pouting at me.
At the door, we finally find some sweet fresh air and pull off our masks. I gasp for air, but Lisette seems perfectly calm. Exhilarated but put-together, like we’ve just gone for a run and not destroyed millions of dollars worth of property.
She stands on her tip-toes to kiss me. The taste of smoke and ash on her lips is intoxicating. I pull her in front of me and loop my arms around her shoulders.
“Remind me not to get on your bad side.” I kiss the top of her head.
Standing in the doorway with my arms wrapped around her and breathing a welcome mouthful of fresh air, I survey the damage.There are piles of ash, scorch marks, shards of glass and splinters strewn all over the space. I shake my head in wonder.
Lisette is an agent of chaos. She has scorched every inch of that warehouse until everything is coated in gray. Paint peeling, wood burned, and small patches of flames lick at the walls of the warehouse.
Not enough to blow up the whole thing, but it’s getting there.
A squad of guards will be there later tonight to torch the whole thing and take away the evidence.
Then there won’t be a shred of Semyon’s possessions left in this city. I wish I could eradicate him from Lisette’s head too — but that’s a work in progress.
Later that night, when her muscles are aching from her efforts, I give her a massage. “You did so well today, baby. I wish I could take away all the pain that he caused you.”
“You did,” she murmurs sleepily as I slide my hands over her shoulders. “Thank you, Viktor.”
For the first time in a month, Lisette doesn’t wake in the middle of the night with her hands curled against my chest, her mouth open in a soundless scream as she tries to escape from Semyon.
I know he’s still chasing her, in her subconscious.
But maybe I can hold the nightmares at bay.
CHAPTER 44
LISETTE
EPILOGUE
