Page 152 of Never Die for a Sinner
“When are you going to learn there’s so much more to you than you believe?” she whispers, and apprehension fills my chest.
She shakes her head, but I cut off whatever else she was about to say, pressing my lips to hers. It’s different from what it usually is. Sweeter. Deadlier.
“Stay,” I whisper against her lips.
“Okay.”
The path that leads through the trees behind Cross Estate is a favorite of Ava’s. She walks it every day on her break, but today, I’m taking it instead.
I’ve been watching him all week. Since he called my girl a whore, he hasn’t so much as pissed without me knowing about it. There’s something about him. Something that makes me uneasy. Like he’s the closetedcut your skin off and wear it as a skin-suittype.
I don’t want him anywhere near her, and today, I’m putting a stop to his little obsession.
I’m walking down the path when I hear a stick snap to my left. Immediately, my hand shoots out, wrapping around his throatand practically lifting him off his feet, where he just emerged from behind a tree.
“Hey, buddy. Fancy meeting you out here.”
I shove him back into the bark with a thud, my hands fisting in his collar.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he grits, trying to shove me off. Unfortunately, he’s a whole hell of a lot weaker than I am.
“I think I should be asking you that. Is there a reason you’re sneaking around, trying to catch my girl alone?”
“Your girl?” he scoffs, jerking in my grasp. “You don’t give a fuck about her. Don’t pretend like you do.”
“Is that so?”
“You only care about yourself and getting your dick wet. Ava means nothing to you. I heard all about your little contract.”
“Ah, sneaking around my house often?” I step closer, lowering my voice. With each passing moment, his cheeks grow redder and redder, and I love that I’m getting under his skin. “Tell me, Alex. Have you heard the way she comes undone for me?”
“Fuck you,” he growls under his breath.
“Have you listened to her beg for my cock and wondered what it would be like? To have her on her knees for you, willing to do whatever you ask because she wants you that badly?”
My fists vibrate with rage around his collar. I want to snap his neck for what he said to her. I want him crying in a puddle of his own urine for trying to catch her alone.
“What were you going to do when she came down the path? Hmm, Alex? Going to beg for her to give you a chance? Tell her how bad you miss being eternally friend-zoned by the girl you practically pant after?”
“Let me go,” he grits, attempting to shove away from the tree.
I press harder, knocking his head into the bark behind him. Whoops. I’m sure it killed a few brain cells. I’m not sure how many he has left.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Alex,” I murmur, keeping my voice low. Deadly. Alex actually shivers, his jaw clenching tightly. He looks around us, but the idiot doesn’t realize Ava’s actually at home getting ready right now, for us to head into town. She won’t be taking a walk today. “The next time I catch you fucking with my girl. Waiting for her. Speaking to her. Hell, if you even breathe her name while you’re fucking your own pathetic hand . . . I’ll be there. Decide if it’s worth it.”
He doesn’t respond, glowering at me like an insolent teenager caught sneaking out at night.
—So, I knock his head back into the tree again.
“Understood?”
He nods, and I release him, watching him fall to his knees and catch himself in the moss. Pity. I was hoping he’d land on a rock.
“You’re fired.”
“You think you can threaten me, Cross?” he sneers when I start to walk away. “People know where I am. My family will come looking for me.”
I turn back to watch him struggle to his feet, a low, dark chuckle slipping past my lips.
