Page 9 of Euphoria
Chapter 3
Phoenix
Murderous thoughts.That’s all that swims in my head. All I want to do is ring her little neck until she’s close to passing out and let her go again. She deserves to live. I don’t need to think I’m some god. I don’t think I am and I never will be. If I were a god, I’d eviscerate so many beings on this earth, so it’s better to not play him. I’d rather be myself and face whatever the fuck I want.
I grit my teeth, disappearing into the background where I can be myself. I watch Bambi for a moment, by the features of her face, she’s confused and dare I say it, lost. Bambi’s entire face transforms as if someone has taken something away from her. She looks around, searching. Sasha Phillips walks up to her and she stops her from looking like a crazy person on the verge of tears. I know who Bambi is looking for. She wants to see if I would disappear without her knowing. I find it funny because two seconds ago she was acting like she didn’t want me around. I shake my head. She always searches for me like a lost puppy.
“If I wasn’t so good at tracking people, I would’ve missed your big ass entirely,” Sawyer Nash says to me.
I smirk, not turning to face him. “I heard you coming. Remember, I’m the brother with the eyes behind his back.”
Sawyer scoffs. “Stop staring at my girl. She’s mine and no one can have her.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not looking at Sasha, I know that you want her, I can see it in your eyes and how you watch her like you’re about to devour her. Trust me, as beautiful as she is, I’m not looking. I don’t do that.”
Sawyer snorts. “Who wouldn’t want her?”
“You need something? I’m fucking busy,” I interrupt.
“You look like a fucking creep staring like that,” he says as he walks away.
“And?” If only I gave a damn.
I crack my neck, stretching it like a man unhinged. Sasha has taken Bambi with her while they speak to some other potential buyers. I make my way towards the same painting and like Bambi has always done, she turns to me and I beckon her towards me without so much as a lift of my finger. She shudders and hesitates. I cock my brow and as she walks towards me I realize something, I’m going to make her life miserable for leaving me.
I mean she had the right to leave but that she left is beyond me and now she’s going to have to suffer. Face the consequences for her stupidity. If she thinks I fucked up her life before then she does not understand what I’m capable of doing now. I’ve learned different tricks of the trade in making someone wish they were dead. Everyone assumes that being tortured is the worst kind of pain—not that I would know or understand—but it’s not. The worst is having the man that semi-tricked you into being his wife for life makes you wish you didn’t exist. I bite my lip because I’m getting a hard-on just thinking about it. I slip my hands in my pockets as she stands right in front of me.
“So, wife, tell m—.”
“Wife!” I hear a hushed tone from behind me.
I don’t have to turn around to know who it is. “Hey Esme,” I say, but glare at Bambi.
“A wife, huh?” Esme repeats.
I chuckle, turning to face her. “Yeah.”
She looks amused. “Well, good for you! I, too, am… um, seeing someone. I’m engaged! Yay!” She exclaims.
“Oh! Congrats. Send me an invitation,” I say.
There’s no bad blood between us two, so I think I’m invited. I wonder who the bastard is?
“I will,” she says with conviction. “When did you two crazy kids get married? I haven’t seen her around.”
“14 years ago,” I answer, shrugging my shoulders.
Esme’s eyes look ready to jump out of their sockets. Pretty sure this is a surprise to her and everyone else who is within hearing vicinity.
“Nice!” Her voice is high pitched, then she coughs. “Let me uh, let me go grab my fiancée so you can meet him.”
Without giving me a chance to say yes or no, Esme pivots on her heels, she searches for a second then walks towards the entrance of the gallery as a man walks in. Before I can get a clear picture of his face, she grabs him and starts speaking. He smirks at her and wraps an arm around her midsection, pulling her in for a kiss. Shit! Go Esme! She’s done well for herself! I think? Feels like she’s lying but I could be wrong. But it’s not really my place to ask.
* * *
Bambi
“Where’s your office?” He asks.
