Page 59 of Dangerous Love

I narrowed my eyes, before I loaded my next rounds faster than he had. “But I’m a better learner. Watch this.” I placed the earmuffs back on my head, my eyes studying the shadows in the distance. Like my arm was made of solid concrete, it froze in the air until it landed at a flawless angle. I shot the bullet, aiming for the perfect kill. But before it shredded the first hole, another six shots had disfigured my target, matching Trey’s points. When the noise around us had settled, I smirked. “By the end of the day, I’ll have destroyed all the targets in this shed without breaking a sweat.”

Trey gave me a proud smile. “Good, little brother.” He handed me more ammunition. “Keep practising, because I need you to be a better shot than any of Dad’s fuckwits.”

My eyes observed the weapon in my hand, the metal suddenly lighter. “Don’t bring a gun to a party unless you’re prepared to use it, right?”

Trey emptied his Glock, his target obliterated, before he motioned for my turn. We exchanged a glance, right as I pressed the trigger and allowed all my hatred, fears, and revenge to burst holes into the distance, as I pictured my father’s empire crumbling with every gunshot.

CHAPTER29

Sienna

My arms hugged the pillow tighter, my back loving the heat of the sunrays coming through the open curtains. I kept my eyes closed, my lips curling at the peace I felt for the first time in days. Michael’s guest room was five-star worthy. Even better was the fact that he treated me like a woman and not some incompetent teenager. Last night’s dinner proved as much. Cooking together had been fun, and knowing I was completely safe and respected under his roof, a massive relief. Other guys might have eyed my boobs or ass from beneath the PJs, but he didn’t. From where I stood, I’d made the right choice to quarantine with my work buddy.

A slight knock called from behind the wooden door, right before it opened slightly. “Are we decent?” Michael asked before he entered the guest room.

I straightened the sheet over the skimpy shorts, my legs and belly covered as I sat up against the headboard. “Sure am.”

Michael came in, a breakfast tray in hand. I gasped, a slight warmth rising up my neck.

He made me breakfast in bed...He settled on the mattress next to me and placed the tray on my lap. A chocolate croissant sprinkled with cut strawberries waited on a small white plate. Right above it, a tall glass with fresh pink juice got me thirsty just by looking at it. A couple of small wildflowers had been placed carefully around the cutlery, and when I looked up at him, Michael’s face beamed, his eyes smiling brighter than the sun peeking through the window.

“Oh my god, this is so sweet. Thank you so much,” I said, as I popped a strawberry in my mouth. With a cheeky grin, he mirrored me, the colour of the fruit a shade darker than his lips.

You have no business staring at his lips, woman.

I lowered my gaze, ignoring the confusion stirring in my stomach. I swirled the juice, studying the pink contents dancing through the glass. “What is it?”

Michael pushed the glass to my lips. “Try it,” he said.

A new sweetness tantalised my taste buds, the drink a perfect blend of soothing flavours. “Yum...” I murmured with my eyes closed. “What is it?” I repeated my question.

“An apple and guava mix, and completely by random accident. It’s low calories so it’s a treat without the guilt.” Our eyes met, his gaze lowering to my upper lip. His thumb wiped the juice glistening on my mouth. “A perfect way to start the day.”

“I think I agree.” I leaned back against my pillow. “Tell me about you.”

“What do you wanna know, babe?”

I hummed, my eyes closed as I relaxed. “Everything. Your background… your journey… I don’t know?”

He chuckled. “All right. Well, I was born in WA in a country town. I went to a local high school that was so small the teachers taught at least three different grades at the same time.”

“Wow. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.” An image of a young, cheeky Michael floated in my head. Given his level of energy now, I had no doubt he would have been a handful growing up.

“My parents owned a couple of dairy farms, a whole empire really, but I was sick of the muddy boots and the isolated lifestyle, so I moved to Kingscliff with my girlfriend of the time, and when she and I broke up six months ago, I moved up here.”

I looked around the room, my eyes studying the expensive décor. “Sounds like things are way different for you then?”

“You bet.”

“Do you miss your girlfriend?”Shit…As soon as the words escaped my throat, I brought a hand to my mouth, my face turning crimson. If I didn’t come across like some weirdo before, I sure would now.

He shrugged. “Some things are just not meant to be. She’s a nice girl, but we were just too different. Know what I mean?”

“I guess.” Was that what had happened between Riley and me? Was it a matter of differences? Not meant to be? Or was it simply because he’d never seen me as anything but a problem child?

As if I’d spoken out loud, Michael studied me from the edge of the bed. “What about you? What’s your story?”

I puffed a deep breath, wondering how much to say. Truth be told, I hadn't been able to book in with Evelyn since all this drama, so I was an emotional ticking time bomb. “I tend to overshare, so you might have to stop me.” I chuckled. “Crappy childhood until my brother took over my care a decade ago.” His eyes smiled, but he remained silent. I continued. “Never knew my dad. My mother, I haven't heard from her since she left with some Texan hobo and dumped me with Avery. Didn’t finish school, got into every trouble imaginable, and just broke up with my boyfriend.” A pathetic laugh sealed my monologue. “I’m a catch.”

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