Page 21 of Cold

Blood covered the floor and his gurgling filled my ears. I yanked the knife free and stared down at him. My heart thudded against my chest so hard it was like loud drumming in my ears. I panted as I stood up and saw what I'd done.

Not again. Shit.

I was part of the problem when it came to violence in the world. But I couldn't stop. Sergei had turned me into his own little killing machine. Usually, I directed my wrath at whoever he pointed me at, but this time it was all because someone had the nerve to call Vito a pervert.

"Romare? Romare!"

My breathing picked up. Vito. He was close. I looked from the knife in my hand to the body on the floor. There was no way I could clean up my mess in time. Heavy footsteps raced toward me and I turned around.

Vito froze. "Romare." His eyes took in the entire scene. "What are you doing?"

I let out a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry, Vito."

There was no going back now. All the softness and sweetness that was part me, part acting was gone. Vito had seen right through me.

He saw the ugliness underneath.

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