Page 17 of Taking

“And?”

“And I friend-zoned him, what else is new?”

Ciarra sighed and tucked me against her side, my head heavy on her shoulder like my heart inside my chest. “I’m proud of you for at least making an effort, Addilyn. It’ll get easier with time.”

A tear leaked down my cheek at the futility of moving on, and I let it flow.

6

Gideon

The wilted flower went out on a date.

With a blond fucker who looked a little like Devon.

Cold descended over my body while I stood outside the pizzeria in the dark, but I didn’t feel the bitter bite. Rage twisted my guts, and I simmered with enough heat to keep my fingers and toes from growing numb.

The prepaid cell I’d bought buzzed in my back pocket, and I dug it out without taking my eyes off of the couple bundling up to head home.

Lloyd: I’m waiting

Snarling at the screen, I texted back that he’d be waiting until the time was right. I shut the fucking thing off and stepped into a deeper shadow across the street since the parking area didn’t afford me a good view of the restaurant’s interior.

Addilyn and the asshole eventually exited, moving across the parking lot together. My stare burned on the back of her head. She stumbled and nearly fell—until the blond fucker touched her.

Fucking touched what didn’t belong to him.

Jaw clenched and hands fisting, I roused my self-control to hold still, allowing him to help her right herself, all the while cursing his existence, his smile.

They moved forward once more, and I shifted with the deep darkness of the night, determined to get closer. To stop the fucker from putting his hands on her if he tried.

He bumped her arm a second time, blatantly flirting, and I growled, fingertips itching to rip his face to fucking shreds.

The thought he might kiss her goodnight—or even worse, follow her home to her place, raised my goddamn hackles, and I shivered with the need to unleash some violence. The hunting knife strapped to my waist suddenly felt heavier, the blade seeming to whisper as I slid it out into my palm. One slash would spill blood and keep whoever the fucker was from touching her ever again.

From behind a truck, I gritted my teeth and watched them approach her car.

Waited, every cell in my body vibrating.

She went to open her car door, and he reached out for her arm, halting her.

I took a step forward, the handle of the knife in my hand in a blink.

A few mumbled words—and he turned back the way they’d come, sending me sliding into the shadow of the truck.

Addilyn peered after him for a few seconds before climbing inside her car.

I stayed put and pressed against the truck, contemplating the blade in my hand and the clueless fuck seconds from passing me by.

Twinkie had taught me how to wield a knife and where to best stab to end a life.

And I considered it. Fuck, did I think on it.

Saw it in my mind… A quick grab, a single slash across the fucker’s throat. The spray of blood reddening the snow and slush at my feet. Soothing my rage’s need to unleash.

But he could easily shout before steel met flesh.

And the other people exiting the pizzeria behind me would see.

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