Page 48 of Virtue & Vengeance

I refused to believe he was the guy he was portraying himself to be. Especially not after the night we had together. I had a feeling Zander had accidentally shown me his true self while being relaxed at the charity event with me tonight.

“That doesn’t work on me anymore, Zander. Trying to shock me with your words. I’m catching on, and I know exactly what you’re doing.”

“Why don’t you clue us both in then?”

“I will, but first, why don’t you tell me what you’ve done that’s so horrible.”

With that, he moved away as if he were done with our conversation.

I followed.

“What was it, Zander?”

My heels clicked across his expensive flooring as I followed behind him, intent on getting through to him.

“Leave it alone, Eden.”

“No!” I snapped, grabbing his arm and spinning him around to face me. “I want to know. Tell me what happened to make you such an asshole.”

He refused to make eye contact with me and instead turned his head to face the Vegas skyline outside his window.

“I’m not in the mood for your games.”

Games?

He wasn't serious!

If anyone in this situation was playing games, it was him.

“The only one playing games is you,” I said, telling him exactly what I was thinking. “Tell me what you did that I couldn’t possibly understand.”

“I don’t have time for this,” he said, turning as if he was going to walk away once more.

But I stopped him, digging my nails into the hard flesh of his arm. “Tell me!” I yelled.

And then he shocked me and made me jump as he growled, “I killed someone! Is that what you wanted to hear? How do you feel about me now, angel? Knowing I murdered someone and yet I still find a way to sleep with myself at night. How do you feel knowing my tainted, murderous hands have touched your perfect body?”

I stepped back, my mouth open in surprise.

I hadn’t expected that.

Did he kill someone?

No.

I refused to believe it.

Sure, Zander had an underlying sense of danger about him, but I always thought that was just the persona he put forth.

Dangerous Vegas casino owner.

A man with the plan.

“What’s wrong, angel? Can’t handle the truth?”

His face was stern.

His eyes hard and glittering back at me.

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