I look at Arlo and he knows what I’m saying is true. I don’t know what happened to Matteo after we left. If Enrico got to him or the pain of us leaving did. But he’s a different person now.
I touch the painting of the dream that Arlo had for us. A dream that I now realize is exactly what I want but will probably never have.
“And if I ever want to see Eden alive again, we have to go back. He’s going to kill her if I don’t give myself back to him.”
Arlo holds me tighter. He won’t give me up without a fight. But this is Eden we are talking about. He knows I will do anything for her. She’s my best friend. I love her. I should have been there for her this last year.
I’ve talked to her countless times on the phone and every time she protected me instead of asking me to save her. She kept me away. She saved me, now it’s my turn to save her.
The End
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Heart of a Thief
I grab a beer out of the mini fridge while I wait to see if Danielle is coming up or not. I pop the cap off against the counter in my hotel room and then bring the cold liquid to my lips as I stare at the door.
I met Danielle three weeks ago. It was a lucky happenstance really. Well, lucky for me, not so lucky for her. I met her like I meet most of my targets—in a bar. She was with her fiancé, minding her own business, just having a drink at the bar, when he was called away for work. That was when I stepped in and gave her the attention that sh
e was so desperate for.
That’s all it took. One night of being nice to her, and I knew I could steal her from her fiancé. I knew it wouldn’t take long. I probably could have had her that night if I really wanted. But that’s not my game. Cheating isn’t enough. Many a men take back fiancées or wives who have cheated on them. No, I don’t entice the women so that they will cheat on their husbands. I hit on the women to steal them and make them mine—at least, until I get bored with them.
I’m not looking for anything long-term. I’ve never dated a woman for longer than a few weeks after claiming her as mine. Others, I get bored with much faster. I’m not really after the women. I’m after the chase that comes with stealing them away, and that satisfies the rush I used to get when I stole objects instead of people.
I don’t know which makes me a worse person. Stealing things like cars, money, or jewelry. Or stealing women and their hearts. But, this way, at least I don’t have to worry about going to jail.
I sit on the edge of the bed as I take another sip of my beer. I thought tonight was the night I would claim her. I thought tonight was the night I would steal her away. But, as every second passes, I become less sure of myself.
Maybe Danielle loves her fiancé, Wade, more than I thought she did.
I hear a soft knock on my door. Once, twice, and then a pause before the third knock. I grin before I down the rest of my beer and toss it into the trash can as I walk to the door. I open it and widen my eyes when I see Danielle standing outside my door, like I’m surprised that she is standing here even though I’m not the least bit surprised.
“What are you doing here, Danielle? Shouldn’t you be in bed, dreaming about that fiancé you are going to marry tomorrow?” I ask.
I haven’t stolen her yet. Not fully. I don’t win until she’s broken up with him, and I’ve had her in my bed.
Danielle wraps her arms across her chest, covering her cleavage that was sticking out from beneath her sparkly white dress that she wore to the rehearsal tonight.
I didn’t have to do much to get Danielle here. At least, not tonight. All I did was show up at the rehearsal. I made an appearance in the background, and it was enough to convince Danielle that she might be making a huge mistake.
“I’m not getting married tomorrow,” Danielle says.
“Oh,” I say, my voice dripping with sadness that isn’t the least bit real. “Would you like to come in?”
She nods, and I hold the door open for her. She walks over to the edge of my bed and sits down. I walk over to the mini fridge and pull two beers out. I open the caps on both and then hand one to her. She takes it, loosely holding it in her hand. She stares at it for a while, not able to look at me.
I keep my distance until she is ready to talk. Leaning against the counter next to the mini fridge, I sip on my beer.
“I broke up with Wade tonight,” Danielle finally says.
“I gathered that. Why though?”
She looks up at me with puppy-dog eyes. “Because I don’t love Wade anymore. I love you.”
I look at her seriously and say, “I want you.”