Her defiance fought to stay but ultimately fled. She rolled her eyes and sighed delicately. Silence passed over us, and when I next looked up, I found Anika smiling softly. Thank God. I reached out soundlessly, and she looked down at my olive branch before placing her hand in mine, squeezing. My shoulders slumped as relief coursed through me, and then her smile grew. She spoke quietly in disbelief, “I can’t believe you’re pregnant.”
You and me both, sister.
Sounding more than a little put out, I muttered, “Me neither.”
Our smiles softened, and Anika’s tinkling laughter sounded. She came forward and hugged me, and then I was laughing too, because it was surreal. My arms rounded her thin body. I held her like she was an anchor, grounding me.
We pulled back out of the hug but remained close, and when she put her hand to my belly, she uttered a sickly sweet, “Wow. That’s my niece or nephew in there.” I simply watched her. She grinned, and it was so much like the Anika of old that my heart stuttered. Anika shook her head, looking down at my stomach, then peered back up at me and whispered, “I’m going to be an aunt.” Suddenly, her face changed as if something just hit her. “Oh my God.”
“What?”
She blinked at me a moment before leaning in and letting out an awe-filled, “You’re going to be a mom, Nas. In nine months, you’ll never be alone. There will always be someone with you, someone for you to care for. Someone to love. Someone to love you back.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Unconditionally.”
I could have been wrong, but I swear she said it wistfully, as if it were something she pined for.
And, from the way my heart warmed, I guess I pined for it too.
Roam
“That her?”
I sat still, looking at the woman. She was pretty in a confident, sassy way. But then my vision was drawn to the willowy-thin redhead by her side, and I exhaled slowly, watching them closely. They were arguing.
I didn’t know what about, but it looked serious.
Anika. Poised, graceful Anika looked wild-eyed as she yelled at the brunette I knew to be Nastasia Leokov. Nastasia spoke in low tones but looked to be giving as good as she got. And dear, sweet Anika seemed overwhelmed.
It was a shame her brother was a cocky piece of shit. I might have liked to keep her. Her, with her soothing, angelic voice. I had a feeling that her smile would light up a room. Too bad I wasn’t in the habit of making women smile. More often than not, they left my company stoic, shocked, and a little turned on.
They always wanted what they couldn’t have, and I was unavailable in every sense of the word.
That wasn’t to say they didn’t have a good time. I suppose it simply stunned them that my brand of fucking appealed to them. It had them questioning themselves, and women, I found, did not like to question the person they were.
Too thought provoking. Confronting.
Delicate creatures, women.
I liked to play with delicate things. Frighten them. Watch them squirm. Push them. Observe the struggle as they fell. The kaleidoscope of colors as they shattered when they landed. And although I would have preferred the redhead, the brunette was an example I would be happy to make a lesson of.
My eyes flashed.
I hoped she fought. I really did.
I liked when they were good, but when good girls fought… now that was fun.
Nastasia Leokov managed to calm her friend. I glanced away for a moment, reaching into my pocket for my vibrating phone, checking the display then putting it away. When I looked back up my lip curled at the sight of them. It was oh-so-sweet when they hugged. A cruel smile tipped at my lips. I couldn’t wait to make her acquaintance.
“That’s her.”
We waited until they got into the car and took off. And because I was a madman, I turned to my man, gave the nod, and followed them.
I would bide my time. Watch. Learn what I could.
And then…
My smile was dark as the demon that resided inside of me.
Then, I would strike.
29
Vik
Cornered. My least favorite position and one I had inevitably worked myself into. I never should have allowed myself to fall into the comfort of a false sense of security, and now, getting out felt like a death sentence. And maybe it was. The buzz in the air had me anticipating this was not going to go down well.
“I’m done,” I told Roam, and he simply held my gaze.
The man watched me closely, taciturn, looking diligently, searching for anything he could use against me, as sociopaths did.
By this point, I’d learned well enough not to give anything away.
Turning up at my family home, claiming my sister for an evening, having his boys flood Bleeding Hearts, getting into my head, showing that he had no problem being exactly who people whispered about on the streets… this was nothing compared to what this man was capable of.