Forever (Betrothed 7)

Annabella and I had a long conversation before she moved in—about my professional ambitions and how they would affect her. I wanted to forget about my beef with the Skull King and just be happy.

But he was part of everything. He’d helped Liam get Annabella out of the hospital room. Helped him break in to my home. He was an accomplice, and in my eyes, he was just as responsible for what I could’ve lost. Not to mention, he would’ve killed my father if I hadn’t stopped him.

I wouldn’t let that go.

That would be like asking Hades to forget about Maddox, to forget what that man did to the woman he loved.

The Skull King had been my enemy since the beginning, and no amount of rational conversation could change his attitude. He would continue to pursue revenge until I was dead or I wished I were dead.

I had to kill him.

It was eleven at night when I got out of bed, and I tried not to wake Annabella. I put on my jeans and t-shirt and prepared to walk out the door.

But she seemed to know anytime I left the bed, even if it was just to go to the bathroom for a piss. She sat up in bed, her hair pulled over one shoulder. With squinting eyes, she asked, “Where are you going?”

“Work.” I came back to the bed and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be home in a few hours.”

She was always devastated when I left, but she never pestered me to stay, never complained about my profession. “Be safe.” She kissed me goodbye.

“I will.” I kissed her forehead again. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I left her behind and headed to the lab. I knew exactly who would stop by my office, and when I walked inside, I realized he’d beaten me to the punch. He sat in the black chair in front of my desk, slicing an apple with a pocketknife.

“Who let you in?” I always locked the door.

He held up the knife. “This did.” He sliced into the apple, the noise loud and full of crunch. “Want a slice?”

I ignored him and opened the safe to start packing his money. I stuffed the cash into the duffel bag and threw it at his feet. “Get the fuck out.”

He took a long bite of his apple, chewing loudly just to be obnoxious. “Did you know apples have a significant portion of your daily value of vitamin C? You know what they say…an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

“I’m gonna shove that apple up your ass if you don’t get the fuck out of here.”

He rose to his feet and tossed the slices on my desk. “That’s an odd way to treat your business partner.”

“That’s what you think you are? A business partner?”

“Unless you think of us as friends?” He topped off the insult with a smile.

It was hard for me to look at him, to keep up this goddamn charade. If I’d had a plan, I’d kill him right then and there. “Enjoy your money while you can. It’s going to run out soon.”

“Business not doing well?”

“My business with you isn’t.”

He grabbed the bag of money and hoisted it over his shoulder. “Yeah, I thought you might be upset with me.”

I was tired of the sarcastic jokes, tired of this restrained diplomacy. “I’m gonna kill you.”

With no reaction at all, he stared at me blankly, as if his face was the surface of a wall. He was unintimidated, practically looking bored. “Be careful, Damien.”

“I could’ve lost her because of you. I have no reason to be careful.”

“It worked out in the end. I suggest you let it go.”

“Like you did?” I asked sarcastically. “You won’t stop until your pettiness is fulfilled. And now, I won’t stop until my vengeance is satisfied. Gravy train is about to stop. I don’t care what it takes. I will hurt you for what you’ve done to my family.”

He stood rigid in front of my desk, staring at me without blinking. He was a big guy with a lot of tattoos, and he was the most difficult person to read. He had unlimited resources and an endless scowl. It seemed like he might say something, but he never did.

“Leave.”

He turned toward the door. “Don’t make me kill you, Damien. I don’t want that, and neither do you.”

“No, I don’t,” I said. “But I do want to kill you. And I will.”

I sat with Hades and told him everything that had happened with Heath.

“You’ll take care of him, Damien. Eventually.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, so frustrated my skin burned. “I want to take care of him now.”

“Be patient. You’ve got to do this right.”

“Easier said than done…”

“You have something else to focus on right now.” Despite the late hour, he’d admitted me into his home, both of us drinking coffee instead of booze. “You have Anna now. Be happy. Don’t spend your time thinking about Heath.”