Chapter 20: : Chapter 20

Adrenaline courses through me as my mind tries to wrap itself around what just happened. Perhaps other women would be horrified by what they just witnessed, but I’d become desensitized to death a long time ago.

I wasn’t even having a good time, and the evening was lackluster at best. I hate to admit it, but the asshole knows how to make an entrance. It wasn’t fair to involve Sage and the guys, though. I didn’t think he would act so crazy that he’d happily waltz into a restaurant and gun down whoever he pleases. I’ll definitely have to make it up to Sage and offer to at least pay for her therapy. And this confirms one thing: he’s watching me.

He doesn’t so much as look at me as he opens the passenger door. His scent has deep earthy notes. I don’t like the way it does something to my brain; it brings me back to only moments ago when he had me pinned against the wall, and I’m almost certain he was going to kiss me. And I’m ashamed of my lack of fight.

Did I want him to kiss me?

Definitely not.

Another two cars pull up behind us, and two men in suits step out and walk into the scene of the crime. Efficient much?

I slide into the leather passenger seat, looking around the car. It’s nice and stylish, that’s for sure, but it’s just a shame about the company sliding in beside me. He pulls away from the curb and begins driving, the tension palpable. He readjusts his suit jacket, and we remain silent for several minutes.

When he breaks the silence, I’m confused. It’s as if this man has an on-and-off switch. He pulls into a fast food drive-through and stops at the ordering box. “Burger?” he asks me. I never would’ve imagined someone like Eli, raised using golden cutlery, being familiar with fast food. But I’m starving. I might not want to dine with this asshole, but I’m certainly not health-conscious enough to ever say no to a burger. I nod, and he orders us the same meal.

We’re quiet as we continue along the drive-through and collect our meals. He leans over, opens the glove box and hands me a wet wipe for my hands before he grabs one for himself. I try to hide the smirk because despite this killer getting bloodied all the time, he has an underlying obsession with perfection and cleanliness.

He hands me my burger and places the bag of fries between us. I take a bite, watching him. Witnessing him doing something so mundane is strange, especially straight after he decided to go on a crazed killing spree.

The burger hovers at my mouth as I look at him. “Were you jealous tonight?” It’s unthinkable, really, for a man like this to even have emotions, let alone one so childish as jealously. But I certainly didn’t expect him to kill two guys just for talking to me. That was a miscalculation on my part.

He wipes his mouth before he speaks, the burger already almost gone. “No. I wasn’t. You’re my property. My fiancée. You will not socialize with other men unless I’m with you.”

As if truly seeing me for the first time, he looks at my ring finger, and a slight frown appears on his face. “Why aren’t you wearing your ring?”

“How’s your leg?” I ask, changing the subject. “And besides, I’m sure our nuptials aren’t going to end your side shenanigans, so why shouldn’t I be able to fuck whoever I want?” Not that I wanted to fuck either of those men in there.

“I won’t be fucking anyone else during our time together, Kitten. And I’ll have it known, I’ll gladly fuck you.”

“Why? Because I’m the only woman daring enough to put a blade to your throat as we do the deed? Really gets your rocks off, doesn’t it?”

“If a declaration of sorts is what you’re after, then you can come with me as I cancel previous commitments.”

Fuck me, this guy is so business-oriented. Everything sounds like a transaction.

“With Michelle?” I ask. “Won’t it upset your relationship with her family if you choose me over her?”

“You are to be my wife, not her. People will accept it.” He says it like it’s a known fact.

Around a mouthful, purposefully to piss him off, I speak. “You can keep her if you want. I won’t be fucking you.”

“We shall see,” he says, pulling out of the parking lot. “You’re also slightly tipsy, so you’re not thinking straight.”

I roll my eyes. I don’t need to hear that from the asshole who just shot up a Chinese restaurant.

Twenty minutes later, we pull up at an address I know well, mostly because I’ve staked it out twice already when I first started stalking Eli.

He gets out of the car and walks around to open my door. He holds his hand out expectantly, but I ignore it and cross my arms over my chest.

“We’re not at the hand-holding stage. And you can do your breakups on your own; it has nothing to do with me,” I snidely say.

“It has everything to do with you. Michelle needs to see you, or she won’t believe I’ve moved on.”

“So, send her a photo,” I reply, stubbornly remaining in the car. “I don’t really give a shit about your personal drama.”

“Funny, considering you seem to be the center of my drama right now,” he says bitterly. “She and I were never in a relationship. Tonight will be the first official fiancée task you’re given. So you best remove yourself from that seat before I drag you out of it by your hair.”

Heat flushes to my core at the thought of him tugging at my hair, and I curse under my breath at my fucked-up body betraying me. Maybe it’s because I’m still tipsy. It has to be.

“Sorry, Romeo. But you told me I only had to impress the in-laws. Keep walking, I’m tired of your macho shit tonight,” I say, not looking at him. When he doesn’t leave right away, I glance up at him. “Unless you’re going to pay me to put a hit on her, then⁠—”

“You’re intolerable.” He curses and then storms away, leaving the car door open.

“That’s what I’ve been telling you!” I shout out after him. I’m quite enjoying the fresh air, so I leave the door open. I pull out my phone and start a message to Sage to check up on her. I know she’s seen some shit in her past, or so she’s told me at work, but I don’t think that kind of trauma covers witnessing a murder… or two. It’s fair to say she’ll never see that guy again, and I don’t think a “get well soon” card will exactly cover it.

I glance in Eli’s direction as he knocks on the door. Michelle has a charming three-story apartment on the water. She has good taste; I’ll give her that. She probably didn’t have to work a day in her life to get it, though.

I don’t think Eli is one to apologize, but his father has a good relationship with Michelle’s father, so he’s most likely doing this out of respect. Not that I think Eli understands the meaning of the word.

In my peripheral view, I watch as she opens the door, surprised but delighted to see him. She immediately reaches for him, attempting to wrap her arms around his neck to pull him in, but he stops her.

I don’t like the ugly smugness that rises within me, knowing that if I weren’t in the picture, he would be up there fucking her.

Turning away because I don’t like the way that makes me feel, I look back down at my phone. Michelle’s voice raises, and she starts yelling at him. I ignore it.

I even contemplate calling Craig tonight since he’s the only one who cares about my whereabouts or if I’m alive. Though if he knew about my current shitty predicament, I know he’d come to town looking for me himself.

My life is not interesting. I have no one to share it with. I wonder if that’s exactly why Eli chose me. We only have to convince his family. I’m discardable. The moment I’m in the equation, I’ll be out of it, and no one will think twice about it.

“Her?” Michelle yells furiously, stepping partway between her apartment door and the car. She looks at me in disbelief and then at Eli as if he’s gone completely mad. I hate that I agree with her on that until I don’t like how the bitch scrunches up her nose in disgust when she looks at me again. Then Eli moves, so he’s blocking her view of me.

“Her? Really, Eli, you could do better. What could she possibly offer you that my family can’t?”

Eli looks over his shoulder at me as if inquiring if I’ll defend myself. I don’t give a flying fuck what she thinks or says. Ain’t my drama. I look back at my phone, but the moment he turns to speak to her again, I peek over my phone at them. I can’t fucking help myself. I just wish I had popcorn. Instead, I pick at some cold fries.

“Michelle, you knew this was temporary. It was never going to work out. I liked to fuck you, that’s all.” Her mouth opens in shock, and then her hand goes to her hip as she pins him with a glare. I totally should not be here for any of this.

“Fuck me? You did more than fuck me, you asshole.” I can’t help but laugh at the use of the word asshole. Does everyone in his life call him that? “You think that’s funny? You steal my man and think that’s funny?”

“You can have him,” I say around a mouthful of cold fries, knowing it pisses her type off epically.

“Now, Kitten, we don’t share, remember. Or do you have to learn that lesson again?” Eli says with a raised brow.

Is that why he’s doing this dramatic breakup thing in front of me? To show me… loyalty? Monogamy? I almost choke on a fry. Me. Him. The two people in the world who are not built for that shit.

“You know he only fucked me a few weeks ago, right? And now you’re engaged to him! Have you no shame?” she screams as she takes a few steps forward.

I pin Eli with a stare. What would a good wifey be expected to do at this moment? Because right now, I want to break her precious little nose if only to dull the headache she’s creating.

“I’m aware,” is all I say.

She scoffs. “Well, it won’t last because you have nothing to offer the Monti family.” She glares at Eli with tear-reddened eyes. “And then you’ll come crawling back, and I might not be so nice as to take you back.” She flips her long hair over her shoulder and walks toward the security guard, who now hovers at the door.

I wonder if she actually did love him and if I was just involved in breaking her heart. Then again, she never made a fuss about him leaving her but made a deal about the Monti family.

“Stop looking at her like that,” Eli says as he approaches the car, seemingly unfazed.

“Did you care for her at all?” I ask as he comes to close my door.

“I liked to fuck her. Care? That’s a strong word. I care for my family, that’s it.”

“So you wouldn’t care if I walked in there right now with your gun and shot her point blank in the head?”

He scratches the stubble along his jaw contemplatively. A devilish smile works his lips as he leans into the car, his lips inches from mine.

“Would you fuck me after?”

I scoff at him. “No.”

He shrugs and says, “Worth a shot,” before closing the door.

When he reappears and sits in his seat, I say, “You have no shame.”

He seems amused by that until I put my feet on the dash to feel more comfortable, and all his humor vanishes. “Remove your feet from my dash at once.”

I sigh as I roll my eyes.

And the asshole is back.