He’s visible from the ground floor window with his back facing me. Zoe touches his arm and kisses his cheek.
A red mist falls over my eyes.
If that’s the boyfriend, then I’m committing murder tonight. Did she leave me to settle down in northern bloody York with him?
A bitter taste couples with rage and fills my throat.
The thought that she’d never want that with me boils my blood.
Too bad she doesn’t get to choose.
How long will it take to hide his body? Perhaps thirty minutes — or less, depending on my speed.
I shake my head. Zoe will hate me for life if I kill the sorry bastard. I erase him from the present. I’ll think of a way to get rid of him later.
Zoe climbs the stairs alone. Thank fuck for that or I wouldn’t be able to control my reaction.
I jump down from the tree and stalk to the wall. A light turns on right above me on the first floor. It must be her room. Moments later, it’s off.
I remain completely still for a few more minutes. There’s a shuffle of movement on the ground floor. The boyfriend — who’s living on borrowed time — does a quick sweep outside the house. I blend with the darkness behind a tree until he heads back inside.
At least he cares about safety, but unless he’s a Zero, he won’t be able to detect my presence.
After what seems like forever, I head back to the wall, rub my hands and climb up the window. Adrenaline rushes through my body even harder than when I’m at a fight and I reach the room in record time.
I freeze at the window pane, transfixed by the sight in front of me.
Zoe sleeps on her back with the nightstand light casting a warm hue on her face. Her soft features are in peace and her lips slightly part which accentuates her cupid bow. The blond strands cocoon her head like a halo. The sheet covers her to above her stomach. The silky peach-coloured nightgown hints at the pale skin of her breasts. She seems to have gained some weight and it fits her to perfection.
For a moment, I sit there and take her all in, not wanting to miss any detail.
I never thought I would say this about another human being, but I missed her.
I miss her so fucking much.
Now that I found her, I’m never letting her go.
Chapter Twenty-One
He’s here.
After weeks of nightmares and dreams of those overcast eyes peering into my soul, one would think I’m prepared to meet him again.
I’m not.
Staring into those cloudy eyes for real is a whole different beast.
Shadow is still as handsome and as dark as I remember. The nightstand’s light casts sharp edges to his straight jawline and the stubble on his cheeks. A few locks of his dark blond hair fall on his forehead, begging for me to curl my fingers into them.
The clad hardness of his thighs straddle my stomach and his strong arms are taught on either side of my face. Even though our clothes and the sheets form a barrier, heat smothers me from head to toe. There’s no taming my body reaction when he’s this near.
It’s been so long.
What if he’s another dream? I can’t take this torture anymore.
I don’t dare touch him this time, afraid he’ll evaporate. Only, an inexplicable instinct tells me it’s real.
This time, he’s real.
Now that I’m looking closer, his eyes aren’t as hollow as the last time I saw him. There’s a glint different from the playful one and similar to… life?
“Miss me, beautiful?” He smirks, and my heart flutters.
He is real.
I don’t know if I want to cry in relief or scream in frustration. Instead, I school my expression into what I hope resembles dismay. “Like an insane person would miss the asylum.”
“You wound me, Zoe.” He places a hand on his chest in mock reaction.
“What are you doing here? Get out.”
Don’t. Don’t even think about leaving. My internal voice screams at him.
Apparently, Shadow can read the lies in my words since he gathers both my wrists and imprisons them above my head on the pillow.
Warmth seeps into my bones and tingles shoot down my spine. My nipples peak in attention underneath the nightgown’s silk.
I have no way to fight him off. Maybe I never wanted to, anyway.
For the past two months, I’ve been battling myself. Having him this close is like regaining a missing piece of my soul.