know? Not jaded yet, there’s no darkness in him, not like…” Her voice caught.
“Me? Is that what you were going to say?”
“Look at you, Romeo.” Her voice lowered. “Fifty-seven kills at the age of twenty-one? Is that the life you pictured for yourself? You could have been a model, an actor, a firefighter.”
“You do realize you named literally every occupation that has good-looking guys, right? Is that your type, Eden? You want a hero? What exactly is he saving you from? Because from what I know about the woman standing in front of me, she’s as ruthless as the man staring back at her. So please, enlighten me on what part of you is a damsel in distress.”
She rolled her eyes. “My point is, you’re in this world now, just like my dad, just like me…and there is no going back; I’ll have to marry for convenience, not love. Like I’m some fucking trophy in the name of mafia life. But Tristian, he’s still semi-normal compared to us. It’s refreshing; he wants no part of what you do on the daily. Taking lives and fucking women isn’t his M.O.”
“And who says it’s mine?”
“I do.”
“Since when are you the authority on who I am and what I do?”
She put her hands up in a surrendering gesture. “I’m not trying to offend you. I didn’t think you would care if people called you a killer.”
“I don’t.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I care if you do.”
She scoffed out a chuckle. “I find that hard to believe. You get off on the power, Romeo. It’s blatant and easy to see. You love that women fall at their feet for you.”
“I’d say more like they fall on their knees for me.” I grinned. “But yours works too.”
“Ugh! You see! This is exactly what I’m talking about. You don’t take anything seriously. It’s why your brother is different. His life is worth something.”
“As opposed to mine, that’s worth nothing in your eyes?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. I can read you like the back of my hand. I have since we were kids, and it’s what pisses you off the most about me. We have that connection, and you don’t share that with anyone but me. Not even my charming brother.”
“Your arrogance is annoying.”
“So you’ve said a thousand times. Doesn’t change the fact that I know you, Eden.”
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes again. “Does your life mean anything to you?”
“Of course it does.”
“Really? When?”
I opened my mouth to reply, however quickly shut it.
Did my life mean anything to me? Why couldn’t I answer her question?
“Looks like the cat got your tongue, huh? You kill women when they are…you know…” She motioned her hands awkwardly in front of her. “While they are…”
In a challenging tone, I ordered, “Fucking say it, I dare you. Would you like my tongue deep inside of you instead?”
“I hate you.”
“Correction, you love me.”
“I tolerate you.” She jabbed a finger at me, and that was when I saw it, the flicker of her eyes to my mouth like she was curious, like she wanted to know. It was my job to read people, and for the first time in a long time, she cracked.
It was brief.
Sudden.
Enough.
I leaned in and tilted her chin toward me. “Was orgasm the word you were going for or something dirtier…God, please say it was something dirtier…”
Her breath hitched. “Romeo…we shouldn’t.”
Again.
I got her.
There were times where she would let her guard down and stop pretending like I didn’t mean anything to her.
More than friendship.
More than bickering.
Much more than anything…
Anyone.
“We most definitely should.” I nodded. “Didn’t you know? Sex fixes everything.”
She burst out laughing. “You’re insane.”
“Then go a bit crazy with me; I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
“You gonna kill me during or after?”
“Oh, definitely after.” I nodded seriously. “Wouldn’t wanna kill the moment.”
She smiled, her cheeks slightly turned a shade of pink. “So tell me, Red… what’s it going to be?” I asked, watching as her eyes dilated at the sound of the nickname I’d called her since we were kids. Twirling her red hair in between my index finger, I tugged her closer to my mouth. Inches away from my lips.
There it was…
Our connection.
A throat cleared, forcing me to pull away from her as Tristian looked between us, his face hard and unreadable. “I’m not feeling well, guys, so I’m just gonna head out.”
“No!” Eden reached for his arm; his eyes softened. “Stay, please!”
His breathing changed the minute she touched him; it was like he transformed into an entirely different