Decision made, I spring into action.
The second I jump on the bed, I realize my mistake.
I meet nothing but softness instead of Angel’s muscled frame.
He knew I was here all along.
My body sings with all the possibilities.
Chapter 35
Angel
I know she isn’t this careless. She had to have known that I’d be watching from the shadows of the room, but as I watch her stare at the lumps in the bed, I have to question her skill level. If she’s this blasé about her life, I’m honestly surprised she’s been through as much as she has and survived.
The sound of her pulling her knife raises goosebumps on my arms, the absolute thrill of surprising her making it hard not to move too soon.
The scent of her fear swarms around me, making my cock thicken.
She took her fucking time getting here, but I’ll get vengeance for that soon enough.
The wait, the planning, is all part of the exhilaration.
She doesn’t make a sound as she jumps on the bed, knife held high.
In the darkness, I can’t tell if she’s really willing to kill me over a necklace and the fucked-up ramblings of her dead sister.
I read every word—the hatred she had for her father mixed with the fucked-up love of a young girl being groomed from an early age to think what was happening was right, despite the sickness with it all that threatened to take over many times before she finally got the courage to end it.
I know Lauren has read it too. The pages were flimsy with wear. I know she’s terrorized by what her sister went through, and I almost let myself feel sorry for the things I said to her before and after finding out what her father had been doing to Liana.
Almost.
I don’t want to lose sight of my own plans for Lauren. Hurting her has always been a part of my vision. Those fantasies have kept me awake at night as much as the promise of her return.
I spotted her on my security cameras over an hour ago, and I have to give her kudos for her patience, but she has to know my skills are much better than hers. The FBI can’t train you to know the things inherent to me and my demons.
She gave a good try, however.
Her gasp of realization is music to my fucking ears as I rush her. Like a cobra strike, I’m fast and efficient, covering her back with my body in an instant.
I allow the struggle. Overpowering her immediately isn’t as much fun as making her think she has a chance.
The sweet burn of her knife as it cuts into my arm makes me smile, as does the snarl on her lips when I flip her to her back.
“Hey there,” I whisper, pinning her arms over her head.
She struggles, moving her body in an attempt to dislodge me, but I have over a hundred pounds of muscle on her thin frame.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” she snaps, but her body starts to settle.
I know better than to think she’s already admitting defeat. This is as much of a head game for us as it is a physical one.
“Crazy. I had the same plans for you.”
Her eyes widen with surprise before they narrow to slits.
I hate that I didn’t turn on the fucking lights, that I’m forced to proceed with only the moonlight coming in through the window.