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I’m a breath away from taking her on this counter. From pulling apart those tight leggings and plunging deep inside her.
She swallows and licks her lower lip. “Tell me the real reasons.” Her voice is filled with expectation. Delirium. She’s dying for a taste of me.
I’m dying to give it to her.
It would be incredibly easy to lose a wealth of frustration in her body. The mindlessness would be cathartic. But incredibly fucking stupid.
“Why do you need me to convince you?” I grate. “Why even bother trying? We both know everyone lies. You, more than anyone, know those closest to us can lie the easiest.”
Shock splits across her face, the sudden change in expression a
“You will never know me, Nissa.” I sink into those green eyes. I drown in them. “You will never understand me. All you can do is come to terms with what I’ve told you, and make peace with what’s to come. It’s either this way or nothing.”
Her focus is intense. Confounding. Her breaths shudder between perfect lips.
Her attention sweeps over me. Through me. She pokes at secrets I wasn’t aware I had.
“And nothing isn’t an option?” she asks.
I scowl at her. “You still think his freedom would be better?”
“I’m not asking for me. I want to make sure you know what you’re doing. You can’t come back from something like this.”
I scoff out a snicker, denying her concern. “I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry your pretty little head about me.”
She wraps her arms around her stomach.
I want to unravel those arms and place her hands on her hips. To return her to a strong, commanding warrior woman because this fragile demeanor has a mirror effect. Her gentleness makes me powerless.
Defenseless.
She swallows, clears her throat, and raises her chin a smidge. “My concern is based on the aftermath. You’ll change after this. Nobody can kill their own parent and not lose themself. I’m concerned this will inspire more violence. And in return, more crime.”
I bite out a bitter laugh. I should’ve known. She has no concern for me. This was only part of her attempt to achieve the perfect crime-free Utopia. “You think you know me well enough to predict how I’ll react?”
How can she when I have no clue myself?
I could be consumed with relief once my father is gone. Happy as fuck.
“No, I guess I don’t know you well,” she admits. “I doubt I know you at all. But I’d like to believe you’re not capable of this.”
The gentle disapproval strikes hard, punishing me with its subtlety. Her thorns are sinking farther, burying deeper.
“Then you’re going to be bitterly disappointed, Nissa, because this is already a foregone conclusion. I’ll pull the trigger without hesitation, and I won’t look back.”