HIS 6TH BRIDE FATAL OBSESSION

Killian Thorne's black Merced

lat

hirt all morning, pacing the length of ou

n the kitchen, hands wrapped around a

omething, say something, but what was the po

run, kissed her forehead, and promised I'd help her with her math hom

ow and watched him

ook like a monster. Tha

luxury magazine. His suit probably cost more than our house. He moved with the kind of

people like us. They existed above it, looki

ecided I was

ked. He was trying to sound auth

yet. Let him swea

orbell

g, but I was faster. I stepped in front of him, met h

" I said

it. Good. He should be afraid of me. If I was going

ed the

Like he owned everything. His eyes found mine immediately, and

sfac

s, my father's drinking buddies, boys at school who

collector looks at a rare pie

was alr

tilted my chin up just enough to sho

hat might have been a smile if i

probably known everything about me bef

r practically tripped over himself, gesturing to our sad excuse

mpletely. His attentio

n said without loo

I... I thought we

d like he'd been shoved, disappearing into the kitchen where

ere

liberate, studying me like I was

though every instinct

utiful than I remembe

er's debt three weeks ago. I'd been coming down t

maybe five seconds.

my father's debt

r payment," I sai

me fo

?" I asked, letting i

his eyes. Amusement,

and his gaze dropped briefly to the

out me interested him. I f

keep. You're here to collect. Let's

ved closer still, and I could smell his cologne now. Exp

w does i

jacket and pulled ou

was unwrapping a gift. "You sign this.

g in the air betwe

h wife," I

he didn't like that number be

are irreleva

they

N

irrelevant. They

his face. Then that dangerous smile returned,

his pupils dilate slightly. "I know what I am to you, Mr. Thorne. I'm the payment for my

me with an intensity that would have mad

the most exquisite thing I've ever seen, and I don't share. I don't

. Or I'll take you

rld st

racked. Just for a second, but

dn't," I

ifteen. Sweet girl

word came out

, hated him, hated my father for putting

n softened into som

nderstand

ila was my weak spot, my only weakness,

dn't bother reading it. What did it matter

I said

cket, handed it to me with

p, angry strokes. Cassia

rl," he

the rage burning in my eyes. "

sed. Thrilled, even. Like I'd just con

aid. "Pack light. Everythin

ay goodbye t

N

use

the contract back into his jacket, then reached out and caugh

She can't know where you're going, C

reat wrapp

away from

e a mo

y. "But I'm your monst