an's

about watching someone who does

ious to the way eyes followed her, lingering a second too long, drawn in by something they couldn't quite name. But I knew. I had always known. She had that

walk away from me. Let her think she had choice

ble routines, blending into the background. No, women like her were meant to be claimed, meant to be watched, meant to be

touchable as she pretended to be. There was something fragile there, something waiting to be shattered: and I wanted to be the one to break her. Not t

a while, amused by her resistance, intrigued by the fire in her eyes whenever I got too close. But fire could be

was st

free, but freedom was an illusion. A pretty lie she told herself w

was bea

windows were tinted dark enough that no one could see inside, but my view of the house was cle

c how easily she'd fa

realize the da

she

ally. I had been patient, letting her play house in Leo's world, watching her get tangled in h

thrill in it

e and rebellion, and every time she

d slightly when she was nervous, or the way her puls

eeper th

she remin

e

chest, carving through flesh, cu

efore the blood, before the war, before Leo fucking Weston ent

touched by the da

Ly

had

could be bent, broke

gh my hair, smirki

want to take

to ruin h

t by the time he realized what wa

already be

city, thought he owned her. But I knew him. I knew how he operated, how his mind wo

Ly

e the weapon I use

from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen, a mes

e house. Alone.

ed grin spread

e she was finally feeling it: that pull, that unease that told

ll han

seat and exhaled slowly, feeling the

patient l

letting Leo think he was in control, letting him

ent was

me to mak

spent years trying to drown. A monster tha

he chance to

Ly

s my re

ke back what wa

he realized what I'd done.

e able to do

lready too deep in

e best

idn't take her be

because I

veins as I pulled away from the curb. The streetlights blurred pa

ys been a

ce was wea

was

didn't kn

, my fingers tapping against the steerin

r place once:

ore

verythin

me like a pun

r eyes would light up with something close

d to tr

e woul

a secure line. The call rang

?" I asked, my voic

," my man confirmed. "S

mil

rf

aightening my jacket as I walked toward the edge

t

uld know I

k. A shadow in the c

the moment she started wondering if she

the estate's boundary, my e

ere sh

y

on

Even from this distance, I could see it: the way her arms wrapped around herself, the w

felt

didn't kn

unning a hand through her hair bef

ow breath, my

n,

tle longer. Let her fee

alize she

he moment

e what