Page 2 of Lethal Attraction

Never in my whole twenty-three years of existence did I think I would be an aunt.

And I especially never considered how overjoyed I would be about it…

I would never tell Atlas, but I’m beyond excited for Sophia’s arrival. I still haven’t finished her gift, and I’m running out of time. This bundle of joy is going to have a whole compound of assassins wrapped around her chubby little fingers, and I’m at the front of the line.

“Well, looks like I have to make this quick.” I shrug as I level the barrel and take a bated breath. My eyes lock onto Arthur as he walks toward the event center. He buttons his suit jacket, waving to a few others who are entering the banquet hall in downtown Miami, where there’s a charity gala in full swing. Security is around every corner, and with the steadily setting sun over the skyline, I’m perfectly obscured from view.

The building I’m on top of isn’t high, but it was the only option I had in my rush. I would normally scope out something much higher, but I wanted a front-row seat.

I release my breath, steadying my hands as my finger presses the trigger. Time seems to slow as the bullet travels at a speed too fast for my eyes to register. The only sign I get that I hit my target is when Arthur’s head shoots sharply to the right, and blood splatters all over a passing woman’s evening gown.

There’s only a beat before his body drops like a rag-doll and shrill screams ring through the streets. People scramble as security drops down beside the man whose brain is splattered across the sidewalk. There’s yelling for someone to call EMS, and a string of bystanders crowding around to see what happened.

It’s absolute chaos, and I sit back as I admire my work. It’s sloppy and messy, but seeing the dark essence of such a vile human being soak into the concrete is like a gift. It soothes the sick part of me that revels in delivering other’s fates. Call me poetic, but bringing death to someone’s doorstep is a surreal experience.

My preening is short-lived when awareness zips down my spine, and that sixth sense I’ve developed over the years blares an alarm. My smile fades as I sigh and stand.

“I know you’re there,” I sing as I pack up my supplies.

From the shadows near the roof’s door, Brooks Heartfall, the bane of my existence and my ex-boyfriend, emerges with a rugged, crooked smirk. He’s always been devastatingly handsome with dark curls and the charming southern features women go crazy over.

Now, his smile looks more fox-like and conniving than suave. He’s nothing more than a snake in the grass, and this isn’t the first time he’s cornered me.

“You’ve always been one hell of a shot, darlin’.” His thick southern drawl used to be attractive to me. Now he just sounds like he’s trying to talk past the massive cock shoved in his mouth.

I put my hands on my hips, shaking my head as a slow, devious smile tugs at my lips. “And I thought you learned your lesson the last time you cornered me.”

His mask cracks a fraction before he recovers quickly and takes a few steps towards me with open arms. “I thought we could both wave the white flag and work together.”

I snort. “You got this idea after I dangled you by your wranglers from a skyscraper and a team of firefighters had to save your sorry ass? Learn to read context clues, my dude.”

His face falls as his eyes narrow. That serene mask slips away, revealing the beast that lurks beneath the surface. “That minor mishap won’t happen again.”

I rock back on my heels as I rub a finger across my chin. “You never told me how your blood transfusions are going. Do you still have to get them regularly?”

His scruff-lined jaw grinds.

Fuck, it’s so easy to rage-bait him.

He rolls his shoulders back, his lips twitching. “Once a month, Killer.”

That old nickname makes my insides twist in displeasure, but I don’t show it as I keep my smirk. “You never could handle me.”

He huffs a humorless laugh. “Blood play wasn’t my thing.”

“I can tell,” I wave a hand. “I remember when your face used to go ghost white and then your eyes would roll back into your head.” I mimic it before guffawing and slapping my thigh.

He gives me a tight smile that teeters on sinister. “I remember waking up to the bedsheets covered in my blood and you sleeping beside me as if you didn’t just try to drain the life from me.”

I wipe a stray tear. “Good times. But I know you didn’t just come here to reminisce.” I check the time on my phone before hissing. “Better make this quick before I knock you out and rob you. Again.”

He shakes his head, plastering on that charming grin. “I’m here to propose we work together on a…project.”

I lift a brow. “What kind of project?”

I can see the moment he slips into the dealmaker persona of his that could scheme him into anything. If I didn’t know who he really was, I would fall for it in an instant. It’s a little unsettling how convincing he can be when he gets like this.

“The South Branch is under new leadership, as I’m sure you’ve gathered.” He says with a tilt of his chin.