Page 30 of Vicious Little Darling

Ishould’ve killed her before the thought of killing her started to bother me—but how was I supposed to know that was going to even happen? I’veneverregretted snuffing the life right out of anyone. But I’ve also never been able to come by sticking my cock in someone either.

It usually takes death to get me off.

I take a long sip of my coffee, staring at the signHidden Books.I shouldn’t have gone in there in this state, but I couldn’t see her through the window—and I needed to make sure she’d made it to work okay.Why do I even care?I shudder as I walk away fromthe bookstore, heading in the direction of the restaurant where my uncle demanded I meet him.

The walk will take me only fifteen minutes, and all I can think about is Ember as my shoes pound the pavement. I don’t know why she’s under my skin like this. Sure, I’m obsessive, but it’s about ruining the stupid whores for existing…

Not because I’m intrigued by their very existence.

Maybe I should put a little space between us.I laugh out loud at the high-school-puppy-love thought. But seriously, I might actually need some fucking space from her. I can’t even imagine wrapping my hand around her throat right now, and that’s troublesome to my unempathetic brain.

I get to the Italian cuisine place and peel my hoodie off from over my head. I had to shave this morning, just for this fucking meeting.

“Name please?” the hostess asks without even looking up.

“Marks,” I grunt, smoothing out my dress shirt. Ihatemeeting up with my fucking uncle.

She looks up at the name, taking me in. There’s judgment saturating her expression, but I ignore it, unfazed by the way she waves at me to follow her without saying a word. Her black heels click on the tile floor as she leads me to a private dining room.

“In here,” she mutters, swinging the door open.

I don’t thank her as I step inside. I catch sight of my uncle, getting up from the table in his Armani suit, his dark hair slicked back. Roman Marks looks like a drug king pin. Not a soul would ever guess that he owns a chain of domestic car dealerships—well, and a drug smuggling business as well. Someonemightcall that one.

“Jaxton,” he greets me, raising a brow. “I see we’re still struggling to dress appropriately for business meetings.”

“This isn’t a business meeting,” I snap, not shaking his hand before I take a seat at the table. “I’m not interested in gettinginvolved in the family business. I thought I’d made that clear. I’m not going to feed people’s addictions.”

He’s unamused. “But you’re perfectly fine feeding your own, yes? Because let’s not forget who’s been covering your ass for the past six years. It’s getting old, Jax. You need to find something else to do.”

“Like lines of cocaine? The same shit that fucked my mom up for years.” I fold my arms across my chest. Call me a fucking hypocrite, but I’ll happily murder a bitch over helping some tweaker get their next fix.

“I don’t know why you’re so stubborn,” he grimaces. “Your father would be disappointed.”

“Andwhyshould I care what he thinks? He’s six feet under and probably burning in hell right now.” I pick up a glass of water and take a sip.

“You’re where you are financially because of his inheritance.”

“Cool,” I say. “Maybe he shouldn’t have gifted me all that. It’s not my problem that he didn’t sign it over to you.”

My uncle rubs his eyes and sighs. “I don’twantyour father’s money. I have my own. I’m glad you have it—just like I was glad to take in you and your mother when she couldn’t keep herself sober.”

I sigh, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. I hate these kinds of conversations. “She only got hooked because of my father.”

“She was a junkie long before he came along. He spent years trying to get her ass clean, and you know as well as I do what kind of woman your mother is.”

“She’s the same as the rest of them,” I grunt, my gaze dropping to the table. “They’re all worthless.”

“Mm, till you meet the right one,” he chuckles. “And you’re gonna have a hard time explaining yourhobbyto her.”

I cringe inwardly at that for some reason. “I won’t ever have to explain it.”

“I know you’re interested in a girl who works at a bookstore…” A wicked grin pulls at his mouth. “Or is that just anotherhobby?”

My heart thuds an extra beat. “She’s just another hobby.”

“What a fucking shame. She’s pretty.”

“How do you even know about her?” I ask.

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