Page 135 of Heartless Game

I sat in what had been my father’s office and was now mine. There was no memory of him here, no ghost. I’d exorcised his hold on me when I’d killed him.

Eliana and her father entered my office, standing at the threshold and staring at me.

“It’s good to see you here, Isaac,” Donny said. “Even better when my daughter joins you as your wife.”

I saw Eliana flinch.

“Ah yes, about that.” I cleared my throat. “I won’t be marrying your daughter.”

Brown eyes stared at me. “Did you just say we’re getting married, Isaac Silver?”

I smiled at her with a gap in my teeth. “That’s right, bashert. One day, you’ll tell me your name, and then we’ll be together forever. I promise.”

In the present, Donny stiffened, his chest puffing out. “I had an agreement with Abe…”

I gestured around me. “In case you forgot, Abe Silver is dead. I make the decisions now, Donny. You either get in line, or I’ll make sure your family starves.”

“Is this about that little slut?” he sneered. “Because?—”

Reaching under my desk, I pulled out the gun I’d become familiar with and shot him between the eyes. He slumped forward in his chair.

I expected Eliana to scream or faint, so I was surprised when she smiled.

“Thanks,” she said.

I blinked.

“We’ll have to unite our families in a different way,” she continued. “I’m not opposed to marriage, but since you’re not an option, can I suggest one of your brothers?”

I laughed in shock. “We’ll discuss it,” I told her.

Rising, she cast her eyes at the dead man beside her. “I look forward to doing business with you,” she said. “And I hope I’m invited to the wedding.”

I grinned at her, dimples on display. It was the first time I’d smiled in weeks. “I’ll make sure you get an invitation.”

* * *

If you thought about it,really thought about it, the human body was an amazing thing. It kept breathing, kept moving, kept walking and talking and even pissing and shitting, even if you were completely dead inside.

I was completely dead inside. It had been a month since I’d walked out of Tovah’s hospital room and out of her life.

Well,technicallyout of her life. I hadn’t talked to her so much as once, but that didn’t mean I’d left her alone. If anything, I spent more time with her than I had when we were together. I watched the tracker all the time to see where she was. I wired the house with cameras and mics (except for the second bedroom her mother was staying in), so I could watch her 24/7. I wired the newspaper offices too, which was…illuminating. I had guards on her whenever she left the house, to make sure no one got close to her or could hurt her.

And in the time I wasn’t busy lining up the dominoes or going to class—I was still a college student in the midst of all of this mafia shit—I stalked her myself, hiding in the trees with binoculars and watching her through the windows, which the damn woman never closed. Did she not care she was giving any creep in the woods a peep show?

Of course, the only creep in the woods was me.

But right now, I wasn’t in the woods. No, I was in Toby’s fucking dorm room, wearing gloves, waiting for him to get home from the newspaper office. He and I had an appointment with a window, a window I’d opened to let the night air in. I might not be able to be with Tovah, but I’d fucking make sure no one tried to ruin her career or her future.

A key turned in the lock and the door opened. Toby stood there in skinny jeans and a tweed jacket. He didn’t notice me at first, his head buried in his phone.

I cleared my throat.

He jumped.

And then he saw me and jumped again.

“Isaac, what are you doing in my room?”

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