Page 96 of Perilous

“Makes sense why Luc wanted her dead,” I say. “He knows everything too. He wanted the leverage over Holom. He wanted to be the one to drag his dead daughter into a room and show him that she was gone. And not just her, but his collateral.”

“This shit makes my stomach sick,” Demo says.

“This shit makes me want to start killing people,” Vic says and he cracks his knuckles.

“I’m up against this,” I say.

“We’re yourbrood,” Tyrant says. “I owe you, brother. Especially after what happened with us. You took the fall when—”

“I’m going to handle this personally,” I say. “And when the time comes to face theLegion, you can stand by my side if you choose. Annika is mine now. She will be mine forever. That’s how the rules go. If I get sick of her, I’ll kill her with my own hands and move on in life.”

The bedroom door opens behind us and I look to see Annika wearing nothing but a towel.

As soon as she realizes who is here her cheeks turn bright red. She angles herself, trying to hide her perfectly curved hips and amazing tits. Even hidden behind a towel her figure shows itself off.

I instantly want to gouge out everyone’s eyes.

She’s mine.

You don’t fucking look at her. Ever.

I blink a few times, coming back to reality.

“Give me a second, doll,” I tell her. “Then I’ll be in.”

The door shuts.

Demo is the first to stand, grinning, shaking his head.

“What?” I ask.

“You’ll never kill her,” he says. “You claimed her because you feel something for her. Deny that shit all you want. You took a beating for her. You’d die for her.”

I step toward Demo and Vic gets right up in my face. His rattlesnake look does nothing to help calm me.

“Take care of her,” he whispers to me. “You just destroyed her life and she needs you.”

“You know Luc isn’t going to back down,” Tyrant says. “If he knows something, which he does, he’s going to have to make a move. Which he tried. You outsmarted him once.”

“I’m not running to theLegionfor permission to defend the woman I claimed,” I growl. “I’ll take care of her how I want to do so. End of fucking discussion.”

I motion for the apartment door and they take the hint and leave.

I lock the door behind them and grit my teeth. The truth of this whole thing is that it would have been easier and smarter to have just killed Annika. Slit her throat, let her bleed out, and delivered the body to Luc. So Luc could have delivered the body to Holom. TheLegiondealing with their own bullshit.

But nope, here I am…

Fuck.

Maybe it’s more than just caring about her that I feel. It can’t be love though. I can’t love someone. It’s not part of me anymore.

So what the fuck do I exactly feel for this woman then?

* * *

Annika sitson the edge of the bed, her hair wet, touching her shoulders. She stares at the floor, her heart broken, eyes weary, her mind torn and tired.

I have plenty of ways to help her sleep, but right now isn’t the time to sleep. This is a time to plan. A time to attack.

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