Page 116 of Of Flesh & Bone

"Okay, we'll keep that one in the maybe pile."

I finish cleaning her face and put the washcloth in the hamper.That's when I notice it's gone.It's usually the first thing that I look at, but I was too preoccupied with Eve when I first walked in to notice.My canvas is gone.No one comes in here.Who would've taken it?It was here when I left for the banquet.Some of the guys were still home, but Eve was at her apartment and then came straight to the banquet.I know because I have known where Eve is every second of every day since the day she left me.I have a location app on her phone, and I check it frequently.She hasn’t been here today.My anguish and relief are quickly replaced with rage.My fists clench at my sides, and my jaw clamps down so hard that I can feel my teeth straining so as not to crumble under the pressure.

"What's wrong?"There's worry in her voice and I feel despicable for putting it there after the night she's had.I don't want to worry her any further, so I decide not to tell her about the missing canvas.Instead, I decide to apologize about what happened with Nadia.

"Nothing, love.I was just thinking about earlier.I'm so sorry."I never apologize but I know this one is all my fault and I feel genuinely sorry for the pain I caused her tonight.She looks at me without responding for a long moment.She seems to remember something, and I see fire blaze in her eyes.She quickly sits up in the bed.She's furious.She's glaring at me.She's furious...with me.

She explodes out of the bed and pushes me hard.She's so damn fast and much stronger than she looks.I'm caught off guard and she topples me off the bed into the floor.

"Shit!"She flipped me completely off the bed and by the time I've scrambled to my feet she's gone."Fuck!Eve!Get back here now!"

I race out of the room and down the stairs.I look in the downstairs bathrooms and in the kitchen.She isn't anywhere in the house.My heart's pounding in my chest and my breaths are harder and harder to take.As I swing the front door open, ready to run after her AGAIN, I see her standing there.

"Eve wha-" my words are halted by the gun she's pointing at me.I can't believe what I'm seeing.She didn't leave.She came back...to shoot me.Eve fires the gun that she has pointed straight into my chest, and I feel the pain radiate across my torso.

POP!

POP!

CHAPTER 38

Eve

POP!

POP!

You shouldn't have lied, asshole.I told you, I'm no one's doormat.

Shooting him feels good.I need to do it again.

Adam staggers back from the first of the impacts.He's surprised.He looks down at his chest and the red liquid that's there.He brings his hand to his chest, smearing red everywhere.I fire again and again.

POP!

POP!

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