Page 2 of Veiled Vengeance

My face flushes a shade of red at the thought of her throwing out the symbol of my love for her.

Looks like my Flower didn’t learn her lesson.

“I’ll be with you in a minute!” a voice calls from an open door that I assume leads to a storeroom.

Chad bounces nervously on the balls of his feet. I glance at him and find a drop of sweat trickling down his temple.

“How can I help you?” A woman steps up to the glass display case that serves as a checkout counter. There’s dirt under hernails and smudges on her shirt. Her hair is long, wavy, and a shade of light brown. Her eyes are dark, like chocolate.

I tilt my head to the side. “Are you the owner?”

She holds her hand out for me to shake. “Yes. My name is Natalie Cabrera.”

Taking her hand in mine, I question, “Do you have an employee named Spencer?”

Natalie drops my hand. “I don’t have any employees. I just opened and haven’t had the time to hire anyone.”

Spasms of irritation flicker across my face. My words drip with fury. “You said it was her.”

Chad’s hands shake, and his eyes round with fear. “I—I thought . . .”

“Clearly, you thought wrong!” My voice gets louder with each word.

Natalie jumps back from the counter. “You both need to leave now, please.”

“I’m—I’m sorry, sir. I really thought it was her.”

Grabbing his cheeks and squeezing them together, I turn his face to Natalie. “You think she looks like my Flower? Her?!”

He tries to speak, but I won’t let him, so he shakes his head back and forth vigorously.

Damn right, this woman isn’t my Flower. But he should have realized that before he called me.

Bringing my mouth to his ear, I whisper, “You should have looked closer.” Before he can react, I slam his head on the display case, shattering the glass. Chad groans, but his eyes don’t open.

Natalie screams and attempts to flee. She darts around the display case, heading for the door. I tangle my hand in her long, wavy hair and pull. “Where do you think you’re going?”

She cries out in pain. “No! Let me go! Please!” She claws at my hand, trying to get free.

I release her hair and spin her around. The slap I land on her cheek knocks her to the floor. “You’re not her!”

Tears pour down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. Please just let me go. I won’t tell anyone. Just let me go. I promise I won’t say anything.”

“I promise. I won’t say anything.”

Honey eyes are suddenly staring back at me.

“Stop lying! You said that, but then you left! You left me! You didn’t even leave a note!” Spittle flies out of my mouth.

“Wha—What? But I?—”

I grab the collar of her shirt and pull her to her feet. “Why! I’ve given you everything! We have one little fight, so you leave?”

Spencer pulls at my hands, trying to peel back my fingers from her shirt. “Please stop. I—I don’t know you. I don’t know who you are. I’m not who you think I am.”

How dare she . . .

My breathing grows ragged. “You don’t know me? I’m your fucking fiancé!” I shove her to the ground and grab the first item within reach.

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