Page 40 of Fated Love with You
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“That you’ve been a problem for me from day one,” I say. “On the one hand, I would like to keep trying to solve you.”
“And on the other?”
I pull her against my chest instead of wasting my limited time with questions. I press my lips against hers, kissing her, but… she doesn’t kiss me back.
Her arms stay at her sides. Her mouth is still.
And then I know.
She’s not here.
None of this is.
The sea disappears in a blink. The hiss of a cigar replaces the crashing waves.
I open my eyes, and I’m not standing on the bridge. I’m on my balcony, and Chester is across from me, puffing on a cigar, watching me like I’ve lost my fucking mind.
“Guess how much was real and how much was fake,” he says, exhaling a ribbon of smoke.
“Sounds like a double entendre…”
“Twelve million real,” he says. “Six million fake.”
“Noted.” I nod, realizing Autumn will need to be picked up in reality from Resno’s soon.
“Want to hear a joke?” Chester asks.
“Not particularly.”
“I’ll go for it anyway. Knock knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Fucking up.”
I set down my paper. “Fucking up, who?”
“I’m going to fuck you up if you don’t stay focused.”
“That’s a terrible punchline.”
“They’ll be here in three weeks.” He slides a photo onto my desk, and my blood instantly runs cold.
“All of them?”
“Yes,” he says. “Apparently they want to dance on your grave before they kill you.”
I run my finger along the men’s necks, envisioning, like I have so many times before, slitting them, killing them—like they nearly killed me.
“Will you be ready?”
“Always.”
“Good.” He snatches it away. “I’ll do you a favor today then, but this family shit stops after.”
I arch a brow, confused.
