Page 3 of Killer
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“Why are you here?”Kelsey asked,storming back into her apartment.She’d tried to catch up withKiller, but he clearly didn’t want to talk to her.Running after abike hadn’t been her brightest idea at all.She wasn’t into runningand was already panting for breath.Michael shouldn’t be here atall.He never bothered her.That was their deal.
“I could have the limo chaseafter him if you wish,” Michael said, pointing toward his expensivemode of transportation.She charged past him heading toward herapartment, and now she was waiting for him to answer herquestion.
Michael closed the door,smoothing down his Italian designed business suit.She imaginedeverything he wore cost a good fortune.When they first met she’d hated himon sight.Her feelings hadn’t changed in the short meetings theyhad together.
“Why would I need a reasonto visit my wife?”
She cringed at the title.They’d beenmarried since she was eighteen and he was twenty-eight.The tenyear age gap hadn’t bothered her at the time.Nothing had botheredher about Michael.Kelsey hadn’t wanted anything from him otherthan the promise he would leave her alone.All he wanted from herwas her name on a marriage certificate.At the time, she couldn’tsay no as she’d needed what he offered far more than he needed her.Their ceremony had taken place in a small lawyer’s office with apriest to bless their wedded life.
“I’m not your wife, Michael.You’re not my husband, not really.”She walked into her kitchen andput the kettle on.The day at the dentist had been a long one.All of theirclients had something to say about The Skulls, the local rulingbiker club.She had done nothing but think about Killer, the oneman who got to her in ways no other man ever had.
“A lot of people would saydifferently.You’re given an allowance, Kelsey,so why are you living insqualor?”Michael changed the subject, irritating her.
Closing her eyes she counted to ten.Sheloved her apartment, and with no intention of being with anotherman she hadn’t thought about finding something bigger.When she’dagreed to marry Michael, he’d paid her a lump sum of money and gaveher a monthly allowance.The amount was bigger than anything sheever earned as a dental nurse.
The initial payment she had used to helpwith her parents’ medical bills.She’d not seen her family in along time, but she knew they were grateful for the money she gavethem to leave them living in peace.Kelsey had lied to Tate thefirst time they met.Her family life had never been perfect at all,far from it.
“I’m not living in squalor.”Shegritted her teeth as he checked out her books.
“I know you used the money I gaveyou to pay for your parents’ health bills.Since then you’ve beenputting the money back.Why?”He turned toward her, holding one ofher cookbooks.Michael had sent it to her when they first gotmarried.She’d refused to go on a honeymoon, and they’d never hadsex.In fact, they’d never even kissed either.He’d offered to giveher the honeymoon, the wedding package.She didn’t want anythingfrom him at all.There was no attraction between them.He didn’tneed her for sex as he was more than satisfied in that area.That’swhat he had told her all those years ago.
“I married you because you neededme, and Ineeded a way out from my parents’ debts, Michael.Stop trying tomake out we were more than that,” she said.
Ten years ago Michael had been about totake her parents’ home from them.She recalled begging him,offering to do anything.He refused to listen to her.One week intotheir packing about to leave, Michael appeared once again, offeringher a lifeline she didn’t think she’d ever take.If she agreed tobe his wife, he’d pay for the house and make sure the deeds were inher parents’ names, and he’d also provide her with enough money togive her a brilliant life.At the time she hadn’t known Killer atall, and no other man was in the picture.With her weight issuesshe never intended to settle down with any man.They all wantedslender women whereas she had always been big.She didn’t seeanything changing in her life.Kelsey had been pretty set in herways from a young age.
“I was more than willing to makeit more.Togive you what all girls want.”He shrugged, clearly not caring.“You were the one who wanted nothing to do with me.”He walked upto her where she stood in the kitchen.“When I found out you wereno longer living with your parents I was concerned.”
“And it has taken you over fiveyears to come and find out.What do you really want?You made sureI understood you had plenty of women to deal with yourneeds.” She wasn’t a fool.Michael was a bastard through andthrough.Kelsey didn’t trust him at all.If it wasn’t for himsuddenly wanting a wife, he’d have taken her family home away fromher.She didn’t know why the sudden need had arisen, only thatMichael needed her.Kelsey hadn’t asked as she was never interestedin finding out the truth.
“Why do I have to wantsomething?”he asked.
She feltpushed to her limit.Seeing the hurton Killer’s face would stay with her forever.Kelsey had fucked upbad, and she’d be lucky if he even talked to her again.Pushinghair off her face she glared at him.“Are you seriously asking methat?”
Michael raised a brow, staring at herwaiting.
Growing annoyed, she faced himcompletely, folding her arms under her breasts.“Fine, you want togo all quiet on me then I’ll spell it out to you.In the last eightyears of our marriage you haven’t called onme once.I left my family when I wastwenty to live my own life.Not once have you pretended to care.Why now?What the hell is going on?”
He took a step closer untilnothing separated them.She felt the heat radiating off hisclothing.Herthoughts whirled around wondering what the hell she’d stepped into.Michael reached out, pushing a strand of hair off herface.
Kelsey tensed, pulling away.Hecaught her, stopping her from moving.There was something dangerous abouthim.
“I’ve got business close by.Ithought I’d stop by and see you as I’ve heard a lot of rumorslately.Let’s just say I like being married, Kelsey, and I heardnews that may not be the case for much longer, your involvement inThe Skulls being one of the reasons why.”
“What?”She couldn’t even thinkstraight.Killer was out there.The one man who made her feel likea sexy woman and she’d hurt him deeply by keeping her married statea secret.There was no way Killer was ever going to forgive her.She tried to pull away from him, but he kept coming back making ithard for her to forget about him.Kelsey loved him.How was sheever going to mend the damage she caused?
“The Skulls arepopular, andso is your man, the one lurking about outside.I heard about whatwas going on down here.For so long you’ve lived the quiet life ofa dental nurse.Your excitement level is nil.Then I heard aboutKiller and your budding relationship.I hate to be ignored, Kelsey.We’ve got a deal, and I expect you to live up to it.”He cupped hercheek, and she pulled away from him and his touch.
“This is why you’ve come?To makesure I don’t find another man to fall for?”Kelsey left the kitchentrying to put as much space between themas possible.
Michael simply followed her, and shewished she’d bought a bigger house.She didn’t know the first clueabout the man she married, and she didn’t care about him either.Love or any kind of feeling hadn’t entered theirequation.
“I’ve kept an eye on you for along time, Kelsey.Regardless of what you think I do care aboutyou, in my own way, even if you were a means to an end.”
Shaking her head, she stared athim as he leaned against the wall.“You mean I let you screw whatever youwant without causing problems?”
“You were not in any position tocause problems.This is a matter of business, Kelsey.You’ll staymy wife and stick to our contract.I don’t give a fuck about theman in your life, but you won’t be together,” Michaelsaid.
