Page 22 of Vendetta

“Leave it.”

“What?”

I grin. I’ve planned this all out. Every last detail. “It stays where it is. I want them to be oblivious. I want Emerson to be oblivious. To think he’s outwitted me.”

He nods like he understands. Only he doesn’t. No one does. That’s why I’m so successful. I outmanoeuvre them. I outthink them. I think in ways none of them are capable of and that is why I will win this new war before it even gets started.

“And the girl?” He asks.

“What about her?”

“Is she involved?”

“In what?” I narrow my eyes.

“This plan of yours.” He states.

“She has nothing to do with this.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“What did you mean then?”

“It just seems convenient that you’ve suddenly taken an interest in her after how long of her working at the bar…?”

“Six months.” I cut across.

“Six months.” He repeats.

“That girl is mine.” I say. “She’s always been mine. It’s not a sudden interest, I have watched her for the last two years. Helped her. Taken care of her. Though she doesn’t have a clue.”

He frowns for a moment and then I see the penny drop. “The medical bills.” He says and I nod.

Eleri thinks she was receiving money from a grant. A fund set up by this city to help the poor who need lifesaving treatment but can’t afford it. But that’s not the case. I pay her bills. I pay for the security she doesn’t know surrounds her shitty apartment, who follow her around unseen to make sure no one else lays a hand on her.

I keep her safe. It’s what a man does. He takes care of his woman and she is mine.

“Who the fuck is she?” Preston asks leaning over the island at me.

“She’s mine. That’s all you need to know.” I reply. I can’t explain anymore because that’s the only way I can explain it, define it too. She’s mine. It’s that simple. I need her the same way I need blood in my veins, air in my lungs, food in belly. I need her with me, beside me, a part of me, because now that I’ve claimed her, tasted her, let her into my life, if I lose her now the world will hold nothing for me.

“And this man?” Preston says bringing me out of my thoughts because I’ve somehow been staring at her again through the glass. Admiring the way the wind blows against the robe she has on and the outline of her arse cheeks are there for me to see. For me to hunger for.

“Huh?”

“This man. Is he connected to Emerson?” Preston says.

I look down and it’s a copy of the photo Eleri gave me.

“Where did you get that?” I ask.

“Blaine. He’s got some men looking for him.”

I nod. “I know. I told him to.”

“Who is he?”

I glance at Eleri again. I can’t help it. My dick is still hard. Preston is doing his best not to look at it but I’m so close to telling him to fuck off so I can turn my attention back to the woman I’m aching to fuck.

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