Page 24 of Adam
“I won’t fight him. I’ll dismantle him.”
“That’s it,” he hisses, emanating pride for his killing machine. “That’s my beast.” He prowls closer, circling me. “No, no. You’re a hero, Manson. You’ll clean the society from one more sick bastard.”
Hero …
A word that, until last night, held a different meaning and a different gravity. A word made to offer security and relief to people who hear it. But I’m not a hero. I never wanted to become one.
So why the fuck do I feel this guilty for walking away?
Without thinking, my hand drifts to my pants pocket. I reach in and pull its contents out, opening my palm.
Her hair pin. So delicate and adorned with tiny white orchids that gave her that quiet, elegant style.
I only saw her once, but that one time was enough. I saw her smile, cry, bleed, beg, and be disappointed.
And fuck, all I want to do is to see her again. More than I want to kill off that bastard Anderson.
My fingers curl back, securing the pin in my palm.
“You know, Alaric, I don’t think I can do it.”
He halts and slowly turns to face me. “I beg your pardon?”
“Well, something came up. You need to assign it to someone else.”
“I didn’t ask if you were available. I gave you an order.”
My eyes land on Michael. He’s watching me with that familiar look of quiet disappointment. I know he wants this job, maybe more than I do—at least, that’s what he keeps saying—but he still won’t speak up to Alaric.
I hold his stare for a second too long. “Find someone else to play hero. I’m done.”
“You what?!” Michael barks with eyes wide.
Adrian smiles widely, not even trying to hide his glee.
“Hey, maybe Michael can kill Leo.” I smile brightly.
“Shut your mouth. You’re not finished until I say you are.” He paces calmly towards me. “You breathe in this world becauseIlet you.”Shit’s getting serious. I hit a nerve.“You don’t walk away until I say you do. I own you, Manson. Don’t forget that.”
No one talks—they barely breathe.
I click my tongue. “Are you done with the monologue, or is there a second act?”
The moment he reaches for his gun, so do I. His barrel finds my forehead just as mine presses against his chest, lined up perfectly with his heart, right where it’d ruin his day.
Kiss my ass, fucker.
His eyes are dark with fury he barely controls.
My smile widens as I return his cold, sinister stare. “Scared to go toe-to-toe with me?”
The gun rattles in his palm as he realizes that I’m not afraid and nothing comes from killing me. Maybe he even loves me.
Aww …
My expression doesn’t change. I stare dead in his dark eyes, waiting for him to back down.
And then, he does. Finally. He puts his gun down and turns his back.
