Page 102 of Lilies from Hell

“And be thankful your bullet ended up in her arm and not somewhere worse, otherwise your damn city would be burning right now with your family inside.” I pause briefly, tilting my head to look at his now crooked nose. “Scratch that. Your fucking family will burn in hell too,” I murmur, the curve of my lips holding back a smile.

I know his sister is pregnant and that she’s somehow trying to stay out of this twisted world, but unfortunately for her, her and her child’s lives would soon be over. Too bad. This is what you get when someone in your family is involved in this shit. Sooner or later it would come back to bite you.

It doesn’t take him long to break free from my guards’ grip, but his relief is short-lived, because shortly afterwards they throw a bucket of gasoline over him, while I light a cigarette and bring it to my lips before setting him on fire with the lighter. I inhale the smell of burning flesh while listening to his screams and painful pleas. Before the fire can continue to burn his skin, I push him into the pool with a broomstick that I then throw besides him. The broomstick is now floating close to his half burnt, charred body.

I laugh along with the others when I see the look of relief on his face that disappears when he realizes he isn’t alone in the water. Three crocodiles approach, looking quite hungry. The room is soon filled with screams and flesh being torn and chewed by the large reptiles. No one plans to stay any longer, so we walk through the door. My boots don’t move fast enough to get to my room and get rid of the sweat and flesh-burning odor. Then I change my clothes and head to her house.

The walk to her house feels like it takes forever.

When I reach the door I turn the handle and frown as I turn it all the way. The door is already fucking open. I close the door, keeping that detail in my head for later, and lock it behind me. My heart is pounding so hard with anticipation that I almost feel it explode when I see a head of red hair in the distance, but when I narrow my eyes at it I only find her brother.

“Where’s Lena?” I ask behind him. He turns around with a smile I find disturbing because of how much it resembles hers. Despite all these years, I still resist the idea that there is a male version of her walking around the world.

“Upstairs,” he replies in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Can you call her?” I say in the same tone. He then shouts her name.

“Fuck. Okay. I’m going,” he mutters under the murderous glare I’m giving him before climbing the stairs to the second floor.

Shortly after I hear footsteps from the staircase. My heart skips a beat when I have her in front of me, accelerating my heart rate to the point that a slight pain in my chest starts to grow.

I don’t realize when she throws herself into my arms until she puts her hands inside my tee, wrapping her arms tightly around my torso. My skin shivers as I feel the warmth of her hands and I watch her lips move, saying something I can’t really hear. My mind is completely disconnected from my surroundings, and the only thing I can focus on are those green eyes looking at me in confusion. It isn’t the first time something like this happens to me, which is why I always avoid looking directly into the green void of her eyes.

“Alek.” My stomach lurches, bringing me back to reality. Everything sounds better coming from her lips. “Are you okay?

“Yes,” I murmur hoarsely, leaning my face toward hers. But just as our mouths are about to collide she pulls away, leaving me with a bitter feeling.

“Come on. We don’t have much time,” she whispers, pulling my arm somewhere.

I follow her to her bedroom. There, she locks the door and pushes me toward the bed, my back landing on the mattress. When she begins to undress, my gaze falls upon her half-naked body, leaving me completely spellbound, while she climbs on top of me with a captivating smile.

I put on my denim shorts and go to the door, knowing who it may be before even opening it.

“What?” I ask irritably when I see Jason’s mocking face.

“Ray is coming up the garage stairs.” I open my eyes wider than usual before closing the door on him, but he stops me by putting his foot in the way. “What about my tip?”

“What tip are you talking about?”

“I’m acting as your Cupid’s bodyguard. Don’t you think I deserve…” Before he can finish, I slam the door in his face, ignoring his complaints behind the door.

“We have to go downstairs quickly. My parents are already here,” I say, making the bed.

We both go downstairs quietly until we reach the main room.

“If my father finds us in this position, he’ll kill us,” I say.

“Then he would die happy,” he whispers in my ear, smiling slightly. A forced clearing of the throat makes us turn toward my father. I pull away from him when I see my his angry face.

“As long as Lena lives in this house, I don’t want any touching or kissing between you two. And I don’t care if it’s here or in Manhattan. I don’t want any excuses.”

“I’m sorry. He doesn’t take it well,” I murmur with a grimace and flushed cheeks once he’s gone.

“I understand. You’re his little girl,” he says, the corners of his lips lifting in a playful smile as he brings his fingers to my cheek.

“I’m not his little girl, I’m his daughter, and I’m already quite grown up,” I reply with a pout on my lips. He lets out a hoarse chuckle.

“Oh, hello. I didn’t know you were coming, Lena didn’t tell me anything.” My mother enters the room wearing one of her elegant dresses. He gets up from the sofa, not quite sure what to do. “Don’t be shy! Give me a hug,” she says with open arms. He just walks away with an uncomfortable grimace that he tries to hide behind a forced smile.