Page 23 of His Wicked Revenge

Camille holds her hand out for me to take, but I don’t move. Not right away. My eyes drop to her outstretched hand, and then I look up at my sister, who looks confused about why I am suddenly frozen.

Slowly, I lift my hand and enclose it around the woman’s. “Hi.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you! Chloe has told me all about you. All good things, of course.”

I shake her hand once more before dropping it. I tighten my grip on my beer bottle, hoping the glass doesn’t shatter in my hands. She and I hold eye contact. I attempt to die down the hatred in my eyes for Chloe’s sake.

Camille has a twinkle in her green eyes—a playful, wicked gleam.

Hearing her say those words is strange to me. Nice to finally meet you.

We’ve met before. We have done way more than meet. I’ve kissed her lips. I’ve held her. I’ve been inside of her. I’ve shared secrets with her.

My heart twists, and my stomach turns as I make eye contact with the woman standing before me.

This woman isn’t Camille.

It’s Veronica.

CHAPTER 12

Veronica

Staring at Leo’s picture was one thing, but standing before him… looking into his eyes? My stomach turns to liquid. I don’t miss how his eyes burn with hatred for me, and he puts on a good show for his sister.

He dropped my hand too soon. It was nice feeling his warmth again, but now my hand feels like ice without his touch.

Now, we stand here awkwardly because Leo has nothing else to say to me. Since the silence becomes too much, Chloe chimes in to ease the tension.

“I’ve only told Camille good things about you. I did, however, tell her about you going to prison,” she says, which catches Leo’s attention. His eyes cut to her, and he doesn’t let up on the heat he held for me in those pretty greens. Chloe sees that fire and quickly says, “She would have found out anyway if she went online and read the articles!”

“She’s right,” I say, causing his attention to return to me. I need to feel his eyes on me again, even if it is full of disdain. “I never saw the articles; I don’t go online much. Your sister never told me why you went away, and honestly, I don’t care.”

The lies I spew filter right through him. He slowly nods in fake acceptance and brings the beer bottle to his mouth.

Watching him press the glass to his lips makes me wish mine were against his. I was never one for kissing, but I enjoyed it when it came to Leo.

“Can I get you another drink?” he asks with a hint of politeness in his tone. It was enough for Chloe to buy it and take the hint to leave us alone.

I nod when Chloe says, “Okay! I am going to mingle and let you two get to know each other!” Then she turns to me. “We are still having lunch on Saturday, right?”

“Uh, yeah! I have been dreaming about that burger since we planned this last week.”

“Good! Alright, have fun, you two!” Chloe winks at me before wandering off.

I drift my eyes back to the man in front of me, bringing my beer bottle to my lips. I hide my smile behind the rim as I take the last sip. Lifting the bottle before me, I wiggle it in my hands.

“How about that drink?”

I watch his chest rise and fall briskly as he attempts to control his angered breathing. Without a word, he twists away from me and beelines to the refrigerator, tossing his empty glass into the trash.

Leo opens the right side of the fridge, sticking a hand in and pulling out a fresh beer—only one. He uses the opener on the island to pop off the cap, which drops onto the counter, and then leaves the room. I take a sharp breath, glancing around the room at the others. Chloe is engaged in a conversation with Kara, a childhood friend.

Without her eyes on me, I slip out of the room and follow Leo. He isn’t in the living room, office, or playroom. A door shuts upstairs, causing my head to whip toward the sound. Making sure no one is in the hall with me, I head up the stairs, knowing the coast is clear.

My footsteps are quiet, given that the stairs and hallway upstairs are lined with carpet. Every door is open except for one, making it easy to know where he is.

Stepping up to the closed door, I grip the handle and twist it. It’s unlocked, which doesn’t surprise me.