Page 24 of His Wicked Revenge

He wanted me to follow him.

There is no way we could speak freely in the kitchen full of people. I push the door open to see I’m entering a bathroom. Carter’s bathroom, I’m assuming, due to the colorful bathmat and shower curtain. Stepping fully into the room, Leo is leaning against the sink, sipping his beer.

When I’m fully in the bathroom, I turn my body away from him to shut the door softly, and the moment I spin to face him, he is storming at me. Leo lifts his hand, wrapping his fingers around my throat.

Pressure can be felt on the back of my head from how hard he pushes me into the door. His eyes dance between mine, but I can’t help the smirk that pulls at my lips.

“Why the hell are you smiling? You think this shit is funny?”

“No.” I attempt to shake my head in his hold. “But you wouldn’t believe me if I told you I’m smiling because we are in the same room.”

“You’re right.” His jaw ticks. “I don’t believe you.”

“Pity.” I pout as his fingers tighten, restricting more air that’s wanting to fill my lungs.

“What are you doing at my sister’s house?”

“She and I are friends.” I wet my lips and drop my eyes to his mouth. “Are you… planning on kissing me? Because…” I gasp for a breath before I continue, “I missed how your lips taste.”

His eyes drop to my parted lips for a split second before he looks back at me. “You aren’t friends with my sister. You don’t do friends.”

“I didn’t… use to.” I grin again. He isn’t going to like what I’m going to say. “Chloe and I have been friends.”

Leo loosens his grip on my neck at the confession. His eyes widen, and his brows dip in confusion. “How long?”

I heave in a deep breath, filling my lungs momentarily before I grant him my attention. Placing my palm on his chest, I push him backwards, away from me.

“Around six months.” He stumbles back, shaking his head in disbelief.

“You’re lying.”

“Am I? Go downstairs and ask her yourself.”

He looks at me, his eyes filled with perplexity. “You’ve been back in Seattle, where you could be caught and taken back to the asylum or prison? Befriending my sister? Why?”

I intake a sharp, audible breath. “That’s another answer you won’t believe.”

“Try me.”

I tread slowly toward him, and when standing before him, I allow my palms to run along his chest. The gesture causes his body to flinch at my touch. Slowly, I lift my eyes to his face and tilt my head to the side.

“I came back to scope things out, and in doing so, I kept a careful eye on your family since I know how much they mean to you. By the way, you should be thanking me for that.” My finger begins to draw small circles against the fabric of his shirt. “After being here for a few months and realizing no one was out to get me, I decided to stay. That’s when I overheard them discussing your early release and decided to stick around.”

“Why?” he asks again, his tone growing irritated.

“I came back for you.”

With my palm against his chest, I can feel how erratically his heart is beating. It’s a beautiful rhythm—a song his body is creating due to my presence. I look at him through my lashes to find his face filled with a mix of emotions.

Confusion, anger, hurt.

“If that were even true,” he snatches my wrist, “what makes you think I want you here? Don’t you remember the last thing I said to you when you were dumb enough to visit me in prison?”

I roll my eyes. “Something about sweet, sweet revenge. But, Leo, you had three years to get over all of that.”

“Get over it?” He laughs in disbelief, strengthening his fingers around my skin. “You fucking stabbed me, Veronica! Left me in the middle of the woods, not knowing if I would survive!”

“I made sure not to hit any internal organs.”