Page 25 of His Wicked Revenge

“You almost did.” He sneers down at me. “They said I was lucky.”

My lips part with a light gasp. I didn’t know that, but how could I have? I must have been in a panic that night, hearing the alarms and shouts all around us, that I didn’t stick the knife where I wanted to.

“Maybe it is a good thing you are here.” He squeezes my wrist tighter, bringing me pain and tugging me closer to him. Our bodies press together, our mouths an inch away.

I can smell the alcohol on his breath, and for a split second, I think he will kiss me. I hope he will kiss me. But he doesn’t.

Instead, he says, “I was going to track you down. Figure out where you were and make you pay for betraying me. But now? You inserted yourself into my life. You made it too easy.”

I swallow hard, trying to school my expression to remain calm. “You don’t have revenge in you, Leo.”

A dark smile pulls the corner of his lips upward. “It’s been a long time, Veronica. You don’t know anything about me anymore.”

We hold eye contact; it only falters when the bathroom door swings open. Whoever walked in would assume Leo and I were kissing because we were close. Leo’s eyes dart over my shoulder, softening his eyes as he drops my hands.

Controlling my breathing, I peek over my shoulder to find Chloe standing there with a delighted smile. “I knew you two would hit it off!”

I stare at her when Leo says, “We sure did. Thank you for introducing us.”

That fake smile lines his lips as he walks out of the bathroom.

CHAPTER 13

Leo

I fly down the stairs but stop my speed as I enter the kitchen. Scanning the room, I find Myles talking with some of his work buddies. His eyes find mine and fill with questions as he sees the rage on my face.

He says something to his friends that I can’t hear over the conversations and music. My eyes stay on my best friend as he lightly pats a man on the shoulder as he leaves him.

Myles places his beer bottle, which is still half-full, on the counter and comes to me. His mouth opens, about to speak, but I shake my head and nod towards the back of the house.

Myles dips his head in understanding and follows me towards the French doors leading to their back deck. The sun has set completely, turning the sky a deep blue.

Although the night sky has darkened, the stringed lights around the porch illuminate us. They are hooked on the side of the house, taking a perfect path above us to line up with the wooden railings.

I pace toward the far edge of the deck, my hands running through my hair that was once put together. Now, it has come undone, just like myself.

“Shit. Was she that bad?” Myles breaks the silence with his question.

“Have you met her?”

“Once, and it was brief,” he responds, leaning back against the rail. “We ran into her when we were cake tasting. Chloe introduced us, and they began a conversation. I didn’t really care for whatever they were talking about, so I went back to tasting the cakes. I was the one who chose the flavor, by the way. Hope you like red velvet.”

“And she hasn’t been at the house?”

“I mean, she has, but it’s on days that I’m not home.”

That’s not shocking. I think to myself before I say, “When you met her, did anything seem… familiar about her?”

“As I said, man, it was a brief introduction, and they don’t really hang out whenever I’m home.” He shrugs before backtracking. “Wait. What would have been familiar about her?”

“Camille isn’t who she says she is,” I tell him, which only twists his face in more confusion.

“What do you mean?” That puzzled expression soon turns to a wide smile. “Is she a spy? Working for the government? Oh shit… Is she working undercover for the prison to keep an eye on you?” he questions, then laughs when he jokes, “You little criminal.”

I roll my eyes, not in the mood for his jokes tonight.

“No. I mean, she is undercover in some way, but not for those reasons.” I inch closer to him, dropping the volume of my voice. “Camille is Veronica.”