Chapter 3
“Honey, just hear me out.”
“I know. They like you. You didn’t invite it, but you didn’t reject them either.”
‘Oh, for the love of hell. How am I
supposed to explain I was out there killing people, not being the walking red flag he thought I was?’ I screamed in my head.
Nicholas looked at me, his eyes dark enough to drown in, and that night, he was intense.
After that, things got weirdly peaceful.
I kept coming home late because of bounty jobs. “Baby, I’m seriously working overtime.”
Nicholas always forced out a smile. “I know, I get it.”
‘You don’t know shit.’
One day, Nicholas pulled out a uniform like a Magician, revealing his final trick, the tips of his ears bright red. “Honey, I got this for you.”
I lit up inside. ‘My husband really loves Me.’
The outfit was covered up, but somehow
wearing it felt dirtier than actual lingerie. The buttons over my chest were hanging on for dear life before Nicholas kindly undid a few, so I could breathe.
He kissed me while crying, Mumbling the same thing against my lips. “Please love Me More… Please”
Maybe Anna was right.
Nicholas used to have it all, but I loved him so obsessively that he drifted away from his friends, his career, everything, until his whole world narrowed down to just me. And because of that, I kept telling him he loved me.
Thinking about it made my chest ache, so I let him do whatever he wanted. “Babe, I only love you.”
That was how we obsessive freaks were.
Once we fell for someone, it was for life.
Nicholas glanced at me hesitantly and then spoke up, careful and cautious. “You really don’t have to work so hard every day. I make enough money to take care of you.”
“Don’t worry, honey. I work to support you in the first place. And the
reason I’m always out late is that I’m preparing
surprises for you.”
Nicholas didn’t say anything. Honestly, when he wasn’t crying, he seemed pretty normal.
To him, My words probably sounded as believable as “I joined the Mafia just to fund our date nights”, and somehow, he let it slide.
Nicholas was definitely a good husband.
I kept taking on jobs to keep us afloat.
This new target was a rich psycho obsessed with immortality, funding illegal experiments on living subjects with his deep pockets.
I lay flat on the rooftop terrace, eye pressed to the scope of my sniper rifle.
“Shade, are you seriously beefing with Nick now? I heard he picked up this job too.”
I soon realized that Nike was here to
poach my kill.
Anna bristled. “The bounty’s barely worth his time. Why would Nick even bother?”
“Anna!” My voice is sharp enough to cut.
“Maybe the target’s cheated.”
Anna went silent, but then she said, “He did, actually. The target’s a total player,
and Nike hasn’t moved. Target clears that building in ten minutes. Right on
schedule.”
“Copy.”
Ten Minutes later, 700 yards out, prone, crosshairs steady, I squeezed the trigger before Nike got the chance.
It was a clean shot. Right between the eyes. The target dropped at Nike’s feet.
Through the scope, Nike didn’t move. And then he tilted his head up, and through the Mask, his eyes found me, even 700 yards
out.
‘He knew where I was. Sure. This kill was always mine, Nike. I felt smugly satisfied.
I pulled out my phone and typed: [Babe, overtime pay just landed. I miss you. Come home soon.]
I packed up the rifle, and Anna was already idling in shadow down the street.
The second I got in, she gasped, “Shade, that was insane! You took out the target right in front of Nick!”
Just then, my phone lit up. [You work too hard, honey. Miss you too. Get home safe.]
Something unclenched in my chest.
“There isn’t a shooter alive who’d put their accuracy up against mine,” I said.
“Valorian women are built different,” Anna Muttered, then something clicked behind her eyes. “Wait, isn’t Nike from Valoria too? What is it with your country? Half of you end up as killers?”
I looked over. “He’s Valorian?”
Anna smirked. “Yeah, a friend of mine ran into him once. Said he’s got this silky hair. Looks like a half-blood.”
“Not My problem. I have a gorgeous half-blood husband at home,” I said.
All I wanted right now was to get back to him.
I Made Anna swing by the flower shop on the way.
She flipped me off the second I asked. “Bitch. I am done hearing about your awesome half-blood husband.”
Nicholas pulled me onto his lap the Moment I handed him the flowers. “I love them. Thank you.”
I ran my fingers through his hair. “Hey. So. I have a work thing next week. Out of
town.”
“South side.” I smiled at him.
That was where the target was.
Nicholas lowered his head, clearly hating the idea but trying to act like he was okay with it. “Okay, I’ll be here.”
I was obsessed with how he was all about wounded dignity and soft resignation.
I traced his lips with my tongue. “I’ll take good care of you when I’m back.”
The lazy, unhurried smile flashed across his face. “Pretty sure that goes both ways.”
I just looked at him. He blinked, and just like that, he was back to being soft and clingy.
“What? What’s wrong?”
I shook my head and kissed him instead. “Nothing.”
‘I just forgot what you looked like when you weren’t trying so hard. I missed it.’