My door makes a loud bang as I whip it shut and walk into my apartment. Anger fills my body, thinking about the last few hours. I growl, walking around my apartment, slamming everything I touch. Aiden can be such a caveman sometimes.
I drop down on the couch, letting out a forced breath. Closing my eyes, my words come back to haunt me. I can’t believe I told him we couldn’t be together.
Then doubt rears its ugly head. Doubts that I can’t be the woman he deserves. He’s not going to want to live in a constant state of fear, worrying about me. It’s not a good place to be. I blow out a breath, willing the insecurities to escape my body.
The rate that my feelings have changed has left me drained. I lie back on my couch, staring up to the ceiling. My breathing slows and I drift off to sleep.
Something wakes me, but I’m not sure what it is. I sit up and look around. Nothing is out of place. Maybe it’s just a car horn outside. Glancing at the clock, I see I was only asleep for thirty minutes.
Taking in a deep breath and releasing it, I know I need to call Aiden. We need to talk. I need to apologize for being a bitch. I see my phone sitting on the entry table. As I’m pushing up off the couch, a knock on my door startles me. It’s probably Aiden since the doorman didn’t call me. I swing open the door, expecting to meet emerald green eyes. Instead, I’m looking into chocolate brown eyes.
“I’m having a déjà vu moment right now.” Why is it that Marco always seems to show up at my door when I’m really pissed off at Aiden?
“Aww, yes. I seem to always be trying to feed you.” He holds up the bag of food, sporting a huge smile. “Did you not hear me knocking? I almost left, thinking you weren’t home?” The knock must have been what woke me.
“Sorry, I passed out on my couch and didn’t hear you,” I say. “But, Marco, I’m pretty sure I didn’t order anything.”
“Your neighbor did,” he says, looking down the hallway. “So when I saw the address, I thought … well … I hoped you were home so I could bring you your favorite dish.” I’m caught off guard, so I stand there staring at Marco. I feel I need to tread softly because I’m not so sure about Marco anymore. Last time he flipped on the drop of a dime, and I am not in the mood to deal with crazy right now.
“Well, I am starving. Let me grab my wallet.” I let go of the door, keeping it open, and turn to snatch my wallet off of my kitchen counter.
“How much do I …” I pause when I hear my door shut and lock. Whipping around, I see Marco looking around my apartment. Like he’s searching for something. My spine stiffens. “… Owe you?” I finish, but there’s uncertainty in my voice. He quickly turns toward me, setting the food on my coffee table. Dammit, why didn’t I shut the door?
There’s a flicker of darkness for a second before he blinks and smiles at me. I take a step back as warnings start blaring in my head. I know the look of evil. Shit, I’ve met the Devil himself. “I’ve never been in your apartment before, beautiful. It’s amazing. It’s a big place, though. Do you live here by yourself?” His voice has changed. There’s a chilling undertone to it.
That’s right. He hasn’t been to my home. How the hell does he know where I live? He stands there watching me, waiting for my next move, like a hawk watching his prey.
“Thanks,” I say, masking my concern. “Actually, Sydney lives with me. She should be back soon, so she’ll be excited you brought food,” I lie, hoping that if he thinks that I’m not alone for long he’ll leave.
“Really?” he asks sardonically, taking a step toward me. Shit! How do I keep getting myself in these situations? I don’t think he plans on leaving anytime soon.
My skin prickles as fear runs through me. He knows I’m lying. I instinctively take a step back. He’s five steps from me. I’m five steps from my front door. There is no way I can make it to my bedroom where my gun is, or the kitchen to grab a knife, without getting past him first. That leaves the front door as my only option or to fight. I take another step back. Four more to go.
“Marco, is something wrong?” I murmur, trying to sound as calm as I possibly can. My heart races, making my body heat. I can feel sweat forming on my back.
“Oh, bella, nothing is ever wrong when I’m with you,” he snarls as he takes another step forward. I start to panic, knowing that my front door is locked. That’ll take time. Time I don’t have. My stomach turns, knowing this isn’t going to end well.
“Well, thanks for the food. I really appreciate it.” I force a smile but don’t take my eyes off him. I take another step back. I jump when my cellphone rings on the entry table. I glance at it and can see that it’s Aiden. The sound of a gun cocking has me jerking my head back to Marco. There he stands a step away from me, holding a gun to my head.
“Don’t answer it, Addison,” he demands, his voice cold.
“I’m not,” I whisper, holding my hands up to show him I don’t have anything in my hand. “Marco, what do you want? Why are you doing this?”
“Have a seat on the couch. I’ll tell you all about it.” He smiles. He fucking smiles.
I’m saying a silent plea, hoping that Aiden will get worried when I don’t answer the phone. I internally chastise myself. How freaking ironic is that? Now I’m hoping he worries about me. If I make it out of here alive, I promise he can worry about me all he wants.
I slowly walk to the couch as Marco follows right behind. I can feel the gun pressed to the back of my head. Just the thought of it makes my head sting. When I sit, he remains standing. I look up at a man who I thought was once an attractive guy but now there’s nothing but pure evil. I remain quiet, crossing my legs and arms.
He growls. “I like you obeying me.” He reaches down and runs his hand down my cheek. I smack his hand away.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I grind out.
He tsks me. “All in due time, bella.” I fight the bile wanting to climb up my throat at his words. “This wasn’t supposed to happen yet, you know? You weren’t supposed to be involved,” he says, staring down at me. I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about. What am I involved in? The yet has me really concerned. So, he had planned this … it’s just happening sooner rather than later? I squeeze my eyes shut, cursing under my breath. Why does this keep happening to me? I open my eyes and chew the inside of cheek. When I don’t say anything, he continues. “But you left me no choice. Where is the girl?”
What? I shake my head, looking down. He can’t know about Lexi. And if he does …
I gasp as I look back up at his towering figure looming over me. I scan his face and tense when I see it. Two scratches on his neck. He smirks when he sees that I’ve noticed them.
“If only I’d done a better job, I would’ve known that she had a friend over.” He shrugs. “But now there are a few loose ends that I have to deal with. You weren’t supposed to be one of them. I had a different plan for you,” he says, pointing the gun at me.
I tense and squeeze my arms around my body tighter. How he says it … I know that plan wouldn’t have turned out well for me. Of course, now I’m a loose end that has to be dealt with. It sounds like either way I’m screwed. I try to remain calm. Now is not the time to lose control.
“I’m not telling you where she is, Marco,” I sneer, staring up at him. He can do whatever he wants to me, but he will never know where Lexi is. I’ve already been to hell, I know what it’s like. He can’t do worse. His eyes bore into me and his nostrils flare. He shakes his head as he sighs harshly. “Why Marco? Why did you kill those families?”
His face twists like I should already know the answer. “Because of you, Addison,” he says dryly.
“Me?” My stomach drops as the horror of what has been happening is somehow linked to me. I dig my fingers into my arms so deep I know it’ll leave bruises.
He sits on the coffee table, making sure to keep the gun pointed at me. My eyes dart around his face, waiting for his reason. Waiting to find out what I did to unleash this monster. “The day I met you, when your lips pressed to mine, I just knew you were mine. I had already found out everything about you before you came back the second time. It was like you came back for me. You felt it, too.” Had I kissed Marco? I think back to that first night. I guess I did give him a peck on the lips. That one kiss led to all of this?
I shake my head. “No. That isn’t why I came back into town.”
“I figured that out when you rejected me and kicked me out,” he growls. I keep quiet so I don’t anger him more. “But I knew you just needed time to feel the same way I do.” I let out a ragged breath. When will the hits from that fucking trip ever end? Did I piss anyone else off during that time? My attention goes back to Marco when he starts talking again. “I was still angry. And when a family came into the restaurant that night, the woman looked like you. It was like you were cheating on me, happily married with kids,” he barks out.
Oh. My. God. My hand flies to my mouth. He can’t be saying he killed those families because the women reminded him of me. I grab the couch on each side of me to hold myself up. I think I’m going to be sick. I fight the tears that are threatening to erupt.
“And then when I found out you moved to New York City, I thought it’d been enough time. You would see me and know that I was the one. But that FBI guy kept getting in my way,” he snarls.
“You didn’t have to kill those families,” I whimper.
“You were not going to be happy with anyone but me!” he yells as he stands up, hovering over me. I gasp at his abrupt movement. He’s starting to lose it. This is definitely not what I want. I sit back against the couch cushion to add a little space between us. I stare up to him, trying to think about what I should do. Reality sets in. It’s going to be me or him. We aren’t both walking out of here alive. I take a couple breaths, trying to calm my anxiety. I just need to get to my bedroom.
A wicked gleam in his eyes makes my insides quiver. My eyes flash quickly to the hand holding the gun and back. I follow his other hand down as he starts to unbutton his pants. “I’ve been waiting so long to feel the inside of you. I think it’s been long enough,” he says as he pulls the zipper down. A dark room and cigarette smoke fill my senses. I shake my head, reminding myself that I’m not there and my hands and feet are free. I am not a prisoner.
He can’t hold you down, Addison. You can fight.
He puts his legs on the outside of mine as he gets closer to me. I lean back, allowing more space between us. My position leaves me few options, but I still have one.
He smirks. “I can see it in your eyes, you want it, too,” he hisses, thinking I’m giving him room to get on top of me. He finds out quickly when I swing my leg up as hard as I can, connecting my knee to his groin that that is definitely not what I was doing. He cries out, doubling over. I jump up and run to my bedroom, slamming the door and locking it to give me a couple more seconds to get ready.
I grab my gun from my nightstand. Rocking on my feet in a squatted position, I tell myself I don’t have any other options. I hate him for making me do this. I hate him for killing all those women because of me. I hate him for trying to kill Lexi again. I hate him for making me feel like this is all my fault.
As soon as my gun is in my hand, I steady myself and wait. I don’t wait for long, though.
The door is kicked open. “You think this door will stop me, Addison?” he laughs wickedly.
No, but this will. I take three shots.