She spins around, hands on her hips, staring daggers at me. Then she eyes Remy, Jameson’s brother, and places both hands on the sides of his face, kissing him on the lips.
He pushes her off and wipes his mouth. “Are you trying to get me killed?” Fear burns in his pupils. “Irvin, I di—” He disappears into the kitchen.
My jaw tightens. I’m not going to kill him because she kissed him. If he had continued to kiss her, that would be another story.
Lilac fakes a smile. “See? I don’t want you. Get the hint.”
She kisses another guy on the lips, and he wraps his arms around her waist.
I yank the fucker by his sweatshirt and toss him to the ground. He scrambles out the door.
I smile. “So that’s how you want to play this?”
She bats her eyelashes. “Anything for you to break up with me, my wonderful husband.”
I scoop her into my arms.
She punches me in the back. “Let me go! Irvin! Please! Let me go! He’s kidnapping me! Help!” she screams.
I ignore her and tap Jameson on the shoulder. “Give me the keys to your car. I need it.”
He tosses them to me, and I toss him my bike keys.
Once we get to the car, I throw her in the back seat, strapping the seatbelt over her body. She shoves my chest, but I stop her, activate the child lock, and slam the door shut.
She sits in the back seat, tears leaking down her cheeks, whimpering.
When we make it home, I open the back door and let her out. She stomps past me.
I gently grab her arm. “When I tell you to do something, you do it. Another woman was found in her dorm room, stabbed to death. Someone’s targeting students whose families are part of the American Billionaire Club.”
“I don’t believe you,” she snarls.
I cock an eyebrow. “Why not?”
She wraps her arms around herself, staring down at the dead grass. “Because you play mind games and manipulate me. I’m not stupid, Irvin.”
“Why would I lie about a serial killer on the loose?”
Her gaze meets mine. She sighs. “Why pretend that you care about me? Why trick me into marriage when you know the only out for me is death? Why pretend you actually give a damn about me? I’m just a tool for you in this stupid-ass boys’ club you have.” She blinks rapidly, holding back tears. “I don’t want you anymore, Irvin. I want to be free from this.”
Warmth spreads across my chest. She needs to accept her fate. For a second, I don’t believe her words. I trace my finger along her neck, feeling her pulse.
“If I could free you, I wouldn’t, Lilac.”
“I know, Irvin.” Her tone softens. “That’s what scares me the most about you.”
Her eyes shine under the moonlight, and the cool air nips at my face as light rain taps my forehead.
We stare at each other. Silence wraps around us like a blanket.
She shakes her head and stomps up the steps to the front entrance. She turns around, her pupils unfocused, then slams the door.
I exhale and lean against the side of the car.
She wants me. I know she does. I just have to prove it to her.
Lilac
