Vengeance in his bed

Episode2

Ryan Blackwood is the underboss of the Blackwoods Mafia group. At least, that’s what Marco told me.

Rumor says Ryan is just as cold and ruthless as his father, Lucas Blackwood. If that’s true, then I’ll be dead before Monday. I’ll join Landon sooner than I planned.

“You know me?” I forced the words out, trying to remain sitting and calm. My whole body was tense and ready to bolt or fight. My fingers dug into the chair.

His face gave nothing away. He was calm, maybe even bored. But his eyes moved over me slowly, like I was a painting he couldn’t figure out.

“You don’t?” He raised a brow, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Then I saw it.

Those lips.

My stomach dropped because I knew them. I’d tasted them. Felt them on my neck, my jaw, my—

Shit. s**t. s**t.

The memory hit me like a truck.

---

The night I lost Landon, my heart clenched with so much pain, the grief was too big. It was eating me from the inside. I needed it to stop for five minutes or just one second, so I walked into a bar and I drank.

I don’t remember how many shots, I don’t even remember paying. I just remember stumbling out of the bar and into the street. Cars were a blur of lights and noise with their horns screaming and almost bursting my eardrums.

I stepped off the curb and smiled. This was it, this was the fastest way to see Landon again. One step, and the pain would end. I took the first step, and the next, and the next, waiting to get transported to where my brother was.

I guess I got that free ride to heaven because when I opened my eyes, I saw this beautiful man staring directly at me. He was too beautiful to be real. Brown hair, ice-blue eyes, sharp jaw.

I thought I was dead. I thought he was an angel sent to get me. He must be an angel.

His mouth moved, he was saying something, but I couldn’t hear over the blood rushing in my ears. His hand was on my shoulder, steadying me.

If I was dead, then I should get a taste before I pass on. That was all I could think about.

It wasn’t gentle, It was desperate and hungry. Damn! His mouth was soft and warm, the sweetness was intoxicating. He tasted like whiskey. For one second, the grief stopped. For one second, I wasn’t drowning.

I remember the skin and heat, his hands everywhere and all over me. I remember his voice in my ear, rough. I remember falling asleep with my face against his chest, his heartbeat sounding like melodies in my ears.

I woke up at dawn to see our clothes scattered around the floor, and he was sleeping like a beautiful sin, his face soft and peaceful.

I didn’t leave a note, I didn’t look back. I pulled on my dress hurriedly and fled like it was a murder scene.

—

“No. I don't.” I replied firmly. I looked at the wall behind his head, so I wouldn’t have to see his eyes.

He studied me for three seconds and nodded once, “Okay. My mistake.”

His voice said mistake. His eyes said, liar.

He was letting me lie. For now.

“Name?” The cold came back into his voice, it made me shiver.

“Amelia St…” No. i***t. “Amelia Russell.”

I mentally slapped myself for almost spilling my real last name. Russell was Mom’s maiden name, safe and neutral.

“Do you want to interview yourself?” He glanced at the file I was still crushing in my hands.

“Sorry… sir.” I shoved the file across the desk, hiding my shaky hands.

He opened it and flipped the pages fast, too fast to read. But he wasn’t reading. He was watching me.

My heart was a drum in my ears. What if he knows it’s fake? What if he runs my fingerprints? What if he knows I’m here to kill his father? What if this is a trap? What if he’s about to put a bullet in my head right here?

The questions wouldn’t stop. Sweat slid down my back. The blazer suddenly felt like a straitjacket.

He closed the file, slid it back to me and turned to his laptop.

“We’ll get back to you.”

That’s it? No questions?

No “why do you want this job.” No “tell me your weaknesses.” Just dismissal.

I stood there, frozen. That’s it? I failed?

Should I beg? Cry? Roll on the floor?

I opened my mouth then closed it. “Thank you,” I managed. It sounded small. Weak.

I walked out on legs that didn’t feel like mine. The door clicked shut behind me and I almost collapsed.

I failed.

I couldn’t protect Landon when he was alive, and I can’t even avenge him now. What kind of sister was I? What kind of twin? We promised we’d always protect each other. I broke that promise twice.

Tears burned my eyes as I pushed through the lobby and out onto the street. The sun was too bright.

I waved down a cab and slid into the back seat before anyone could see me cry.

“I’m so useless.” I whispered to the window. My breath fogged the glass. “I’m sorry, Landon. I’m so sorry.”

How was I going to face Marco? He was Landon’s best friend. He was the one who told me about the Blackwoods. He was the one who got me the fake ID. I begged him to let me do this, to trust me with this mission.

“Give me one shot, I won’t mess up,” I said.

But I did. In five minutes.

My phone buzzed. It must be Marco.

Arghhh! I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t tell him I blew it.

I forced myself to look and realized it wasn’t Marco.

From: HR — Blackwood Holdings

Subject: Employment Offer

My hands shook so bad I almost dropped the phone.

Congratulations Miss Russell. You have been selected as Mr. Blackwood’s Personal Assistant. Resume on Monday at 8:00 AM.

“What!?” The word burst out of me. My shout startled the old cab driver, he almost hit the car behind.

“Madam, what is wrong?” He asked with wide eyes, looking at me in the mirror.

“Wrong?” I was laughing now, or crying, I couldn’t tell. “Nothing’s wrong, sir. Everything is right.”

My voice was too loud but I didn’t care. How do you explain to a stranger that you’re happy because you just got hired to destroy the men who murdered your twin brother?

I got the job? How? Why?

He knew me, I saw it in his eyes. So why hire me?

It didn’t matter.

Step one: Done.

I stared out the window as the city blurred past. My tears dried, and my hands had stopped shaking.

Dear Blackwoods, get ready to beg. I’m going to rip your empire apart piece by piece. I’m going to make you feel every second of pain my brother felt.

I will end you. Even if it’s the last thing I do.

Let the game begin.