Till Death Do US Part

Belong To Me

[Remi’s POV]

I watch Kane’s retreating form as he heads out of my room, and once I’m certain that he isn’t going to come back to bother me, I collapse on my bed.

“What the f**k?” I hiss, letting images of my vision return now that I was alone and able to process them. “What the f**k did I just see?”

Honestly, out of all the deaths I witnessed, that was the most brutal. Luckily, in my time of seeing how people die, there were only a rare few times it was by something like murder. That was part of the reason I wanted to become a crime scene investigator so that I could put my strange ability to use and hopefully bring closure to those who were taken from the world too soon, but because of the bastard, I was actually slightly concerned about that wouldn’t happen. Not until next year anyway since the last chance to take the exam had passed.

“Dammit.” I growl, shooting a glare toward my door as if the one who was grinding on my last nerve was there. “I won’t let you get away with it.”

As the words leave my lips, a knock sounds, and I’m moving, rushing forward to answer it while expecting Kane to be there. However, instead of him, I’m met by my mother, who has a slight look of annoyance on her face.

“What is taking so long?” She demands, any semblance of kindness that she showed earlier in front of Kane gone. “Come with me, now.”

“What, why?” I gasp as her manicured hand wraps around my wrist and tugs, causing me to nearly trip in my heels. “What’s the rush?”

“You’ll see,” she responds, not sparing me a glance.

Sighing, I fall into step with her and allow myself to be led downstairs where I can smell cigar smoke and booze, which I’m certain is coming from my father’s lounge where he and Kane are probably living it up like the bosom buddies that they are.

“This way,” my mother announces, tugging me in the opposite direction of the lounge and toward the living room. “There’s someone waiting to meet you.”

“Meet me,” I repeat, frowning. “Who on earth are you talking about? What exactly is…”

I don’t get to finish my words before I’m tugged forward so that she can wrap an arm around mine and place her perfect hostess smile on her face.

“Sorry for the delay,” she says, looking from a woman and man who seems to be around the same age as Kane, early twentys at the most. He’s handsome with a preppy kind of look that makes me think that he was probably a jock when he was in high school.

He smiles at me with his lush lips that make his chiseled face look boyish. Everything about the guy screams perfect, from his quaffed blonde hair to his sparkling blue eyes and that unnerves me.

“Mrs. Anderson, this is my daughter, Remi.” My mother says now, addressing the woman.

“Remi,” Mrs. Anderson says, her smile broadening. “I’ve heard so much about you from your mother! My, you’re much prettier than I imagined.”

“Uh… thanks,” I say, trying not to squirm under the woman’s gaze.

“Please,” she giggles now. “Relax and come have a seat with us. Or,” she continues, giving my mother a knowing look. “Why don’t you go take a stroll with Kevin?”

Kevin… She had to be referring to her son, who silently watches me with the look of a predator that makes my skin crawl.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” My mother agrees, and I immediately understand what is going on here.

You’ve got to be kidding me. I hiss inwardly, wondering how it was possible that I was dealing with so much s**t in one day. Were these women really trying to play matchmaker right now, and why was Kevin going along with it?

Remaining silent, I watch as he stands and offers an arm to me, his face filled with expectancy.

“I hope you don’t mind.” He says, his gaze slowly trailing down my body until it comes to rest on my chest. “I would have joined our father’s, but I’m not a huge fan of drinking and smoking.”

“He’s such a good boy.” Mrs. Anderson giggles. “Since he’s still in college, he doesn’t want to do anything that could possibly interrupt his studies.”

“That so,” I smirk, knowing damn well there was no way this guy was the goody goody he was pretending to be. “That’s quite admirable since most guys his age are pretty into drinking and fucking.”

“Remi!” My mother gasps, her nails digging into me. “How could you say such a thing?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Mrs. Anderson sighs. “Young kids these days say the darndest things, don’t they?”

“That’s right.” I agree, hating how much this woman was sucking up to not only me but even my mother. I just knew that there had to be some type of business deal involved in my coming together with creepy Kevin.

“Now,” Mrs. Anderson continues when I don’t speak. “You two kids go and have fun while us old ladies catch up on the latest gossip.”

I don’t get the chance to respond before Kevin is attempting to grab my hand, and I’m quickly scurrying out of his reach.

“Sorry,” I say quickly as my mother’s angry gaze comes to rest on me. “I don’t really like being touched by those I don’t know.”

It wasn’t exactly the truth, but it wasn’t a lie either. However, it would have to do to calm the awkwardness I had created.

“Please,” I continue now, placing a smile on my face. “Kevin, come with me.”

Even though I didn’t want to go on a stroll anywhere with creepy Kevin, I knew that our mothers wouldn’t let me get out of this, so the easiest thing to do was appease them until dinner and then escape after we ate.

“This way, please.” I say, putting on the act of the perfect host. “The garden is this way.”

Nodding, he waits for me to begin moving and then falls into step behind me, and I swear, as I move, I can feel his gaze resting on my ass.

Ugh, I think inwardly. You’ve got terrible judgment, mother dearest. Or did she? Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past her to overlook the fact the guy she was trying to set her daughter up with was a freaking rapist as long as dad’s company was benefitted from it, and that didn’t sit well with me.

“Remi,” Kevin says now as we step outside to find that the sun is beginning to go down and the solar lights that line the path to the garden are shining. “You don’t really like me, do you?”

“What makes you say that?” I ask, keeping my gaze fixed ahead. “How can I possibly think anything of you when I don’t know you?”

Again, it was the truth, but not completely.

“You have your guard up against me.” He continues.

“I’m just shy,” I sigh, hating this ridiculous conversation. “You’ll have to excuse me.”

“Shy,” Kevin repeats, moving forward so that he can stand in front of me. “I highly doubt a spitfire like you is shy.”

“I am,” I counter, attempting to go around him, only to be stopped by him lifting an arm. “What are you doing?”

“I’m just getting a good look at you, Remi,” he says, giving a smile that makes my skin crawl. “After all, soon enough you’ll belong to me.”