The Lover Who Became My Killer

killed for it. I gave him eight years, built his empire

t student, he had me

cut our baby from my womb. I heard

stroy," he whispered, his voice void of

rd. My last thought was that I was just a queen

y eyes sna

steering wheel. The date on my phone seared itself into

be a sacrifice. This

pte

Case

arrington, my lover-the father of m

ained as his. I was his strategist, his enforcer, his other half. I took bullets for him, literally. The faint, silvery scar above my c

lies and watercolor paint

coming home later. His phone, once left carelessly on the nightstand, was now always in his pocket, screen down. He' d smile at me, but the smile ne

ent eyes and a fragile frame that looked like a strong gust of wind could snap her in two. The photos

s set her up in a penthouse downtown, boss. Pays her tui

The penthouse was one of our syndicate's secure properties, a place I myself had cleared for high-value ass

ew how to do. I el

chair, she just looked like a scared little girl. But

irect at our enemies. He didn' t even look at me. His eyes were locked on her,

ap was so hard my head snappe

ice a low, dangerous rumble. He held the crying girl ag

r, a death sentence for

ting to reveal on the anniversary of our partnership. I thought it would bind u

s wr

was the coldest smile I had ever seen. He praised me for my initiative, told me I did the right

ugs hi

ck-alley doctor stood over me, scalpel glinting under the d

oice void of all emotion. "I told you she

the doctor cut into me. The pain was blinding, a white-hot agony that consumed

sil

"Now you understand. Anything that threatens h

fun, boys," he said over his shoulder to his men who had gath

violation, my last coherent thought was a bitter one. In his world, Conrad was a king. I w

kne

ing light. The squeal

he steering wheel. My heart was pounding like a drum against my ribs, my body sl

mbled for my phone. The date on the screen seared itself into my brain. I

waiting for my signal. Inside, Eliana Harr

echo of my baby' s cry, the leering faces of Conrad's

Not

to be a sacrific

d picked up the walkie-talkie. "Le

' s voice crackl

rop her off a few blocks from her apartment. Wipe the sec

hen, "Und

t neutralized. Now for the other one. The tiny, innocent one growing

s shaking as I Googled the number for

ouse. I would let Conrad rescue his damsel

see it with

to a halt. Conrad leaped out before it had even fully stopped, his face etched with a panic I had never

and just before he got in, he looked up, his eyes scanning the darkness. For a terrifying second, I thought he' d seen me. His gaze seeme

t for an enemy

into a million more pieces. I watched them drive away

ght years, the loyalty, the love I

eternity, the cold night air seeping into my bones. Then, with a resolve forged

e the

ment," I said, my voice eerily

My life as Alana Casey, his queen, wa

viv

ry last piece of him from my body a