One Kiss Isn't Enough by Willow Winters

Author:Willow Winters [Winters, Willow]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-26T18:30:00+00:00

CONNOR

Voices come through the back door as I move through the house. My brother and three of our men are outside, having a smoke. Their cigarettes are orange flares in the dark. The wood beneath my feet doesn’t creak to announce my presence. They don’t hear me getting closer to the door.

I pause to listen. At times their voices are muffled by the sound of the vengeful wind. In general, they’re not paying attention. The men talk freely among themselves, not bothering to give the surrounding woods more than a cursory glance. It’s not the woods they should be worried about. It’s me.

After years of working for me, and knowing how close to the edge I’ve been, they should be more than aware of that fact.

Their lack of attention will play into my hands, but it frustrates me just the same. I haven’t had the luxury of letting my guard down.

Most people have no guard at all, even the men who are supposed to. They can’t keep their mouths shut. A man who can listen is always better off. That’s what it takes to survive in the world today. You have to keep track of what’s going on around you, even with people you claim to trust.

I don’t trust anyone. Least of all the men outside. My brother is the only one who deserves my trust, and he’s the only one who will get it. Everyone else is expendable. Everyone else can be replaced in a heartbeat. The vast majority of the world simply takes up space until someone has a better use for it.

I wouldn’t have thought that when I was younger. I had softer ideas about the value of human life. Now, I don’t give a fuck.

Except when it comes to my new captive and prize.

Madelyn.

Everything in me screams to go back to her. It’s unsettling. I shut off my emotions six years ago. It was like flipping the switch to a circuit breaker. Every feeling apart from rage died out in an instant, and I haven’t let any of the others come back. It would be impossible to focus with my mind occupied by sentiments and morals.

“What do you make of it?” Fletcher asks the men. They feel secure, out in the backyard. It’s a mistake. The cover of darkness isn’t a cover at all. Just because they’ve carried out the mission successfully doesn’t mean it’s any safer. Loyalty has been questioned recently. I deliberately chose the three newest men, fledgling additions.

If loyalty isn’t given freely, I won’t demand it. I’ll simply cut their throats.

“She’ll run the first chance she gets,” answers the first one. I recognize the voice as belonging to Matthew. After a long drag of his cigarette he adds, “Had that look in her eyes. She’s ready to bolt.”

“Not if she cares for her child,” my brother points out. I swallow thickly at the reminder of the little boy. Those emotions I thought long dead shove themselves to the surface and I clench my fist in response.

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