Nero - Page 157

My head aches so bad. And out of all the abuse I’ve suffered at the hands of others, this is the worst.

The heels click their way toward me again, and I flinch.

Feminine laugher, dripping with menace, responds.

“That’s enough,” the man says, with a creak that must’ve been him sitting in a chair.

“This whore cost me my hair!” she snarls, her footsteps coming closer.

“I said enough!” His tone flips from casual to psychotic so smoothly, I finally lose that last grip I had on my self-control.

Tremors roll through my body, and with no reason to pretend to be strong, I curl up onto my side. The fear and agony too much.

From my angled view, I work to clear my vision.

We’re in an over-the-top masculine office. There’s a huge carved wooden desk across the room from me, probably twenty feet away.

I want to flick my eyes around, take in the rest of the room, look for exits, but my brain is too fuzzy. So, I keep my gaze steady on bodies behind the desk. One is sitting. One is standing at his side.

I’ve never seen the man before. His oily blond hair and rat-like features would make him look like a villain in any setting.

The woman who hit me rests her hand on the back of his chair, along with the name, snaps into place.

I can’t believe I ever thought she and Nero looked good together. Seeing her here, standing next to the unfamiliar creepy man, I know that this is where she belongs. With the bad guy. Theactualbad guy.

Disgust grows inside me. Any woman who willingly brings harm to another woman deserves the worst kind of punishment.

I don’t know what she meant by saying I cost her her hair. But her head has been shaved nearly bald and it makes her look even more ferocious.

She narrows her eyes when she sees me looking. “Something to say?”

“Just f-funny.” I have to clear my throat. “Youcallingmea whore.”

The man burst out into laughter. And the woman, Nikki, takes one step in my direction before he grips her by the arm.

“It’s not funny, Mikhail!”

“It’s hilarious.” He grins at me, and it chills whatever satisfaction I got from the insult. “I can see why Nero likes her.” His grin morphs into something that I’m guessing is supposed to be a softer smile. “I’m sorry we had to meet like this, Payton Vawdrey. You’ve done nothing to me. And I apologize that you’ve been hurt.” He lifts a shoulder, ruining his apology. “But needs must. And it’s Nero’s time to die.”

I shake my head as best I can. “He’s going to destroy you.”

CHAPTER79

Nero

My tires screechas they touch down on the pavement. And I fight the controls, coming in faster and steeper than usual.

But I’m in a fucking hurry.

Rocco braces his hands on the instrument panel as we’re jerked against our seat belts.

As promised, there are no cars in sight. Not on the road ahead of me. Not visible in the long driveways as we skid past them.

The street is empty.

Quiet.

Waiting.