Page 46 of Targeted By Desire

I lingered near the door as I closed it behind us, scanning the walls for the light switch. Simone couldn’t see my face. And while that was for plenty of reasons, one in particular was starting to take the lead. I wasn’t worried about her using the sight for a sketch or even to spot me in a crowd. I was worried she wouldn’t like what she saw.

As if I should give a damn what she thinks.

I found the switch and noticed the dimmer attached to the side. I slid it down to make it dark enough to disguise myself but light enough for Simone to make out the shapes a few feet ahead of her.

“What is up with you and the dark?” She asked, sitting contently in her seat.

I shrugged. “More interesting things happen there.”

She rolled her eyes. “What are we doing in here?”

I dug into my waistband for the weapon belt hiding underneath. I felt around for my revolver and pulled it out. “We’re going to play Russian Roulette.”

She tried to play it off, but I caught the twitch of her expression. The subtle hint of surprise that tainted it. “You’re joking.”

“No.” I opened the chamber and poured all the bullets onto the table. “You want to pick the bullet or should I?”

“You’re a sick son of a bitch, you know that?”

“Don’t go insulting my mother now. She was a wonderful woman. Raised me to have manners.” I picked up a bullet, placed it in the chamber, and gave it a spin. With a flick of my wrist, it snapped shut, sealing one of our fates.

I set the revolver on the table and slid it towards Simone. “Ladies first.”

Her eyes fell to the gun, a million thoughts flying in them. In the twitch of her brows, I saw the doubt, the fear - the determination.

Squaring her shoulders, she reached across the table and grabbed the gun. A tiny tremble ran through her arm as she raised it to her temple. She sucked in a breath and held it. Then, she pulled the trigger.

Her chest shakily fell when no bullet came out.

She lay the gun down on the table and slid it across to me.

Without hesitation, I mimicked her actions. I stopped being afraid of death a long time ago. Playing this little game didn’t faze me one bit.

But, it was bothering Simone. She was trying to hide it, but the tremble in her arm was stronger during her second turn. Instead of holding my gaze, she closed her eyes. Her brows pinched together as her finger pressed down on the trigger.

For someone usually so bold in the face of death, her hesitation was confusing. Maybe dying by her own hand scared her more than someone else pulling the trigger.

Blowing out a breath, she quickly slid the gun over as if it were a spider that landed on her hand.

I took my turn. No bullet again.

Simone’s hand visibly shook as she reached for it. Moisture glossed over her eyes, making them shine under the dim light. She pressed the mouth of the gun against her head, her finger hesitating on the trigger.

Swallowing hard, she closed her eyes again.

I leaned in close, waiting to see if the bullet going through her head wouldn’t be mine. Something about the thought didn’t sit right with me.

I opened my mouth to stop the game and thank her for the fun. I wasn’t ready to see her die yet.

But the scratch of her chair against the floor stopped me.

I grinned as she rose from her seat and pointed the gun at me. “Oh, you’re a little cheater.”

“Shut up!” She yelled. The tension she’d been holding throughout the game was gone now, replaced with a rage that could burn an entire city down. “You are under arrest for the conspiracy and murder of-“

“You’re still mad at me for that? Baby, that is old news. At least come with some fresh charges.”

She glared at me. “I hope they throw your ass in solitary and throw away the key.”