Page 33 of Bound By You

She chuckles, then leans down close. "Wrong, I killed him. I shot him between the eyes."

He chuckles darkly despite the knife in his hand. "Yeah, right, you’re nothing but a weak bitch. This here is b-because d-daddy is watching."

She tsks at him. "Ever hear of the Shadow."

His brow furrows. "Everyone has, y-you stupid b-bitch."

"Did you know that she was my grandmother?" He pales and shakes his head, not believing it. She leans down and whispers, just loud enough that we can all still hear, "Have you ever heard of the Angel of Death?" He looks ready to pass out, and not from the blood loss.

"N-no, you’re not her, y-you’re weak, a-and s-shy."

She smiles her evil smile, making Noah, Liam, and their men all look at her in shock, and grow pale, including some of ours who were unaware of Phoebe's lifestyle.

"Actually, Belen, I am; my grandmother and mytioJuan taught me to be the best of the best assassins going and, not to brag or anything, but I am."

She pulls the knife from his hand.

seventeen

Phoebe

This month has been difficult;trying to give Alex a real chance without wanting to smack him several times is hard. He's at my house Monday through Wednesday, then Thursday night until Saturday morning, meaning he only goes home to New York on Thursday mornings, and all say Sunday. He meets me at school, cooks me dinner, and puts me first, and I didn't realize exactly how much I'd missed him until he was back in my life; then he had to leave for New York again. My heart, body, and soul are bound by him; they have been since I was nineteen, and it's hard because one minute we'll be having a laugh, then the next, pictures of him and other women will pop into my head.

I know it's only been a month, but I don't know if I can forgive and forget. Too much water may have flowed under the bridge.

Currently, I'm in this meeting being judged by all the men because I'm female, but the shit Belen just spewed my way has pissed me off. My fucking father, who has been trying to get a meeting with me this past month, believes every word hesaid because, apparently, the only thing my sister did wrong was trying to sell me for her own selfish needs, and my father believes every lie she told him. According to Alex, my father stated Selene was in a bad place and didn't want to disappoint him, so with him sitting there judging me, I snapped.

Oh well, at least Ares gets the ridiculous bed now.

I'm brought back to the meeting when my father snaps, "Phoebe, you can't just stab one of my men for stating the truth about you. Selene has already told us everything you've done over the years. I know that's my fault for neglecting you and trying to protect you, but this is not okay; he is my man, and this is a punishment worth discussing with the council." I shake my head as Belen smirks at me. I smirk back, making his falter, and he starts to pale when he notices how cold my eyes have gone, realizing I'm the biggest threat in the room and he underestimated me.

I take my knife and slice his throat from ear to ear, and blood spurts out over the table while my father stands and shouts, "For fuck’s sake, Phoebe, you’re not stable!”

I look at him with my cold eyes, making him pause when he notices his daughter is gone, and the killer is in place.

As coldly as possible, I say, "Belen took a 5-year-old girl out of the group home on 2nd last night, and dropped her off in a residential home in your territory. One of Mihai's men was there to pick her up. I retrieved the child, placed her in a safe house with a new family, gutted the man who was at the collection point, and sent his remains to Mihai. You’re welcome, Father. Oh, and of course, I'm not stable; I'm the best fucking assassin the Mafia and Bratva have seen." My father pales, and he's about to open his mouth, most likely to spew more shit, so I look at Damian and Alex and say, "Paperwork, now, and make sure you hand Basil the extra piece of proof that his man was involved."

Alex nods, knowing the cold killer is completely present; he knows my father's words have hurt me, and I've shut off my emotions. My mask is firmly in place. I look at my father again and say, "As far as I'm concerned, you died when my mother did. If I do decide to marry anyone, it will not count as an alliance between the Greeks and whoever I decide is the right fit for me."

All the men sit up straight, shocked by my announcement, some about to protest. They know no one will want Selene; her behavior alone is a turn-off, which means there will be no alliance with the Greeks, but I've got one better for them.

I raise my hand to ensure they all stay silent, just like my uncle is. I've already spoken to him about this; he knows Sergi does not want the throne, so this is the next best step, if he can't convince him, because he knows I won't get involved with the two of them. I'm aware of what Alex had to do for Juan to give up my location, and I reamed him for it. That wasn't fair to Sergi, even if he says it's fine because it damn well isn't, he isn't ready to meet his biological father.

I love my uncle, fiercely, but what he did to Sergi was cowardly. I've told him to his face more than once that their meeting in two weeks shouldn't be happening; it should be happening when Sergi is ready for it.

"It will be an alliance between who I chose and the Spanish Mafia." My father's face goes red while the rest of the men gasp in shock. Many have tried to get in bed with the Spanish, so to speak, but my uncle has always declined; he wanted family to take over, and my future husband will, if Sergi refuses to take his place as heir.

Ignoring my father's scowl, I look him in the eyes, and I continue, "Good luck trying to find an alliance with someone when everyone knows what Selene gets up to; I know you are aware of what she and Alex did."

He shakes his head. "They were engaged and would be married now if she hadn't messed up."

I tsk, mocking him. "Messed up? Do you mean lying to you and Alex to get back at him for not giving her his black card? They were still sleeping together after you changed the engagement over to me. I know you're aware of this, so I don't know why you're so shocked that I said, ‘Fuck it’, and left.

Do you really think I want a man who thought it was a good idea to continue to fuck my sister, the sister who tried to sell me for her drug debt? You sent me away because your brother tried the exact same thing; you killed him for it, and yet she does it, and suddenly it's okay? We’re not close because you were a spineless coward, who I no longer see as family." He pales, and I turn and head back to my seat. Alex's rage is vibrating from him; he knows all this coming up is a setback, because now the thought of him even holding my hand revolts me. How the fuck did I think this could work between us? It can't. It really can't. I feel my heart break with the realization.

We're over.

I swallow hard.