Page 19 of Keeping My Enemies Closer: Pt. 2

She gave me a quick nod before she grabbed the menu off the table, then went to make me a fresh pot of coffee.I was also confident that she was going to brew a fresh pot because she knew who I was and because of our interaction the last time that I’d been here.She hadn’t been able to soften me with her baby blues, and for all that she was blonde, beautiful, and built, I’d never profile her for being stupid or flighty.

Once she returned with my cup, she asked, “Is there anything else that I can get you?”

“Can you tell me if Zoya has anything personal that she’s left here?”I asked, opening up the conversation casually enough.

“Excuse me?”

I cocked my head as I looked at her.“You haven’t heard?Zoya gave her two-weeks’ notice.”

Her face immediately flushed.“No, yeah...of course.We were informed of...that she quit.”

“So, I was just wondering if she’d left anything behind here,” I went on.“Her last check was mailed to her, so she hasn’t been back.”

Her jaw clenched a little, but she still answered.“Zoya only ever brought her purse with her.I mean, there were times when she’d have a book with her, but she always kept them in her purse and took it with her after her shift.”

I waited, but when she didn’t say anything more, I asked, “So...you’re not curious to how she’s doing?I mean, certainly you’ve seen the news, no?”

“Oh...yeah, no...I called her a couple of times and sent some texts, but she hasn’t...I haven’t heard back from her yet,” she stammered.“Of course, I’m concerned with how she is.The...the news said that she lost her mother, so I...I wanted to give her some space.”

“She did,” I confirmed.“Luckily, she has me to help her through this rough time, so she’ll be fine.”

Marcelle’s eyes widened just a fraction.“Uhm...oh...you’re...I didn’t realize that you and...Zoya were friends.”

“We’re not,” I clarified.“She’s my fiancé.”

“Wh...what?”she choked out.

“Zoya has agreed to marry me, but we’re waiting until she’s in a better place emotionally to make it official.She’s dealing with quite a lot right now, and I don’t want to overwhelm her with the responsibilities of a wedding.”

“I...”She had to stop to clear her throat.“I...didn’t realize that you knew each other like that.”

“We’ll call it love at first sight,” I smirked condescendingly.

“What...”Her eyes darted around before lowering her voice.“You’re not upset that she lied her way into the auction?”

I wanted to kill her.

Where she stood, I wanted to pull my gun out to put a bullet in her head, but I knew that I couldn’t.The risk was too great, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I abandoned Zoya now, and landing my ass in prison would do just that.So, I ignored that sweet melody in the back of my head as I did my best to calm down.

“Not at all,” I replied, easily disguising the homicidal urge to end her.“Had she not done that, then I never would have had the opportunity to spend the evening with her.Plus, there was hardly any reason to pay her once I realized that I was never going to let her go.After all, everything that is mine is now hers, or will be as soon as we make it legal.”

Marcelle’s face paled with that little bit of news.“You...she didn’t get paid?”

I shook my head as I stood up from the booth.“What does she need a few thousands for when she has unlimited wealth at her disposal now?”

She looked down really quickly.“I...I suppose so.”

Not saying anything, I pulled my wallet out, then dropped a hundred-dollar bill on the table, making her eyes widen as she looked up at me.Now, unlike when I’d done this for Zoya, the money was a threat, not an attempt to make amends.While all of my money had blood on it, this bill hadherblood on it specifically.

Leaning into her, I whispered in her ear, “I’ll be sure to let Zoya know that you’re thinking of her.”

With that, I left before I strangled her in front of the entire diner.The problem was that she was no longer a person to me.Instead, she was a parasite that had betrayed her friend over money, and the world was better off without people who didn’t value the concept of loyalty.

Now, did that mean that I was superior to her or thought myself a better human being?No.I was the human equivalent of a rabid dog whenever I was enraged, so anyone with any real sense would put me down for the greater good.Still, I’d never betray a friend for any reason, least of all, something as trifling as money.

When I got in my car, I dialed Aurora, and when she answered on the third ring, I got right to the point.“I want her gone.”

“While I understand completely, did something specific happen for you to call me?”she chuckled.