Fatal Attraction (Love Kills Duet #2)

1. One

One

Charlotte

“ T ell me something,” Phoenix murmured as we lay in bed, my head against his chest and fingers dancing playfully with his. They eventually combined and floated down to rest against his bare pelvis, and my heart fluttered at the feel of his thumb sweeping over my skin in sweet, feathery circles. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Hmm,” I sounded, unable to hide my grin. “That’s a hard answer. When I was little, I adored pink, but as I got older, I kind of went through a heavy emo phase, and then black became everything. ”

“You…were an emo kid?” he questioned disbelievingly.

“What?” I lifted my head and stared into his beautiful green eyes, my smile unwavering. “Hard to believe?”

“Very,” he chuckled. “I need to see proof or else it didn’t happen.”

“Can’t help you there. All the evidence is sealed up in the attic at my parents’ place.”

“I’d like to meet them someday. Your parents.”

I frowned then turned my head, resting it back against his chest.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, Phoenix… You didn’t. My relationship with my parents is well… It’s complicated. I haven’t seen or really spoken to them since the divorce.”

“Why?”

“They…” I paused, drawing in a breath. It was hard talking about it. “They despised Karl after they learned about the affair. They wanted me to ruin him. Drain him dry and leave him slap broke with nothing but the clothes he had on his back.”

“ Oh . I’m sorry I asked.”

“Don’t be. It’s okay. I tried to reconcile with them. Tried to help them understand it was my marriage, not theirs, and the decision wasn’t up to them. They just couldn’t accept it though. I decided I didn’t want or need that extra weight and negativity in my life. I was already dealing with enough.”

“You don’t have to say anything else,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to my head. “I understand.”

“What about you?” I asked. “Tell me something about you.”

“Kendall Wilson is my ex.”

“Wait… What? ” I lifted up and locked eyes with him. Of all the things I expected him to say, that, wasn't it. “You mean the woman from the crime lab?”

I recognized her name, and I do remember speaking with her over the phone, but I don't recall ever meeting her in person.

“You know about the different MCs spread throughout the Pines, right?” he asked.

I nodded, unsure how that was relevant to Kendall.

“Well,” he started, blowing out a breath. “Kendall has an older brother. His name is Crow Wilson. He’s the President of the Rolling Rebels.”

He paused, swallowing hard. My heart thumped wildly in my chest the longer he remained mute.

“Kendall and I dated throughout high school and college. I was going for my degree in Criminal Justice, and Kendall majored in Forensics. Well, a month before graduation, Kendall had all of a sudden decided to call it quits. We were together for eight years, and when she broke up with me… Let’s just say it wasn’t good. I was devastated. Spike attended the same college and was also majoring in Criminal Justice. We met in freshman year and have been bestfriends ever since. He got me through the breakup. I was in a really dark place and had turned to alcohol to help me cope. It got so bad that I almost dropped out a week before graduation.”

“Oh my God,” I whispered.

“It was bad, Char. Really bad. But what made it worse is after graduation, Kendall left Seaview Pines. She up and left without a trace, didn’t say anything to anybody, not even her brother, Crow.”

My breath hitched.

“Her cell phone had been disconnected. Nobody could contact her. Crow filed a missing person’s report and when there were no leads, he turned on me. Well, it was more like he attacked me. He knew Kendall had broken up with me, and for some ungodly reason, he thought I’d killed her. We fought, and in the end, I won. He has a lovely scar across his eye as a reminder.”

Now it was my turn to swallow down the lump in my throat. “What happened? Where did she go?”

“She left because she was pregnant. She was pregnant with my child and didn’t tell me until it was far too late.”

My lips parted in a stunned gasp. “Don't tell me she got an abortion…”

Phoenix nodded, sucking his lips in as he struggled to contain the waterworks. “She never gave me a chance to make it work. I would’ve been an amazing father, Charlotte. I just know it.”

He released his hand from mine and my heart broke for him as used both to wipe the tears out of his eyes.

“I was stupid. Even after I’d learned all of that, I still loved her. She popped up several times since then to visit me, and like a fucking idiot, I slept with her, just to be crushed the next day when I woke up alone. I guess I was so blinded by love back then, I refused to see the truth for what it was—that we just didn’t belong together. I’d have given anything for her and our baby if she’d given me the chance. That’s something I don’t think I’ll ever forgive her for.”

“Are you still in love with her—”

“No,” he fiercely promised, leaning up to grasp my face. “I don’t want her, nor am I in love with her anymore. My heart, soul, and body belong to you and only you. I swear that on every single star in the fucking universe.”

“What about the universe?”

Spike walked inside the room, looking confused as he held a plate in both hands. On them were cheesy scrambled eggs, pancakes, and bacon.

“You… You cooked breakfast for me?” I asked, my heart swelling.

“I did,” he said with a handsome smile, walking over to hand a plate to me as I sat up in bed and wrapped the blankets around my body. He pressed a tender kiss to my mouth before passing Phoenix the other plate.

“You’ll have to eat fast,” he said to Phoenix before plopping down near the end of the bed. “Harley called. She wants to see us in her office ASAP.”

“You promise to fill me in on what happens, right?” I asked, staring between them as I bit into my food, my eyes damn near rolling back at the heavenly taste.

He nodded. “Of course we will.”

“What are your plans for the day?” Phoenix asked around a mouthful of fluffy eggs.

“I’m not sure. There’s so much to do and I haven’t the slightest clue where to start. It might not be a bad idea to check in on Karl. He was pretty banged up the last time I saw him, and I need to make sure he’s okay.”

Phoenix turned to me, worry painted on his handsome face. “Just be careful. Whoever’s responsible for all of this shit is still out there, and it’s obvious they’re out to get you.”

“They’re playing a dangerous fucking game is what they’re doing,” hissed Spike. “But Phoenix is right, baby, you have to be careful. If something happens, it’s possible we may not make it in time.”

I swallowed the food in my mouth and set my plate down on my nightstand, opening it up just for Spike to jump to his feet at the same time Phoenix let out a gasp when I showed them the gun .

“Where,” Phoenix started, his eggs falling from his fork before he deposited the plate in his lap. “Where did you get that?”

“I bought it. After the ‘dead cat’ incident. Peter was with me when I got it. I’d have asked one of you to come with me, but you were busy, and well—”

“Do you know how to use it?” asked Spike.

I embarrassingly shook my head. “I know how to operate it if that’s what you mean, but I haven’t fired it yet.”

Spike nudged his head toward the weapon and extended his hand. I handed it over, watching as he made fast work of popping out the clip and inspecting the rounds.

“Anyone can own a firearm, Charlotte, but it won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to shoot.”

“I’m aware, Spike. Which is why I was hoping maybe one of you could teach me.”

“Karl never taught you?” asked Phoenix.

I shook my head again. “No, he didn’t. He offered to teach me plenty of times, but… I don’t know. I guess I never thought I’d find myself in a position where I’d need to use one.”

“We’ll be happy to teach you.” Spike ambled over to my nightstand and put the gun away. Then he grabbed my plate, urging me to take it and eat. “Come on,” he said to Phoenix. “Finish eating and then put some pep in your step. I told Harley we’d be there within an hour.”