December (The Page Sisters Book 1) (28 page)

Here he sits in the home of his sister’s enemy. They’re seated at her formal kitchen table like neighbors having a friendly chat over coffee. He’d rather be with his beautiful Mia, who he rescued in the snowy forest a day ago. He found her laid upon the white snow like a fallen angel in distress. Her big black curls spread over her exquisite face. 

She was a presented like a gift to him.

Shade gladly accepted. 

Shade grimaces at the woman in front of him. She is nothing like his lovely Mia. He didn’t practically like threatening women. He never enjoyed torturing one. He didn’t believe in harming women. Shade loves women. He treats women like delicate creatures. Though, he has never had a relationship with a woman that lasted more than a night. (By his choice alone, of course.) He still loved women and appreciated everything they are. Before his mother died, she installed the importance of a woman’s worth in his head. She told him on her death bed.

Treat a woman like she birthed the sun, the moon, the stars and the earth, son.

Women are Goddesses.

Once you have a woman of your own, never take her for granted and love her with every part of you. Never forsake her. She will be the treasure of your kingdom.

He shakes off the gravity of his mother’s words. Shade has to go against his very instinct. This is difficult for him to do. This sickens him greatly, but not because this quivering flesh of a woman deserves any mercy. She doesn’t. In reality, he should simply end her life here. She hadn’t harmed December once. She continues to do so. 

Shade stares at the tears dripping down Jessica’s face. She has a beautiful face with huge disarming hazel eyes that are more deceptive than they appear. He throws his clean handkerchief across the table at her. He watches as she dabs her eyes with it. She’s been obedient thus far…but only because her life is at risk.

“To whom do you owe your loyalty?”

“You. I’m sorry, sir,” she weeps, patting her wet cheeks with her fragile wrists that can easily be broken. “I wouldn’t have done it. I swear, but Luke threatened to kill my family. He threatened the lives of my sister and her newborn and her husband. I couldn’t…I didn’t think reporting December’s whereabouts to Luke would have put her in danger, not while she was with Danny.” 

Shade curls his trigger finger on his pistol that rests perfectly in his lap.

Kill her and get it over with. You have better things to waste your time on.

She drops her gaze down to her twiddling fingers that toys with his black handkerchief. “I don’t expect you to believe me, which if fine. Clearly you’re not the forgiving kind. I only request that you allow me to write a letter to my sister.”

He smirks at the note of authority and arrogance in her voice. Jessica’s on the verge of death and still ever haughty. “I don’t think you’re in the position to request anything.” 

Her tears drop harder, streaming down her face. “Please, sir. It’s all I ask. I know I’m a terrible person. Jesus Christ, do I know it. If my time is up, then my number is called and I can do nothing about that. I only want to write my sister a letter.”

Even now his minds drifts back to his unmarked car.

What is his little Mia doing?

Shade didn’t need to wonder no longer because she steps into the kitchen, long curls wild and spilling down her back. Mia’s gaze flickers back and forth over him and Jessica.
 

“Don’t do it,” she whispers to him.

“Why should I not?” he asks, lifting a questioning brow at Mia.

“If you want any chance with me at all, you won’t.”

Pleading for the crowd’s life? This should be good.

Shade’s gunmetal-gray eyes travel down her lush body. He grins as she begins to tremble under his admiring gaze. “What do I get in return?”

“What do you mean?”

His grin turns into a full-blown smile. “I mean, if I spare her, what will you give me?”

She lowers her gaze, blushing deeply. “Whatever you ask.”

Whatever I ask?

He gives her a solemn nod. “Very well. She may live, then.”

Mia’s body instantly sags with relief but her eyes glint with intent. She walks up to Jessica with all the calmness in the world and then…slaps her across the face. “You don’t deserve to breathe the air in your lungs, Jessica. Learn from this. I won’t ask him to spare you again.”

Jessica gasps, holding her redden cheek in her hands.

Shade smiles so hard his cheeks ache along with other parts of him that throb and ache, as well. He loves Mia’s fierce loyalty to his sister and her wavering shyness. 

Yes.

Shade has found the woman fate has brought him.

Now only if he can keep his sisters from getting into more trouble.

That will be a great challenge.  

A challenge he has accepted.

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I’m an independent author with an eclectic taste in all things, especially writing. I was born and raised in North Carolina. I’ve been writing for four years now and I’ve been self-published since 2013. Writing fills me with joy and wonder. I’m extremely passionate about my craft, achieving to be better as I continue to work. As a writer, I promise to give you the best of what I do. My job is to entertain you, and I take my job seriously. I invite you to share my journey with me. But buckle up because this is going to be one hell of a ride.   

Other Books by Michelle Watson:

Pure Illusion (Web of Deception #1)

Pure Perception (Web of Deception #2)

Forgetting How to Breathe

Dare to dream a dream and pursue.

Until next time, my friends