2021, February 14th
(Maine, Caspira)
AIDEN
"Right. Evil twin sister. Got it," I said, disgruntled.
Once the shock wore off, I remembered I was pissed at my ex. Bitter resentment settled in my chest.
"Guilty," said Kate, brazenly raising a hand in the air to claim the title like a badge of honor. She returned her hand to the gin swiftly, took in the dinner for two and grimaced. "I guess he really isn't yours anymore, Queen of Assassins. She's definitely still yours though, sweet prince."
I put an arm out in front of Elena protectively while my eyes went to Keira. Yup, I definitely wasn't ready for Elena. Even with the gun in Keira's hand, I couldn't keep it straight about who I was supposed to be protecting.
Elena brought my arm right back down to come and stand next to me
"Still?" Elena asked, her voice dangerously low. A sure sign it wouldn't remain that way for long. "You and her?"
"I know, right? Hard not to be a peeping tom with these two. The whole she almost killed him thing made the sex so much hotter," said Kate with a wolf whistle.
"I have no illusions about the six months you were away, but for fuck's sake, her? She tried to kill you, almost killed your brother and also, she's a bloody assassin," Elena raged.
There was a look I hadn't seen in a while. Maybe Elena didn't always know she was in love with me, but on some level, I did. That was how the player lifestyle started. Whenever I was with someone else in her presence, Elena's eyes lit up in frustration.
I could read her eyes so clearly now, since she'd started telling me long hidden truths. We were finally something I never knew we could be. Real. Honest. I wasn't about to give that up for something that could never be.
"Let's talk about this when there aren't two assassins facing off in your dining room, El," I said, my gaze returning to the woman who had my blood pumping. "This is your idea of disappearing from my life?"
Try as I might, I couldn't stop the bitterness from turning into anger. Pain trickled into my chest. Six long months. Not a fucking word. I was only just starting to let go. Why would Keira appear before me now?
"Sorry to crash your little dinner date. I thought I'd give myself a pass to save your bloody life." Keira hissed, a flicker of passion passing through those dark, soulless eyes.
I knew that look and I hated it. Rigid, soldier's posture. Flawless, hardened beauty. The assassin I met in that restaurant a year ago. Her before me.
Before my brain could spit out questions, I shut it down.
I took a step towards Keira, throwing her twin a quick glance. No movement. She wouldn't intercept me. This whole situation was probably far too amusing to her for that.
I thought we were past this shit, my mind told me to yell at Kate, but my mouth spoke different words. To a different woman.
"My life wouldn't need saving if I wasn't stupid enough to give you a place in it," I snapped at Keira.
Kate was just a footnote in the story. A symptom of the disease. Keira was the real problem.
I turned back to give Elena an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, El. I never meant—"
"Okay, okay, enough already," Kate interrupted, rolling her eyes. "This show just got boring again. My two cents, and maybe it's just twin bias, but you and Keira are much hotter together. I mean look at her. She lights up like a Christmas tree around you."
Keira and I exchanged glances. My eyes wanted to linger, to get a better look at her, but the anger would not abate. We were back to square one. I hated her guts.
"We're leaving Katie. By order of, well me. I'm taking you in," said Keira.
Everything fell into place. This wasn't about me or saving my life. Keira was tracking Kate. It was probably half of her job now. Kate probably just showed up here to fuck with her head.
ELENA
In the midst of the twin assassin showdown, I did something I never thought I'd do. I fumbled under the table for the panic button and pushed it.
Come on, come on. I know you're around here somewhere, you arrogant prick.
"You knew it wouldn't be easy, Keira. You're not cut out for this shit. Madz died six months ago and you still don't know whodunnit," Kate taunted, shifting focus and her gun from Aiden to Keira.
"And you do?" Keira inquired.
Before Keira could get a response out of Kate, my Purple Guard soldiers stormed the room. Kate set her gun down calmly and put her hands up.
"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Let's see if you can hold on to me long enough to find out," said a smug Kate.
"You called, My Lady," Nathan said, stepping out from behind my soldiers.
Nathan Dormer was the twins' younger brother and my… Hell if I knew how to complete that sentence.
The sight of him couldn't help but make my heart skip a beat. How many times had I considered pushing that button since he disappeared? In all honesty, I didn't know if he'd show. Or maybe it was my pride that stopped me.
Nathan walked up to Kate, pulled her hands behind her back and cuffed her, all while grinning at me. All happy go lucky, like fucking nothing had changed.
"Always good to see you, Katie," said Nathan, calling forth a couple of soldiers to take her away.
"See you again soon, Nate," said Kate.
"The legendary Casanova of Caspira! I really am honored," said Nathan, making his way over and sticking a hand out to Aiden.
"You got what you came for. Now go," Aiden snarled, stepping out in front of me.
"Chill player, I'm not here for your girl. Not this time anyway," Nathan said with a chuckle.
Nathan snuck a hand past Aiden, took my hand and kissed it. The swiftness of the move. The warmth of his lips pressed against my skin. He caught me off guard. I froze. Just watched him do it as my body heated up.
"Always good to see you, Em. Thanks for the heads up," said Nathan, jovial as ever.
Aiden turned and looked between Nathan and I, snapping me out of my trance.
"What is he talking about?" Aiden asked.
I had questions too. Like did they know each other? A familiarity existed between them. But then of course it did, because Keira wasn't a one and done. That much was clear. Aiden spent time fucking Nathan's sister. And the rage was back with a vengeance.