Chapter 16: 11| Hunt-2

Fuck. The closer he got, the faster my heart raced. Every nerve in my body was aflame as my chest rose and fell with each deep breath I forced myself to take. Watching the blade in his hand carefully, I realized that Tristan was not messing around. Something truly had changed and whatever it was, Tristan was now out for blood and the blood he wanted was mine. Everyone knew that once Tristan set his eyes on someone, he wouldn't rest until he killed them with his own hands. He knew every wicked and twisted method to torture his enemies. His name alone loomed over people like a dark cloud of death in this world. This wasn't just another one of his sick games. He truly wanted me dead. Tristan Harper was going to kill me. I shuffled back barely a foot and his gaze darted to my feet before coming back up to meet mine. Shaking his head lightly, he held my eyes. "I wouldn't recommend that. Don't even try to run." My breath got caught in my throat as he dropped right before me and casually lifted the dagger, dropping the blade on my shoulder. A small hum escaped him as he lazily carried the blade over my collarbone, to the very center of my chest and then brought it back, tilting my chin up. Forced to meet his gaze, I held it without backing down. "What do you want?" I asked, keeping my tone void of any emotions. The last thing he should know was just how fucking terrified I was. His eyes traveled over my face, reading me. Briefly dropping to my lips, his gaze then moved to the dagger under my chin. "It's only a friendly visit, mi bella." A devilish smirk danced on his lips. "You owe me a bit of your blood after last time, hmm?" Pulling the knife away, he showed me the bandage on his hand. "You did that to yourself," I replied, trying to calm my breathing so he wouldn't notice. "I didn't tell you to slice your own hand open." "Would you rather I cut you?" he questioned. "Looks like you're here to do it tonight anyway." He nodded lightly in response, watching me carefully. His gaze remained locked on mine, tracking every little shift in my body. I felt like prey under a predator's gaze and I fucking despised it. No matter how hard I tried there was nothing I could do to argue the fact that Tristan truly was a threat to my existence. Time and time again, I underestimated him and he challenged me but we were past that. Somehow, unknowingly, I had done something to trigger him and this little ruse would probably end with my death. At that moment, however, my concern wasn't surviving Tristan, it was the case. I had to solve that case, it wasn't an option I was giving myself. So if Tristan wanted to kill me, he would simply have to wait for it. "Are you here to kill me, Mr. Harper?" I asked, staring at the dagger in his hands as he repeatedly traced the sharp edge with his finger, his touch as light as a feather's. "Or just scare me?" I taunted. "Not the best time to push my buttons, Malyshka," he retorted, "I just might snap if you hit the right one." I took in a sharp breath and kept my patience. "Why are you really here?" I pressed further. "I'm here to give you a fair warning. To tell you that this is no longer just a game between us," he finally said. "You're here to tell me you're going to kill me," I finished for him, knowing damn well those would be his next words. "I'm glad you're aware of it," he retorted. "Care to tell me why? After years of rivalry have you now decided you can't keep up with it?" I lifted a challenging brow at him. "I'll tell you in due time. What fun would it be if I walked in and killed you with such ease? I'm here to tell you to put up a good fight. I like a challenge." "I'm afraid your challenge must wait." He watched me intently. "If you want to fight this through to the end, you'll have to wait. I have more important things to tend to, things far more important than defeating you, Mr. Harper." Dropping my arms, I spun on my heels to grab the phone in the kitchen and make a call to building security. I barely took one step ahead when my breath got caught in my throat as I felt Tristan's grip on the back of my neck, spinning me in and pinning me in place solely with his hold on my neck. I ground my teeth in annoyance as I took hold of his arm and tried prying it off. "Get off of me, Tristan," I warned. But his fingers only tightened around the nape of my neck. He rolled his eyes lightly and exhaled, tugging me forward and into him. I couldn't help the sharp gasp that slipped past my senses as my body collided with his, only a few inches between us. Bare inches. The slightest shift in my stance and his fingers flexed on my neck in warning. "I respect you, Amara," he began, his voice low and deadly. "So I'll hold you to your word and I'll wait for you. I'll wait for the perfect time to kill you. The last face you see before death takes you will be mine, I'm sure of it." I tried yet again to free his grip but he stared down at me with a warning in his eyes and I knew it was in my best interest to stop putting up a fight. "Stay still, will you?" he asked quietly. "Hmm?" His fingers tightened on the back of my neck again, forcing me to look at him. I nodded wordlessly and his hold on me eased up. Dragging his fingers across my neck, he folded them in and tipped my chin up using his knuckles. "It's a promise, Malyshka. I'll make sure to keep it. No one else is allowed to kill you. That pleasure is only mine. Your life belongs to me. Your life and death are mine. Hence, so are you. I'll leave you with one request tonight." I clenched my jaw and lifted my chin off his hand, taking a small step back to increase the distance between us. "Kill anyone else who tries to hurt you. I like my possessions unharmed. Only I get to wound you; only I get to hunt you down, Amara." . . . . . Chapter 11