Chapter 42

Aurelia's POV

Killian walked through the gate like he owned the place and the small garden light caught his face. He stopped near the pool and looked at me and then at Leo and back at me again and he let out a slow sigh

“Yeah, Aurelia you don’t have to try so hard to make me jealous. I would almost think you’re in love with me,” he said, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said as the water moved against my shoulders when I shifted.

“I know your friend here,” he said, his eyes sliding to Leo,

“Leonardo Hamilton, isn’t it, might I say his name is a bit poetic”

Leo stayed quiet, just watching him.

He looked at me and lifted a brow.

"Shouldn't you be spending some time with your wife to be?" I said in a cold tone, feeling annoyance creep through my skin.

"And I'm sure we both know the circumstances by which I am moving forward with the wedding," Killian replied. "We both know that you're the one I want... And love."

"You hardly know me, Killian," I said firmly, swallowing hard. "Get lost."

"What has this been? A game?" He laughed, and then climbed into the pool, only taking his jacket off. The water made his dress shirt cling to his muscles sexily.

"Little Leo," Killian said, looking at his arms around me. Leo has a protective glare. "Why don't you leave Aurelia and I for a minute huh?"

"Not happening. You, get lost. Or I'll call the police," he said fiercely.

Bless his heart.

The water rippled beneath us, and then Killian produced a gun, cocking it. "I believe I don't have to ask again."

"I'm not leaving. Go ahead," he said. I looked into his eyes and knew immediately he was trying to be brave for me.

"Leo, go. I promise, I'm safe."

"No, I can't... He's a psychopath..."

"I'm many things Leonardo, maybe a psychopath. But if you don't leave... Your cousin Malta will die. Oh, and don't bother with the police... She'll suffer the same fate."

"He won't hurt me, Leo," I begged. "Just go, please."

"I can't—"

A gunshot rang out into the water.

"Next time, it'll be on in your head. I have no issues cleaning up bodies. Leave, now!" Killian growled.

Thankfully, Leo got the message. With one last look at me, he hurried out, grabbing his clothes.

"Killian, you sick bastard!" I gasped, turning in the water to face him with panic-stricken eyes.

"You've been avoiding me, princess," he said quietly. "How's that supposed to make me feel? Knowing the love I have for you?"

"Get the hell out of here."

"You should move into the new house," he said.

"Get the hell out!" I yelled.

“I expected you to be more grateful,” Killian said, his voice low but clear over the quiet splash of the water. “To come and thank me in private after what I did for you.”

I felt my stomach twist and I stepped back a little even though despite how large it usually felt, the pool was too small to really put space between us. “Grateful for what?” I asked. “You break into my house, pull a gun on my friend, and you want a thank you?”

"You forget I lived here before."

"You don't anymore."

"Say thank you, Lia."

That was new. Having a nickname for me that wasn't Mia Cara or princess.

"There's nothing to thank you for," I spat. My eyes were red with rage and resentment.

If only he wasn't so fucking hot.

God, I was sick in the head.

He tilted his head slightly and the water slid off his hair in slow drops. “After I got rid of your stalking ex-boyfriend,” he said like it was nothing, like he was talking about throwing out trash.

I blinked hard and stared at him. “Too bad you didn’t get rid of your stalking self,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant but I didn’t care.

He gave a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “He’s in a better place now,” he said.

The words hit me like a slap. “What?” I whispered. “Did you kill him? Expulsion was enough, you—" I trailed off. "Oh my God Killian... You're..."

Killian didn’t answer right away. He moved closer through the water, until he was a few feet from me. “You don’t need to think about him anymore,” he said. “He can’t bother you. That’s all you need to know.”

My throat felt dry and I shook my head. “That’s not an answer,” I said. “Tell me what you did.”

He looked at me for a long time, his eyes steady. “I made sure he won’t come near you again,” he said finally.

I felt cold even though the water was warm around me. “You’re insane,” I said.

He gave a small laugh. “Maybe. But I love you. And I take care of what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours,” I said, my voice shaking. “I never was.”

“You could be,” he said, still calm, like he was offering me a choice instead of a threat.

I backed up until the pool wall pressed against my shoulders. “Stay away from me,” I said. “I don’t want you here. I don’t want you anywhere near me.”

Killian tilted his head again and looked almost curious. “You keep saying that,” he said. “But you don’t leave. You don’t scream. You don’t call anyone.”

“Because you have a gun,” I said.

He gave a small shrug. “Maybe. Or maybe because a part of you doesn’t want me to leave.”

“That’s not true,” I said. “You don’t know me.”

It was a bloody ass lie.

Did I like this psychopath? No.

Did I like the hot man at the club who raised my sex standards in one night? Yes.