Page 20 of My Dark Desire (Dark Prince Road)

He’d thrown that at me.

Actually tossed aknifeat me.

That escalated quickly.

Vera always said my smart mouth won me stupid prizes. But I never thought I’d anger someone to the point of assassination.

I shifted to zig-zags, knowing it would slow my pace but also not wanting to leave here with a souvenir the shape of a second asshole.

Zach’s dark and broody laughter rang behind me.

He’s enjoying this.

Sociopath.

According to legend, Zach Sun never laughed. Barely ever cracked a smile. That he was a morose man, tough as nails, his heart full of rust.

Thiswas what cracked his façade?

I’d get revenge on this prick if it was the last thing I did on Earth.

In my haste, one of my sneakers loosened from my foot, spearing into a pocket of mud. I had no time to look back. To stop.

I continued galloping forward with only one shoe on. Water doused my bare foot in an instant.

When I reached his iron-wrought gate, I knew he thought he had me cornered. I also knew once I made it past the bars, Zach wouldn’t be dumb enough to stab me.

Self-defense was hard to prove when your victim sported a hole in their back, even if you were the fifth richest man on Planet Earth and everyone treated you like you wielded a gold-plated dick.

Watch and learn, sucker.

With flourish, I planted my foot on the metal bar and scaled the monstrous twelve-footer. The rails were absent of nooks, but I had enough momentum and core to hoist myself over it.

Once I leapt to the other side, I bowed theatrically, this time clutching the muddy hem of the gown for emphasis.

When I tipped an invisible hat his way, his jaw squared.

The tiny reaction felt like a victory.

Octopus: 1.

Lobster: 0.

I was drenched like a stray cat, my hair a mess and my heart a wreck, but I would never give Zachary Sun the pleasure of seeing me break. “So long, Lobster. And thanks for the fish.”

“Lobster?”

“Octopuses’ favorite snack.”

I disappeared into the night before the heavy gates crawled open.

His men hunted me like hounds, flashlights piercing through the night, golf carts humming in my ears. But I evaded them, cutting through the wooded acres surrounding the property.

The thing about octopuses?

We camouflaged very well.

When I returned home, I mustered just enough energy to crawl into bed. Mud dried in thick cakes around my calves and ankles.