Vendetta Read Online Free Page A

Did I like it? No. But this is worse. Your visions, your actions, everything you do now centers around her." He steps back, head shaking, looking at me like he doesn't know who I am anymore . Like he doesn't even know the person standing in front of him.
    And maybe . . . maybe he doesn't. Because neither do I.
    I move into the kitchen, gathering empty take-out trays and crumpled napkins and pitching them into the trash can. Dumping dirty silv erware into the sink. I fight against the surge of sadness swelling inside. He's right. I know he's right. But this is about more than him or me. She killed my friend . For no other reason except that he was my friend.
    "Genesis," Seth says, tone softening.
    I force the sadness away, and, in its place, am left with a slow, simmering anger. "I can't let her get away with what she did. I can't."
    "I know. And as much as I'd love to, I can't interfere with that choice."
    "You left before," I remind him, voice edgin g on defensive.
    His forehead creases, and an unexpected pain stabs at my chest. The words hurt him, and now me.
    "I know. I did. I couldn't handle it and I left you. It's one of my many regrets. But I came back. I promised I would never do it again, and I' m not. I'm here, Genesis. For better or for worse, but I want to start focusing more on the better, if that's okay with you," he says, voice solemn.
    I turn on the faucet and start rinsing dirty plates. "I can't. Not until Viola's gone." I concentrate on th e task before me, what I can control. Rinsing each dish or fork or spoon or whatever and placing it onto the racks in the dishwasher. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
    Wisps of steam rise from the heat of the water. I gaze through the window overlooking Carter's ba ckyard. His pool. The palm trees. The perfectly manicured plant beds filled with exotic flowers. It's own, tiny paradise.
    The dishes clink against one another as I load the last few. I can feel Seth's eyes watching, boring into my back as I shut off the wa ter.
    "I wish you'd stop worrying so much about me," I say, glancing in his direction. He's leaning against the counter, arms folded. His eyes fix on mine, wounded, troubled.
    "I don't feel powerful enough to protect you," he confesses.
    I wipe my hands with the dishrag and toss it onto the counter in a heap. "This isn't about you protecting me, anymore," I say, moving closer. "I could care less who you are. What you are. What you're supposed to be." I spread my legs on either side of his, sinking i nto him. "All I care about is you. And that you're here with me. Forever."
    I close my eyes as he tips closer, and a spark of energy passes between our lips when they touch. Electric. He kisses me slowly, stealing my breath. A flush crawls to my cheeks and he's everywhere, coursing through my veins, fluttering in my stomach. I move down his jaw line, lips brushing against his neck. He tastes like salt, like seawater.
    "I'm not going anywhere," he whispers into my ear. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tight, slipping his hand beneath my tank top, touching the small of my back. "But what are we going to do if this doesn't work out? What then?"
    I pull away from him. "Then I'd like to think I died for a noble cause. Avenging the wrongful death of another."
    He shrugs. "So? Viola still wins."
    "In my perfect Heaven, I still have you."
    "You know that's not how it works. If you love me . . ."
    "Don't say it." I press my fingers to his lips, silencing them. He can't make me choose. This isn't about picking what's right or what's wrong. What's good or what's evil. Seth is important to me, but so is Viola. So was Stu. And as long as I have the visions, as long as I'm protected, I refuse to sit idly by while she destroys people's lives, mine included.
    A slow smile st retches across his face. "Just thought I'd try."   

 
     
     
    F IVE
     
     
     
     
    "Hey, Mom." I step over the threshold and into her new apartment, plastic grocery bags crinkling as I move.
    I hate this