Sergei got an easy death, and for me, that didn’t sit well. I hated it.

With my hands on my hips, I stared around my now pristine apartment. The last five, no, nearly six months, Aurora had lived in my place and still, she hadn’t done a single thing to make her mark.

There was nothing here that stood out.

No trinket to tell anyone who visited—not that anyone did—that she lived here. This apartment wasn’t even mine in the true sense. I owned the building and I’d taken residence here, but there weren’t any personal effects of mine either.

Laying down roots was hard for me to do. It wasn’t something I could just do with the snap of my fingers.

“What the fuck am I doing?” I ran a hand down my face and headed toward the bedroom. The door was locked. I tried the handle, realizing she’d tried to keep me out. Not happening.

Aurora needed to learn there was no easy way to keep me away. With a simple snap of the handle and my body weight shoved against it, the door came open.

I expected to see her on the bed.

At least hear a scream.

Nothing.

The bathroom door was also closed.

Like the main bedroom door, this one was also locked.

“Aurora, open the fucking door,” I said.

My patience was at an all-time low. If I had any sanity left, I’d try to talk to her, but right now, I needed a shower.

“Go away,” she said.

Gritting my teeth, I clenched my hands into tight fists. “You think this door is going to keep me out?”

“No, but you need to calm down. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I’m not angry.”

“You just killed Sergei.”

“And I’ll kill any fucking man who thinks they can put their hands on you and get away with it. You’re mine, Aurora.”

“I’m what you had to have. I’m not yours.”

I slammed my fist against the door. Her anger actually aroused me. She wasn’t simpering in a corner. I liked the fact she talked back to me.

This felt good. Really good.

“Stop banging!” She screamed the last part, and I put my palm against the door, gritting my teeth once again.

I had two choices. Wait for her to open the door, or break it down.

I chose the latter.

The moment I broke the lock and entered the room, Aurora let out a little cry.

She stood with a towel wrapped around her, and I smelled bleach. I saw her clothes were in the sink and she’d poured bleach all over them.

Her hair was still damp from the shower.

My hands were covered in dried blood.

Aurora nibbled on her lip. “I … I didn’t know what to do with these.”

“I’ll handle it,” I said. I turned on the shower, waiting for the water to warm up.

I stepped into the stall, and Aurora tried to make her escape, only I wouldn’t let her. I grabbed her arm and dragged her into the stall right along with me. Pinning her up against the wall, I flicked the towel, allowing it to fall on the floor, and I simply looked my fill.