The Butcher (Fifth Republic Series Book 1)

Since he’d paid me an unexpected visit at my home, I decided to do the same to him.

My driver pulled up to the gates, and I stepped out to speak with the guard. After a brief conversation, he let me pass into the courtyard. It was a nice building, the luxury understated and tasteful. It was an expensive piece of property, but it was nowhere near as expensive as mine.

I was even more impressed that Fleur had left it all behind to start over on her own.

Fuck, she was so hot.

There was a fountain in the center, potted plants and hydrangeas spread around. It looked like a spot for lunch, when the sun was directly overhead and the wind was blocked by three walls.

One of his staff approached me. “I’ll take you inside, sir.”

“He can meet me here. It’ll only take a moment.” I wouldn’t set foot into the house of my enemy. Not when I despised him so deeply.

The man gave a nod then stepped into the home.

I waited, the courtyard well lit despite the late hour. It was almost midnight, so the city was finally starting to doze off.

Adrien joined me minutes later, dressed in his lame blazer again. His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked at me, like I was there to kill him. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not gonna kill you—at least not today.” I held up the envelope then threw it right at his face. “Tell her, or I will.”

He caught the envelope before it hit the ground, but he kept his eyes on me the entire time. “Tell her what⁠—”

“Would you like me to kill you today?” I marched up to him, making him take a step back toward the fountain in the center. “Fucking tell her, or I will. And trust me, you don’t want it to come from me.”