Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
My heart does flips. That arrogant piece of police horse droppings. I open my mouth to tell them that he threatened to double my rent, but the words die in my throat. I still don’t know who this guy is, but he’s clearly got resources. What’s he going to do if he hears I’ve been telling people about his threat?
But worse, what if these two go to bat for me?
Tabby definitely would. She’s got a kid and a husband to worry about, but she’s still old-school South Philly. She’d flip out at any whiff of injustice. Mina probably would too, mostly because it’d make good gossip.
I can’t let them do that. Both of them need this enormous break in their rent. It’s a godsend for them, really. I know Tabby struggles almost as much as I do, and Mina’s on a fixed income.
“That’s… amazing,” I say vaguely.
“I know, right? Never heard of a new owner cutting rent before, but god, it’s incredible. Joshy’s already saying we can start thinking about getting a new TV for Christmas. I can’t wait, honestly. That old one sucks.” Tabby laughs, her face lighting up.
“Maybe this new change in owner won’t be so bad,” Mina says, nodding along. “I can’t complain about having some extra money in my pocket.”
“He’ll be great, I’m sure.” I make some vague excuse about needing sleep before I escape back into my apartment.
Confusion settles like a rope around my neck.
What the hell is his game?
Stellan threatens to double my rent just to force me to go out with him while cutting everyone else’s rent in half. It makes no sense at all. How’s this place going to make money for him?
Unless he thinks I’m going to subsidize all their losses.
Which is hilarious and definitely isn’t going to happen.
I try to settle in bed. The blackout curtains help. I put a mask over my face and curl up. But as soon as my eyes close, a thought occurs to me.
Would he cut my rent too if I agreed to dinner?
That’d change our life. Even just a few hundred bucks every month would be enormous. That’d mean fresh food. Less stress. Fewer overnight shifts.
All for a single dinner.
So why can’t I make myself do it?
Every time I imagine myself sitting across from Stellan, a wave of nausea rushes over me.
I don’t know why.
It’s not like he’s hideous.
I mean, the man’s attractive as heck. I can’t pretend like I’m not into him. Physically, I mean. He’s built like a Greek god and sounds like an actor when he talks with that low, rumbling voice of his. There’s an aura about him, dangerous and exciting.
But he’s blackmailing me, and I just can’t abide it.
My stupid, stubborn pride is going to get me killed.
Or at least kicked out of my apartment.
I wake, hours later, to someone knocking. “Whadda heck?” I grumble, pushing myself off the mattress. My hair’s a wild mess and my tank top is practically falling off my shoulder. I’m in a pair of ancient shorts and slippers as I shuffle to the door, thinking it’s just a package.
Only to find him instead.
If I were more awake, I would’ve checked through the peephole first.
Stellan’s leaning against the doorframe. His sleeves are pushed up, showing off muscular, vein-covered forearms. The sexiest forearms I’ve ever seen in my life. They’re tattooed in dark ink: a wolf eating the moon, a knife slicing through a flower. I’m still bleary from sleep and can only stare at him in surprise.
“Did I wake you?” he asks, sounding amused.
“I had the day off.” I rub my face and try to get myself together. I’m very aware of my thin top and my hard nipples. I cross my arms over my chest. “What do you want?”
“I came to see if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight.”
I swallow. And shake my head. “No, thanks.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He holds out an envelope. “This is for you.”
I don’t take it. “What is that?”
“A notice of rent increase. You should take a look.”
“No, thanks. Are we done here?”
“Just because you refuse this piece of paper doesn’t change anything.”
I glare at him and finally snatch the envelope away. At the very least, I can use this in court when I sue his ass.
Which is just a fantasy. Like hell I could afford a lawyer.
“Anything else? Or did you just show up to torture me some more?”
“I came to take you out for a nice meal before you go to work. I could also order something and have it brought here. Or I can hire a private chef—”
“I said, no, thank you.”
He nods like that’s what he expected and turns away. “Have a good shift, Kira.”
I watch him take a few steps. My eyes glance down his legs and linger on his muscular butt. There is something deeply wrong with me.