Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Ignoring him, I look to Reon, who is saying nothing. He wouldn’t know about that night or many other nights with some of the members. But I do. I remember I paid her extra for that, a lot extra. She also enjoyed it. I wanted to slit her throat, but at the time, I figured that was taking it too far, so when she passed out from my beads, I left her there. And she allowed the men to share her, once she woke up, for payment, of course. Glancing down at my phone, I see his last message and clutch my phone tightly when I read it.
Soren: She’s currently sitting across the bar from Maya and me.
“If you will excuse me, I have an emergency.” I stand, and all sets of eyes fall on me.
“Come on, Arlo, you love story time,” Micha says, running his hand through his blond hair.
“I have to leave.”
“I’ll remind you, I know your dirty little secret. The one about the sex worker you killed. Do you really want to play that game with me?”
I give him a pointed look, and when he doesn’t answer, I grin and stride out the door.
I get into my waiting car and head to the jazz bar. It isn’t a place I would usually frequent, but since I know she’s there, and she’s been avoiding me, I’ll make an exception this time.
It doesn’t take long to get to that part of town, and when I enter the bar, I locate Soren right away. He gives me a nod, and I follow his gaze as it moves to a booth in the corner of the room. Her back is to me, but I would know her anywhere. Her long, honey-blonde hair is loose tonight, cascading down her back.
Approaching Soren’s table, I see he’s with his sister, Maya.
Soren is protective of her, but Maya is a jealous bitch. And to this day, she still hates Reon for choosing Lilith over her, which means she secretly loves him.
“Soren. Maya,” I greet them briefly before looking over my shoulder to where Cora is sitting. She doesn’t know I’m here yet.
“I said hello to your friend. Maya informed me you thanked her at a function. Very bold of you, Arlo, considering you’re known for never being linked to a woman. And here you are, chasing one,” Soren muses. I glance down at his knuckles, which are red from one of his fights.
“Who said I was chasing one?”
“Do you think I’m a fool?” he asks with a skeptical look.
“She’s been avoiding me, so I came to say hello.”
“Is she one of your patients now? I may know her, but you have never disclosed that to me.”
“No.” And I leave it at that as I turn and make my way over to Cora.
Her friends notice me before she does.
She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s coming home with me.
TWENTY-THREE
Cora
My plan tonight was not to drink much and to finish early because I have quite a few emails I need to catch up on. Everything has been going according to plan. I’m only on my third drink when Sebastian whistles low.
“Don’t turn around, but that hunk of a man is behind you again,” he says just above a whisper.
Fuck, of course, he is.
“I’m ignoring him,” I tell both of them as they stare over my shoulder.
“Ignoring me? Now, Cora, is that what you do to someone after they make you scream in pleasure?” I clutch the glass in front of me as my friends watch on with wide eyes, as if they can’t believe what’s happening.
Neither can I.
“Hi, Arlo. Good to see you again so soon,” Sebastian says, and I kick him under the table. “Ouch, what was that for?” He eyes me. I shoot him a death glare, and he realizes he has just spoken to the enemy.
“May I sit?” Arlo asks.
At the same time I say, “No,” Delaney and Sebastian both say, “Yes.” I huff in exasperation as he sits next to me in the curved booth. Delaney is in the middle, and Sebastian and I are on either end.
A part of me had hoped I wouldn’t see him again, but a deeper part of me was left wondering if I would. Arlo’s presence makes me nervous because I never know what to expect from him.
“You’ve been avoiding me, Cora.” I feel his stare on me, but I’m too afraid to face him, scared of what I may succumb to if I do.
“She’s been busy,” Delaney says in my defense. I eye her, saying nothing. She hides her smile as she picks up her phone. “Oh, look, James wants to meet us. Would that be okay?”
“James wants to come for drinks?” I ask.
“Yes, is that okay? He said he is close by.”
Sebastian and I both say, “Yes,” as Arlo’s hand lands on my knee. Goosebumps ricochet all over my skin, and I have to remind myself that he is the enemy here. We had one great night together, and we should leave it at that. Besides, he was one of my clients, and now I’ve broken my own rule about not sleeping with a client. And while technically our business relationship concluded before we fucked, it still makes me feel dirty in a way. But at the same time, it was the best sex I’ve ever experienced, and every fucking night, I dream about it.