His blue eyes drop to my heeled lace-up ankle boots and slowly run up over my fishnet tights and miniskirt before lingering on the black halter that has my breasts shoved up to my neck. He tilts his head to the side, looking over my high pony before meeting my gaze. I try to look unfazed, but my body is tingling.
“Look at me, Eve. Eyes on mine…fuck, you’re goddamn perfect.”
It was like he knew what I needed to hear. I hadn’t felt like that with a man…not willingly, anyway. And it was just his fingers. I’d had a few drinks that night, but I wasn’t on any drugs. There was no reason for me to be that worked up for him.
His face grows serious and his eyes dart to the naked Lord behind me. “May we speak in private?”
I give a rough laugh. “You’ll have to try harder than that to get me alone.”
He stands, and I have to look up at him through my lashes. Even with my boots on, he’s still quite a bit taller than me.
“It’s important, Everett.” He places his hands inside his hoodie.
As far as I know, he’s only ever known me as Eve. How does he know my name is Everett? I get a sickening feeling in my gut. “Sure,” I say and walk toward the side door.
He beats me to it and holds it open. “Ladies first.”
I want to roll my eyes but instead mumble athank youand enter the hallway. He follows me to the office where he again opens the door for me. Once we enter, I whirl around on him. “What’s so important that you’re here at three in the morning, Kashton?” Not like the Lord tied and gagged on the altar is going to tell anyone his secret.
Kashton unzips his backpack and tosses something onto the desk.
I pick it up and stiffen when I see what it is. “Where did you get this?” It’s a picture of the dead woman I found.
“Do you know Tyson Crawford?”
Of course I know of him. “He owns Blackout.” We’re not friends or anything, and he has no idea who I am.
Kashton nods, sitting on the couch. “He has a deal with a detective. We had a meeting earlier this evening, and everyone there was given these reports.” My eyes meet his. “And your name was mentioned.”
Well that explainsEverett. I frown. “What do you mean my name was mentioned?”
“He announced to the room that Everett Sinclair found the body that was dumped in the cemetery behind the cathedral.”
Fuck!Since when do the cops work with the Lords? I try to calm my breathing so he doesn’t see I’m now on alert. Does this have to do with the phonecall I made after I received that text? Surely those aren’t connected to the body I found.
He leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Tell me everything you know about her.”
I give a rough laugh and toss the papers next to him on the couch. “I know nothing.”
“Bullshit.” He stands and I take a step back. “Whoever did this to her carvedYou’re nextinto her back, then dumped her in the middle of an abandoned cemetery that you seem to visit. A lot. I mean, sure, you can call that a coincidence, but…I don’t believe in those.” His eyes hold mine when he adds. “And she just so happened to be left on the very same grave I see you sit at.”
I knew it was a sign, but this confirms it. “What are you implying?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“That warning is for you,” he says matter-of-factly.
I swallow nervously. “It’s not?—”
“What do you know about Dollhouse?” he interrupts me.
“Nothing.”
His hand reaches out and wraps around my neck so quickly I don’t have time to react before he’s yanking me toward him.
“Kash—”
He cuts off my air, and my hands grip his tatted arms to try and rip free with no success because of the sleeves of his hoodie. His blue eyes darken as they search mine. “I can’t help you if you lie to me, angel. So I’m going to ask you one…last…time…” He lets go, shoving me backward, and my ass hits the desk, making it rattle. “What do you know about Dollhouse?”
I rub my sore neck, taking a deep breath. “I know it hasn’t been in operation for several years.”
