But I stare.
I can’t help it.
Because damn.
Every muscle in his back flexes as he moves, and I swear my common sense packs up and leaves.
Because even though I know I shouldn’t be back here, I can’t seem to make my feet move.
TWO
SOREN
She makesno attempt to leave, though I can see in her eyes that she is itching to run.
Reaching back into my locker, I grab my shirt. Without bothering to put it on, I shut the locker with a solid clang, and turn to face her. She looks so prim and proper, so out of place here. My eyes skim over her tailored pants and tight shirt with just a touch of cleavage peeking out. Her face is flawless, and without a lick of makeup to be seen, so different from the usual women I keep in my company. She has a flicker of defiance and curiosity that glosses over her face. She is not afraid, not really. Just smart enough to know she should be.
“Let’s go.” I nod toward the door.
“I have a few questions to ask you,” she says. I shake my head and start walking, her heels clicking behind me as she follows.
“You already know my answer,” I reply.
She huffs out a breath of annoyance. “No comment,” she grumbles, giving me the answer I tell her over and over again. “Just this once. Come on, give mesomething.” I hold the door open for her, and she stops halfway out to look back at me. “You should know I won’t stop until I get a story.”
“And you should know I willnevertalk.” I smile at her, the cold air hitting my bare chest.
“So, you admit there issomethingto talk about?” One of her perfect brows rises at my answer.
“Where is your car?” I ask. It’s late, and the people who come to these events aren’t always here just for the thrill. Some come because they’re as fucked-up as I am. Predators in the dark, looking for an outlet, a target, or someone to bleed with. This woman doesn’t belong here, and that’s a problem I can’t ignore.
“Why?”
“Because it’s time for you to go home. Now, where is it?”
She turns and points to a little red car. I usher her toward it, and when we reach it, she gets out her keys and opens the door.
“Goodnight, Cressida. I hope Ineversee you here again.”
She rolls her eyes, and I want to spank her for her attitude. But instead, I clench my teeth as she bends ever so slightly to throw her bag onto the passenger seat, and I can’t help but look down at her ass. Glancing over her shoulder, she catches me but doesn’t say a word regarding my lingering stare.
“Oh, you’ll see me again. I can’t resist seeing that handsome face.” She offers me a full, white-toothed smile before she gets into her car. I stand, unmoving, as she shuts the door and then starts the car. And I wonder why I haven’t discarded her yet. I have done so to many people for less—yet, here she is, still breathing. I watch her drive off until her taillights disappear, then I head to my own car.
I drove my Porsche here last time, only to come out and find it stolen. Now I drive a much less conspicuous car. As I get into my Toyota, my phone rings before I can even start the engine. Glancing down at it, I see my sister’s name flash on the screen.
I love my sister.A lot.She has health issues, and we don’t have any other family, so I’ve taken care of her all my adult life. And sometimes, just sometimes, it’s tiring as fuck.Contemplating not answering it, I sit and let it ring a few times. Then I finally accept the call and put the phone to my ear.
“Maya, it’s late” are the first words I say to her.
Maya and I are close, but there are many things I don’t share with her. She knows about the Forsaken Society, sure, but not everything that comes with it—the secrets, the deals, and the darkness that hides behind the masks. She has been to parties, brushed shoulders with the members, and for a while, she thought she could handle it. She even asked me to pair her with one of them.
I did.
Big mistake.
It went to fucking shit faster than either of us saw coming.
“I know. I just wanted to know if I can borrow the jet.”
