I glance back at her as I strap my watch to my wrist, noting the fake hurt plastered on her face as she switches gear. She’s so predictable. If she can’t seduce me, she’ll turn on the waterworks.
There is so much I want to say to her, but I bite back the words, remembering my duty. Shoving my feet into black sneakers, I force my features to soften before walking over to her, trying not to flinch as I hold her face in my hands. “Anais, I explained how precarious the situation is now. I don’t have time for distractions. I promised I would protect you from Cruz, but that is all I can offer.”
Her eyes narrow. “Have you screwed her? Is this why you’re acting so fucking weird?”
I know who she’s referring to because Anais has always felt threatened by Elisa. She’s always been jealous of our close bond even though I have never laid a finger on Lili in a sexual way. My cock jerks behind my boxers, and I frown. “Not that it’s any ofyour business, but no, I have not screwed her. For the last time, we are friends.”
Smug pleasure glistens in her eyes, and I instantly drop my hands from her face. I need to get her out of my personal space and fast. Buttoning my shirt, I walk out of the bedroom and back into the bathroom. I apply some gel to tame my hair, brush my teeth, and slap on some cologne while the she-devil pouts from the doorway.
“I need you, Caleb. I’m so scared all the time, and you’re never here.” She doesn’t know when to quit, and it’s exhausting dealing with her.
“You’re safe here, Anais. No one is getting through security. Your new apartment is being fitted with a hi-tech alarm system and panic buttons in every room”—along with hidden cameras with audio recording ability, but I’m not mentioning that—“for your peace of mind. Cruz can’t get near you while you are living in this building.”
“I don’t understand why I can’t just live here with you.” She walks toward me, still completely naked, dragging one finger down the front of my shirt-covered chest. “Think of all the perks.”
She attempts to waggle her brows, but they are frozen stiff from all the shit she injects in her face. Anais used to be pretty, but she has ruined herself with multiple cosmetic procedures she doesn’t need. If she keeps it up, she’ll rival The Bride of Wildenstein for her crown.
“I don’t do roommates. I like living alone, and I have zero desire to live with any woman, including you.”
“You’re such a prick,” she snaps, stumbling over an errant shoe lying under a pile of dirty clothes on the floor. “And a messy pig to boot! This place is disgusting!”
I shove my face all up in hers. “So, clean it! Let’s call it rent.” I doubt Anais has ever lifted a single finger to clean up after herself or anyone else.
“I’m not your fucking housemaid!” she screeches, her face awash with indignation.
“And I’m not your punching bag. I’m sick of listening to your shit. If you don’t want to be here, you know where the door is.”
“I don’t care about the mess!” she says, completely contradicting herself. “I love you!” she cries, clinging to my arm, turning the tables again. “I know you love me too. If you’d just give us a chance. Please, baby. I know we can be so good together, and there is nothing standing in our way now. We can make things official.”
“You’re fucking delusional.” I pin her with a hateful look. “I don’t love you, and I never will. You were a hole to fuck when I was bored, or I wanted to fuck with your husband. Now he’s gone, I’ve realized I don’t need to put up with your mood swings and manipulations. I have never cared for you. I barely tolerated you, and I’m all out of patience.” I remove her hands from my body, leaving her jaw trailing the ground as I walk out of my bedroom.
Fuck this shit.
I’m telling The Commission I’m out. I can’t do this anymore. We should be able to get the intel we need from the cameras in her new place and the tracking device I implanted in her phone. She doesn’t have a tracking chip, but thesoldatoI have assigned to shadow her will follow her whenever she leaves the building, and that will have to be enough because I am so done.
My cell pings in my pocket as I stride along the hallway, aiming for the stairs.
“What?” I snap as I pick up.
“Sorry to interrupt you, Don Accardi,” the new security guard downstairs says. I’ve already forgotten his name. “I, um…”
“Stop acting like a pussy and spit it out,” I bark, grabbing my jacket from the back of a kitchen stool. I must talk to Ben about staff hires at this building. I seriously have my doubts about this new guy.
Anais is shrieking demands as she stalks me to the front door, but I tune her out.
“I’m not sure what you said to her,” the man says in my ear, “but Miss Salerno was very upset leaving.” There is fire behind his words I didn’t think him capable of. “I thought you’d like to know.”
I slam to a halt with my hand curled around the door handle. Anais slams into my back with a piercing fake cry. “What are you talking about?”
There’s a momentary pause. “Miss Salerno.” Confusion threads through his tone. “She dropped by to see you. I escorted her into the private elevator myself.”
I hang up on him as it instantly clicks into place. Spinning around, I grab Anais and roughly push her against the wall, gripping her chin tight.
“Ow, Caleb. You’re hurting me,” she whines.
“What. Did. You. Do?” I clip out, through gritted teeth, glaring at her.
“I didn’t do anything!” She forces a tear from her eye.
