A beat. Then, dry as ever—“Nice to hear from you, Razor.”
Razor’s jaw tightened. “Vicious, I’ve got a drunk Lottie sitting outside the apartment. Her keys are locked in her car—which isn’t here.”
Another pause, shorter this time. “Yeah. There’s one in the office. Use your key, go through the garage.”
“Thanks.”
That was it. Razor ended the call without another word, slipping the phone back into his pocket.
His gaze shifted to Lottie, still slumped on the step, barely holding herself upright. He didn’t like it—leaving her out here alone, even for a minute—but dragging her down to the garage in this state would be worse. Slower. Riskier.
“Stay put,” he told her, voice firm.
He waited just long enough to make sure she didn’t immediately try to stand, then turned and headed back down the steps, already moving fast.
In and out. Grab the key. Get her inside before she found a new way to make this night harder than it already was.
Razor found the key hanging on the corkboard in the office, right where Vicious said it would be. He pocketed it, already turning on his heel, retracing his steps back through the garage and up the stairs.
The alley door creaked as he pushed it open.
Lottie was still there.
Asleep this time, slumped against the metal railing like her body had finally given up the fight to stay upright. Her head was tilted to the side, hair falling across her face, breath slow and uneven.
“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.
He unlocked the door and shoved it open,before bending to lift her into his arms. She didn’t wake as he carried her inside, her head resting against his chest with every step.
Razor moved through the apartment without slowing, straight to the bedroom. He laid her down carefully, easing her onto the mattress like she might break if he dropped her wrong.
Shoes came off next. One. Then the other. He tugged the blanket up over her, tucking it around her shoulders with a rough kind of precision that didn’t quite match the gentleness of the act.
For a second, he just stood there, watching to make sure she was actually settled. Then he turned away. In the kitchen, hegrabbed a pen and tore off a scrap of paper. In a quick, messy handwriting he jotted down a message.
Make sure to drink plenty of water. It will make you feel better.
— Razor
He left it on the table before letting himself out, the door clicking shut behind him.
Chapter Four
As Lottie walked along, she enjoyed the smells of freshly brewed coffee and warm donuts from the local coffee shop. Checking her watch she saw she had time to pop in.
“May I help you?” asked the counter girl.
“Yes. Can I get a double blondie over ice? I’ll also take an assorted dozen donuts.”
Lottie sighed, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she waited for her order. It wasn’t the time that had her squirming, it was what waited for her at work. Razor.
Today she was working the early morning shift with Razor. The man drove her crazy with his light blue eyes and his tattoos. She wasn’t short but even in stilettos he towered over her, making her feel soft dare she say delicate.
She was interested in every single inch of the man, but that’s where things stood. The interest ended at just watching him from afar.
Since Sway’s attack she had dated a couple of times. Only once had she tried to get intimate. It had been the hotel train wreck three nights ago. At least she hadn’t gone to jail for drunk driving. That had nothing to do with her being smart. It had everything to do with her dropping her keys and locking herself out of the car. Thank God for small favors.
Shaking herself she tried enjoying her surroundings. The coffee shop buzzed with the hum of quiet chatter and the sound of steam wisping from the espresso machine, but it did little to calm her nerves. Her mind went straight back to Razor, knowing he’d be waiting to question her again about the hotel parking lot. Letting out a sigh she decided there was nothing she could do about it but let it go for the moment.
