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His finger traces an outline before he replaces it with his lips. “Then, I swear on my life, I’ll make certain for the rest of yours you’ll be happy.”
A single tear rolls down my cheek. He smiles at me tenderly. “I hope that means you agree.”
“I do.”
He winks. “Save that for a bit. Okay?”
Did he just say that? I’d float from this bed if Ethan wasn’t in it with me. I vow to myself I don’t care how hard I have to work or what I have to sacrifice to have him, but I’m ready to offer it.
No matter what it is.
CHAPTER SEVEN
FALLON
Seven Virtues, North Carolina—Four Months Ago
“Devil’s Lair, this is Filia,” I purr into the phone.
There’s a tinkling of ice against a glass before a whiskey-honed voice that sends primitive chills down my spine rasps, “How you doin’ tonight, darlin’?”
I bite my lip as a full-body quiver this stranger’s voice evokes in me every time he calls—and he calls me quite a bit. “I’m good, honey.”
His dark chuckle causes me to clench my thighs together. “That bodes well for tonight.”
“How was your day?” I let a bit of my native Texas drawl flow into my voice because Whiskey, as I’ve taken to calling him, likes it.
And I like pleasing my boss. Florence Hopkins, my boss as well as my unorthodox patron at my third job, who knows I fully intend to make good on the promise I swore to when I agreed to become one of her phone sex operators: my mother’s life.
After my mother’s oncologist appointment, I immediately drove to her house to discuss our financial options and floated the idea of borrowing the money from the Kensingtons—specifically Ethan. “No, Fallon.”
“But... why?” I cried.
“Because I refuse you for you to be in that kind of debt when I’m gone. Having to pay the Kensingtons back when I’m dead?”
“Stop talking like that, Mama.”
She stood and gripped my biceps. “Listen to me, Fallon. No. Don’t do this. I don’t want it.”
Lips trembling, I said, “But then... you’ll die.”
Her head—hair the exact same texture and color as my own—fell forward. “Then that’s God’s will.”
“God can suck my dick, Mama.”
Her lips curved faintly. “I’m sure you’ll try to make him do just that, darling. In the meantime, let’s just enjoy the time we have left.”
Flatly refusing to let her go that easily, I hoofed it to the bar I worked at during college—Galileo’s. I pleaded. I tried everything but dropping to my knees to get my former boss to agree to let me work for him for free for whatever duration of time it took me to repay a loan. I even offered my car as collateral, but he didn’t bite.
Despondent, I heard my name being called by one of Galileo’s regulars, Florence. She huffed, “Were you serious?”
Without hesitation, I replied flatly, “As a heart attack.”
She crooked her finger until I moved closer. Then her voice changed before she threatened, “If you ever share a word, I’ll deny everything.”
My brows lowered into a V before I decided I had nothing to lose by listening to her. I’ve never been so grateful to keep my mouth shut then learning how to use it.
When I realized she was handing me a check for the full amount of Mama’s treatment, my jaw hit the floor. “You mean you can just fork over the full amount for the meds Mama needs?”
