AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I think that just took three years off me.
“I guess congratulations are in order?” Talya flipped her hair over her shoulder as she sucked away on a lemon from her drink. “She’d have been too high maintenance for Grim, anyway.”
“And you’re not?” I countered and fought hard to keep a bored expression.
“You never complained.”
“Because I was in love with you,” slipped through my lips before I could stop them. Her face fell, and I looked away.
“You love me?” Her sweet tone made me remember all the good times we’d had together in my room, but that was as far as it should have gone. The bar was a mistake, a relapse, an error. I’d strung her along, and that wasn’t fair. I knew that then, and I knew it now. I looked at her sadly as I came to the realization that I needed to let go forever.
“Loved,” I corrected her. “You’re better off dating Grim.”
“No one dates Grim. I mean, think of his nickname. He’s like sleepin’ with some dark force. Don’t get me wrong, the man can fuck. Lord knows he can.” Her mouth dropped open for a second as if remembering their time together. “But he’s not someone to stay with for long.”
That was something I didn’t need to know. Her welfare no longer concerned me, I reminded myself.
“I’m not sure what that means.” I noticed Grim hadn’t even glanced at Talya when she left his side. Most likely, he didn’t care. Grim turned heads. The darkness he carried made him intriguing and scary enough for chicks to want to dabble in their darkest desires. Why would he pin himself down with a girlfriend when he could party it up here in Mexico or Vegas with whoever he wanted?
“He’s just a means to piss off my father and, well, you.” She gave me a wry look.
“It didn’t work.” I shrugged through my lie. However, her comment about their sex life made it a little easier to push my feelings aside.
“That’s too bad, because I would’ve gone all the way with you, Eric.”
“Maybe in another life,” I mumbled. Talya stood there just long enough for me to smell her perfume, and I started to cave. Just as the need to reach out and touch what I’d wanted so badly, she left with a sniff. The time had come to stop trying to hurt one another. Our time had passed.
“Eric,” Chili was suddenly at my side, “the money will be wired by morning. Castillo said once it clears, she’ll be delivered. I told him I wanted you to bring her to me.”
“Of course.” I shook his hand. “A pleasure doing business with you, as always. You had me sweatin’ there for a bit.”
“I wanted to see who I was up against before I made my move.”
“Smart.”
“I expect her at my place the day after tomorrow.” He looked carefully over at Castillo. “I still don’t trust him, so keep a close eye on her. I’ll see you then.” He left, and I allowed myself a moment to relax. This day had taken a toll on me.
Naturally, I wanted to watch Talya, but I found myself watching Chili as he headed toward Lexi. He held out his hand, and when she didn’t take it, he whispered something in her ear. Slowly, her hand rose to meet his, and he smiled warmly as they shook. He spoke to her for a moment more then strolled away when Grim came to approach him.
“Another?” A waitress batted her ridiculously long lashes at me, and I tried to hide my cringe at her fake face. “Or I can get you something stronger? Or something else altogether.” She ran a blue nail over her lip.
“No, thank you.” I dropped my glass on her tray. “I’m just leaving.”
“Well, if you change your mind.” I nodded and stepped back as my phone rang and I pulled it from my pocket. It was Alejandro.
“Eric,” he said before I spoke, “where’s the girl?”
“She’s…” I twisted and saw she wasn’t in the chair anymore. “She was just here.”
“Castillo’s coming up behind you.” The line went dead.
“Eric.”
I turned to face him. “Castillo. Where’s the girl?”
“There’s been a slight change in plans.” Fuck. “You’ll both spend the night here. Just until the money clears, then I’ll give her to you to deliver.”
“Why is that?”
