AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Me: You are disgusting. I got your little present and if your intent was to scare me off for good, mission accomplished. You’re no better than Jack, Nico Rossi. And if you ever come near me again, I will call the police and have you arrested.
I stare at the screen, my blood boiling, as I await the telltale blue dots.
Only they never come.
That jerk left me on read.
I toss my phone onto the couch and slump back in my chair with a huff. This can’t be my life right now. How did I run away from the arms of one psycho only to fall into the clutches of another?
I stare at my computer screen for another few seconds, at the dozens of unanswered emails. Nope. I can’t do it. Slamming the laptop closed, I reach for my crutches. I need to get out of this house.
“Thank you so much for coming to meet me.” I squeeze Rose’s hand on the bench.
“Oh, my gawd, Mais of course. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about your ankle sooner. I could’ve come over to help.” She brings her favorite Macha latte to her lips and sucks down a big gulp. “You know my workload has been pretty low since Dante forced me to cut back on my hours at Dr. Winchester’s. Overbearing asshole…” she murmurs, but her lips curve into a goofy smile all the same.
She’s so insanely happy with Dante it’s crazy.
I wave a nonchalant hand. “It’s really not necessary, I swear I’m fine.” Then I swallow the lie down along with a mouthful of my cappuccino. I wish I could tell my friend about Nico, and Jack, all of it. But she’s been through so much herself, I hate to drag her into my drama.
“Wait, so did you get to go on the date with Central Park guy?”
My lips pucker, and I want to smack myself for splattering my emotions across my face.
“What?” Rose’s eyes widen. “Tell me everything.”
Only I couldn’t. How could I tell her that my stalker gouged out the eyes of the first man who’d taken an interest in me since Jasper. Oh, and that my admirer was a slimy pedophile who made videos of every woman he screwed.
Freaking, heck. How did this become my life?
“Maisy?” Rose flashes her hand an inch from my nose. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, nothing. Jack was a dud.”
“Not a problem, Maisy. You’ve always got to date a few frogs before you find your prince.”
I nearly choke on a laugh.
She reaches for my phone, opens the Love Roulette dating app and starts to scroll. “But no worries, I’ll find you someone.”
“No!” I blurt and snatch the cell from her hands. Good lordy, the last thing I need is to get another man killed, innocent or not.
“Come on, girl, you can’t give up just because of one bad date.”
“Maybe she’s learned her lesson.” A deep voice from over my shoulder raises the hair on the back of my neck.
Rose’s head twists around as fast as mine, her eyes bulging as they land on the monster coalescing from the shadows. “What the fuck are you doing here, Rossi?” she spits.
He lets out a chuckle and stalks closer. Every nerve-ending in my body snaps at attention at his looming presence. “Always lovely to see you too, Rose.” His dark gaze lances over me, capturing me for an impossibly long moment before I tear my eyes away. “How lucky am I? Not only did I get to see my half-brother today, but now my new sister-in-law. I heard congratulations are in order.”
“What did you do to Dante?” Rose reaches for her phone and types out a quick message.
“Relax, your charming husband is just fine. Call him if you don’t believe me.” He creeps closer, rounds the bench and settles in beside me.
“Stay away from her,” Rose hisses with the phone pressed to her ear.
As she confirms Dante’s well-being, Nico inches closer, his thigh brushing against mine. “I see you received my latest gift?” he whispers.
“You’re sick,” I snarl. The image of Jack’s eyeballs rolling across my floor make me want to rip my own eyes out.
