After climbing the stairs again and walking into his room, I see that Mateo hasn’t moved and he’s breathing softly. I check his closet, marveling at his watch collection, and then find his wallet in his pants and take a photo of his license.
That’s all I’m going to get out of this. The best sex ever in the history of sex and a photo of his license.
I really suck at this.
And I’m tired myself. I worked all day at the shop, spent the evening at the fight, and was put through the sexual paces by the Latino god over there, so I need to go home and catch a few hours before I have to go to work again.
I can’t resist taking one last look at him.
“I hope you’re not the monster in my story,” I whisper before I grab my bag and leave the bedroom, hurry down the stairs to the front door, and let myself out.
I press the button for the lobby floor and then exit the building and walk down a block before I order an Uber to go home.
Once I’m safely in my apartment, I shed my clothes and toss them in the laundry basket, take a hot shower, and then fall into bed.
I’ll start my research on Mateo in the morning.
Five
MATEO
“Wake the fuck up.”
Surfacing out of sleep is like trying to swim to the top of the ocean in the middle of seaweed. Hard as hell.
My head is pounding as I pry one eye open and see that it’s Julian, my brother from another mother, scowling down at me.
“Go away.”
“You need to wake your ass up,” he repeats. “Trust me, I don’t want to be here.”
I manage to sit up and scowl. My mouth feels like it’s filled with cotton, andChrist, I have to piss.
“Bathroom,” I mutter, not bothering to hide my nudity as I make my way toward the door. After washing my hands and splashing cold water on my face, I pull on a pair of sweats and a tank and walk down to the kitchen, where Julian’s pouring me a cup of black coffee. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Although we don’t share DNA, Julian, along with Rome and Carson, are my brothers in every way that counts. We have the passcodes to each other’s homes. We have weekly meals together. I adore Rome’s and Julian’s wives, and the fact thatRome’s wife, Lulu, is pregnant makes me giddy as fuck. I’m going to be the favorite uncle.
But I don’t want Julian’s face to be the first thing I see in the morning.
“I was alerted that your electronics were compromised last night.”
I scowl over the rim of my mug. “Huh?”
“Exactly. Your phone and computer, here in your penthouse. Someone tried to hack into them and got the passwords wrong a shitload of times.”
Julian is our hacker. Our electronics expert. He keeps our tech safe, which in our line of work, is a big fucking deal.
“Who?” he asks, staring at me.
And then I remember her. All fiery hair, tattoos, and the prettiest fucking moans I’ve ever heard.
“Violet,” I reply, and take another sip of coffee. “She was the only one in here.”
Julian tilts his head to the side, watching me. “You brought a womanhere?”
I never have before.Ever.I fuck at Rapture, occasionally in my office at the club, butneverin my home.
And yet last night, I didn’t hesitate to bring her here.
