“Wait, this is Graham, your ex—the cop, right?”
I nodded.
“We got your voicemail about the serial killer last night?—”
My eyes darted between the two of them. “I’m sorry… the what?”
“—and I have this thing we have to attend for my company tomorrow,” Hunter continued. “Since I have to present awards and schmooze the crowd, I’d like to hire you to watch over Maggie at the event. As Pretty Things, she and Katie are required to attend. Plus, the two of them will be receiving the Amateur Hotties award.”
“I don’t know, man. I?—”
“I’ll pay three thousand for the evening,” Hunter offered.
Graham’s eyes went dinner plate in size. “Say no more. Where and when do you need me?”
“We will arrive at 5:30. if you could be there ten or fifteen minutes early, you know… to catch a feel for the paparazzi, that’d be great.” Hunter pulled out a promotional card for the event and handed it to Graham. “Formal attire only. Any weapons need to remain concealed.” He pointed to Graham’s leg holster.
Graham nodded. “Understood.”
“Great, see you there.” Hunter kissed my cheek. “Let’s do the blue,” he said, holding the tinsel up as he stepped over the threshold and closed the door.
“Paparazzi?” Graham tilted his chin slightly, giving me a sideways grin that said, you can’t be serious with this guy.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” He dropped a chuckle, almost under his breath. “It’s just... I’m glad he asked me to protect you. He clearly isn’t up for the job.”
I crossed my arms against my chest. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Max, come on. The guy’s wearing fucking lip gloss.”
“How do you know it didn’t rub off?”
“With that precision? Please.”
“Your point?”
“I’m just saying there is another murderer possibly targeting you… and your boyfriend’s hands look like he gets a manicure daily… there’s no way he could actually defend you, should the time come.”
“You’re such an asshole.”
“Obviously, but I need to know you’re safe. He’s not up for the task.”
I snapped back, “What, and you are? That worked outrealwell the last time you were supposed to protect me.” I regretted it as soon as I said it.
Dammit.
“Fuck, Graham, I’m sorry.”
“Forget it.” He held up a hand, stopping me. “We could chase each other around in circles over what a shitty person I am—because I will agree with you one hundred percent of the time. But we don’t know what the killer is like besides that they target women that look like you.”
Graham’s eyebrows lifted as he ran his gaze down my body. “And… God, I don’t blame him.” His voice dropped low, feral. “It’s taking everything not to grab you, pull you in and fuck you against this railing.”
I let the silence fall between us.
“Maybe that’s exactly what I want you to do,” I said softly, running my fingers against the back of his hand. “But I can’t hurt Hunter. Not after what I took from him. I can’t betray him. I owe him that much. At least if you’re here with us, you’ll know I’m safe… and we can be together.”
Everything in me wanted to step forward, strip him bare and let the cold night and that railing take the rest. I needed Graham… needed him like I needed air, like I needed blood—but I had a chain binding me to Hunter. I’d crossed a line that I couldn’t uncross, and magic like that didn’t fade—it festered. Hunter wasn’t mine by choice—he was mine because I had shackled him to me. And there was no neat little spell reversal or all-great-and-powerful wizard waiting to fix it.
