Page 111 of XO Karma

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to eat ever again after that.”

“Well, I was promised a real date.”

“I was actually hoping to go to your place. There’s a theory I’d like to test.”

“That so?” he asks with a wicked grin.

“Sorry, I mean regarding the case.”

“Lame. Can’t the murder stuff wait till tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.” I glare his way. “You’re the one who can’t go twenty-four hours without offing someone.”

He scoffs. “I’ll have you know, I once went sixty-two days between kills.”

“Well, I better call Guinness World Records! My apologies for underestimating you.”

He grins, eyes skating along my body in a way that has me squirming. “I’ll forgive you if you let me bury my face between your legs again the second we’re home.”

“Has it also been sixty-two days since the last time you had pussy? You’re insatiable. And have you forgotten everything we just witnessed?”

“Baby, the second my eyes land on you, I forget my own name,” he says as we near the bushes to the front of the house. How can I argue with that? He slides a hand around my lower waist, taking the first drag of the cigarette as we round the corner. An unconcerned guard looks to us, and Aster blows out a puff of smoke, then bites the cigarette between his teeth and digs something out of his pocket, along with a $100 bill.

A valet comes our way, and Aster hands them a ticket, then retrieves the cigarette between his fingers once more, blowing another puff of smoke to the side.

“You’re dripping in money too?” I scoff, and he cocks a brow. “Sorry, I forgot. I’m sure contract murder is quite lucrative.”

He sighs. “It is. But I also happen to be excellent at investing.”

“Oh, god,” I groan. “Please don’t give me a lecture on the Dow. I am not looking for a man in finance.”

“That’s funny coming from someone who’s figured out how to code a crypto automation,” he tells me as a car comes to a stop before us. A familiar car that’s not Aster’s.

“Shit,” I mutter.

“What’s wrong?” Aster asks as Jackson steps out of the vehicle and rounds the hood.

“That’s my brother’s partner,” I tell him, and he glances Jackson’s way.

“Lil?” Jackson says, pulling my attention, and I force a smile. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s a party.” I wave a hand. “What are you doing here?”

“Like you said.” He gestures to his fitted tux. “It’s a party.”

An awkward beat passes between us. “Oh, sorry.” I point to the unexpected guest. “Aster, this is⁠—”

“Jackson,” Aster says, holding out a hand, and my brows knit.

“Hey,” Jackson replies, returning the gesture. “How you been?”

My confusion heightens. “Do you two know each other?”

“Yeah. We, well, he was good friends with my brother.”

“Oh,” I say. And the surprises keep coming. “Small world, I guess.”

Jackson glances between us, grinning wide. “Are you guys on a date?”