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I never really got to know any of my neighbors except for her, and that was only because she and I had a history together from our time in the system. I doubt I’ll get to know the new tenant.
So I’m only half paying attention to the sounds above me until one voice filters up above the others.
“No, that should go on the other wall. Be careful with it, it’s new.”
Natalie’s sharp tone makes me freeze. What? What the fuck is she doing here?
Turning away from my apartment door, I move toward the stairs again, walking slowly up to the third floor as my ears strain to pick up more of the sounds floating down toward me.
That’s definitely her voice. Her smug, clipped tone grates at my ears.
When I reach the top landing, I blink. Natalie is standing in the hall, directing movers as they carry things up the back fire escape steps and into the same apartment unit she used to live in. The door hangs open, and I can see inside enough to tell that the place has been completely refurnished—with expensive looking shit, from the looks of it.
What in the actual fuck?
I was pissed at Marcus for intimidating her and basically kicking her out of the apartment above mine, but I’m shocked as hell that she’d dare to traipse back into this building. I’ve seen what the full force of his wrath looks like, and it’s not something most sane people would want to go up against.
I take another step forward, and the movement draws Natalie’s attention. She glances down the hall, and as soon as her gaze lights on me, a satisfied smile curves her red-painted lips.
“Oh, Ayla. I hope we’re not making too much noise.”
The tone of her voice suggests the opposite, and when she reaches up to flip her blonde hair over her shoulder, I catch the glint of a white-gold bracelet on her wrist. In fact, everything she’s wearing looks fancier and more expensive than her usual outfits. I know she has money she basically conned out of her old foster family, but this seems like more than that.
“What the hell are you doing, Natalie?” My words are blunt. I’ve got no interest in pretending I’m on friendly terms with this bitch.
“What does it look like?” She smiles at me, showing all her teeth. “I’m moving back in. I’m actually going to be renting out two units. Since they’re so small, you know.”
She says that like it’s
a dig at me, as if she hasn’t been living in this same mediocre apartment complex almost as long as I have.
And whether she needs them or not, I know renting two apartments has to be some kind of power play. A way of metaphorically pissing on the entire building, making it clear that she’s staking out territory here whether I like it or not.
Where the hell did she get the balls to do this? Or the money?
Before I can ask her those questions point blank, a man strolls out of the open apartment door. He’s got the lazy, predatory walk of a jungle cat, moving fluidly in dark slacks and a tailored jacket. His ash-brown hair is cropped short to his head, and the slight gap between his front teeth looks like an intentional imperfection, his concession to the mortals he walks amongst.
As soon as he reaches Natalie, she wraps her arms around him, practically plastering herself to his body.
“Are they almost done, baby?” she murmurs.
“Yeah.” His arm goes around her waist, pulling her closer. “They’ve just got one more piece to bring up. Then you’ll be all set.”
“Good. Then we can try out the new bed,” she purrs.
Natalie is practically licking the side of his face, and when the man’s gaze flicks to me, she notices immediately. She extricates herself from his embrace and moves toward me, smiling smugly.
“I really hope we can get along better this time, Ayla.” She offers me a falsely sweet smile. “I don’t know why you’ve always been such a bitch to me, but I’m willing to put that all behind us if you are.”
“What the hell are you doing?” I repeat, batting away her fake magnanimity like a piece of fluff.
Her expression hardens, and disgust flashes in her eyes as she lowers her voice, taking another step toward me. “What am I doing? I’m taking back what you stole from me. And if you give me any more shit, I’ll get you kicked out this time. So watch yourself. Carson knows people, all right? He could get the landlord to evict you like that.”
She snaps her manicured fingers in my face, and when I jerk my head back a little, she preens victoriously.
Then her face suddenly pales, her spine going stiff.
Turning on her heel, she walks quickly back to the guy she’s with and wraps her arms around him again, nestling into his embrace.
