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Not that it mattered. I took over the family when he was gone, and I’d do my duty in his memory. I loved him and I always would.
He worked so hard to banish the blackness that lingered in my heart, and he’d almost been successful.
But he hadn’t cut away all the rot, and I doubted anything could.
Chapter 4
Melanie
I stood in front of the cloudy, dusty full-length mirror in the bathroom and smoothed out my skirt.
I looked pretty good. Not amazing, not like I was trying to impress him—but good. I tugged at my hair, running my fingers through the strands, and forced myself to stop. I didn’t want him to think that I was taking this stupid little dinner seriously, but I also didn’t want to look like a slob. It was a fine line to walk.
“You’ve been in there for thirty minutes,” Sarah called out. “I’m starting to think you fell in.”
“Fell in where?”
“The toilet? I don’t know.”
“Gross.” I stepped out of our shared bathroom and leaned against the wall. “How do I look?”
“Ravishing,” she said without looking up from her calculus book.
“Thanks for that.”
She sighed and closed it. Sarah was pretty with dark brown hair and long lashes, but all she ever did was study. She practically lived in the library, which was great for me. I wasn’t used to having a roommate, and even though I’d insisted on it when I came out here, it took a little bit of getting used to.
“Where are you going looking so hot?” She grinned, leaning her chin on her fist.
“Hot?” I pulled at the hem of my shirt. “I was going for casual but pretty.”
“Everything looks hot on you.”
“Now you’ve lost your mind.”
She laughed and shrugged. “Seriously, where are you going?”
“Out with a guy.” I hesitated and checked my phone. I had about two minutes to get downstairs before Nervosa showed up.
“You’re going on a date? It’s been like a week since we moved in here.”
“I move fast, what can I say? And it’s not really a date.”
“What would you call it then?”
“A casual meeting.”
“Right, super casual.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Have fun with your casual meeting. You realize this guy probably assumes this is a date, right?”
I hesitated, turning toward the door. Did Nervosa think this was a date? He did ask me to dinner and that was the sort of thing people did on dates—but he was an Oligarch. Nervosa didn’t need to date someone.
He took what he wanted.
And anyway, I was out of his league. That bastard had no chance in Hell and he knew it, even if he was beautiful, dangerous, and rich. Redmond would murder me if I got involved romantically with a man like that, and besides, I was more attracted to humans that didn’t have a massive body count.
“I hope not,” I said, heading to the door. “Don’t wait up!”
“Good luck!”
I headed outside and made it to the curb as a black Range Rover pulled up. Nervosa opened the back door and gestured. “Climb in.”
I got in back as a gaggle of girls walked past, gaping. I closed the odor before they could get a good look at me.
The driver pulled into traffic. Nervosa eyed me carefully. He wore jeans and a denim shirt, stylishly left unbuttoned at the top, with several leather and hemp bracelets on both wrists. He ran a hand through his hair and gazed back.
“You look good.”
“Thanks. This isn’t a date.”
He snorted. “Who said it was?”
“My roommate said you might assume.”
“She doesn’t know me.”
“Good. It’s not a date.” I felt stupid and vulnerable as he watched me with that hawk-like stare. “We’re discussing business. Nothing else.”
“Dates can be business,” he said carefully with the ghost of a smile.
“Don’t.”
“Maybe your roommate’s right. I haven’t been on a date in a long time.”
“Nervosa.”
“I’m calling this a date. Why the hell not? We’re getting to know each other. What else is a date, but that?”
“You’re such an asshole. I never should’ve said anything.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” He looked delighted with himself and I wanted to throw open the car door and roll out into the street. I might even survive, but if I timed it right, the truck behind us would roll over my face and end it all.
I regretted coming already, but Nervosa was right. He could open doors for me that would remain firmly shut, even with my brother’s name. In the Midwest, the Orchard family reigned supreme—but out here, there were other powers in charge. I could only get so far on my family’s reputation.
The Rover parked outside of a quiet-looking strip of shops. Nervosa got out and offered me a hand. I ignore it, stepped onto the curb, and craned my neck. I figured we were going to some fancy restaurant, but instead Nervosa angled toward a pizza place a couple storefronts down. He strolled inside, pausing only to hold the door for me.
