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If he prayed to God, I knew he didn’t listen and for someone that had claimed to be one himself, that didn’t seem likely either. I couldn’t give two fucks about his bride. I’m sure she was as beautiful and devious as he was. Like me, she’d be a casualty.
I’d planned out a million scenarios where I got retribution for being used as a pawn in a war that I didn’t ask to partake in. My mind was full of twisted fantasies I wasn’t suicidal enough to act on. Common sense told me that I single-handedly alone couldn’t ruin the Barrons. To destroy someone powerful you needed power. I was a badass bartender at best.
The microwave beeped mere seconds before the intercom chimed to alert me that there was someone here. I sat my glass on the counter and went to see who it was.
Diego.
The sight of him helped re-solidify the barrier I kept between myself and the ruins of my past.
As if he knew I was looking at him, he grinned and waved at the camera that allowed me to see who buzzed. It was hard not to return the gesture even if he couldn’t see me. His smile was infectious, it lit up his whole face. That grin of his is what ultimately made me give in to his advances.
I’d been solo-dolo for a while before he started coming into where I worked as a regular. Just like with my other bed buddies, I wasn’t looking to make him anything permanent.
As soon as I got a sign someone wanted more from me than I wanted to give, they were put on my list of do-not-fuck under any circumstances. Diego hadn’t even made it to the do list quite yet. He never hinted at wanting to change his position either. I could tolerate his presence more because of that.
I hit the button that granted him access into the lobby and then walked back to the kitchen to finish prepping my dinner. If there was one thing that hadn’t changed over the years, it was my love for food. I couldn’t cook but I could damn sure eat.
I leaned over the breakfast bar and took a few generous bites of steaming alfredo. It tasted just as good as it looked, no surprise there. I managed to polish off half the plate before Diego made it to the door and lightly knocked twice. I took a quick swig of my drink before going to let him in.
As soon as he saw me his infectious smile slid back in place, causing the skin around his honey-colored eyes to wrinkle at the corners.
“Hey.” I stepped out of the way so he could come inside.
While I went about locking the door, he respectfully removed his boots and neatly lined them up beside my heels.
When he straightened and faced me, I was already ready for his embrace. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into him.
“How was your shift?”
I gave him the same answer I’d given Audrey, pressing the side of my face against his chest. Diego was tall and athletically lean with a head full of dirty blonde curls. He’d played baseball all through school and fortunately for me, had kept himself in shape long after. I sighed contentedly, laughing when his hand slipped down to my ass.
His sandalwood cologne was potent enough that I could tell he’d spritzed himself before getting out of his car.
He’d been attempting to remove the lingering scent of his milds even though I’d told him on multiple occasions I didn’t mind. I let myself be held for a few more seconds before finally stepping away from him and making my way back to my plate.
“Do you want a drink?”
“Sure. I’m glad to see you’re eating.”
I glanced back at him with a smile. “When do I not eat?”
“I meant, I’m glad you’re not eating some combo from Wendy’s.”
“Wendy’s is amazing. Those fries dipped in a large vanilla frosty? Golden.”
“That sounds seriously disgusting. So, are we binging or going to bed?”
“We’re definitely binging. I’m off for the next two days and you owe me just as many episodes. Matter of fact, you get us set up while I make your drink.”
“Your wish is my command, princess.”
I forced a laugh and quickly turned away from him before my expression betrayed me. It was a harmless figure of speech, but I fucking hated that pet name. The only person to ever call me that was the one I had just banished back to some dark crevice of my mind.
Refusing to give old memories any more of my time, I focused solely on the present.
There was good food, a strong drink, and a handsome man waiting to preoccupy me with Bob’s Burgers.
The sound penetrated my state of sleep.
My eyes flew open and right away my senses screamed that something was wrong
