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Maybe I really am losing my mind. Maybe our night together never even happened and I imagined it all.
Dread fuses with the hurt feelings building inside my chest.
Oh my god… What if none of it happened?
A man walking through my patio door, sitting on my couch, eating my popcorn… It’s crazy.
Leaving my patio door open for that same man to miraculously climb back through… to take my virginity… That’s insanity.
One long finger taps the counter, causing me to blink.
My hand lifts. “Are you real?” I whisper the question. Not meaning to, but not able to stop myself.
But he doesn’t answer me, and I don’t dare reach across the counter to see if he’s really there.
With shaky fingers, I type in the drink order. Hoping that there really is a man in front of me. That I didn’t make it all up.
The little display shows the total and instead of saying it out loud, I swivel the screen around so he can see it too.
A twenty gets set down on the counter, and I quickly make change, sliding the small stack of bills and coins across the counter.
I watch the hand that picks up the money, putting it back in his wallet. But before he closes the black leather, he pulls out a hundred-dollar bill, setting it down between us.
“I’m real, Sweet Girl.”
CHAPTER32
Nero
When Paytonfinally looks up at me, the stricken expression feels like a punch to the ribcage.
And I get it. Two nights ago, I took her innocence, and today, I’m acting like I’ve never even seen her before.
I want to grip her chin and tell her that I’m doing this for her. To keep her safe. That no one can know that I-
I grit my teeth.
I what?Carefor her?
I don’t even know her.
Turning my back on Payton, and the hurt in her eyes, I hold in my sigh as I take a seat across from Mayor Devon.
Thankfully, he doesn’t question why I came into this specific café, he just starts in on some new hotel he’s invested in. He’s acting like he found it through some clever investigating, but I know for a fact he heard about it from King, because so did I. But it’s clear that Mayor Devon doesn’t realize The Alliance owns the parent company. I’m tempted to thank him for his investment in my money laundering front, but as satisfying as that would be, I know better than to utter a word because the mayor is the biggest fucking gossip I’ve ever met.
And he’s careless.
He thinks we have some sort of partnership. But that’s because he’s a fucking idiot. He’s in my pocket, indebted tome.
As he prattles on, I nod my head. It’s all good information to know, but honestly, I’ve learned more about his dealings from the hookers he uses than I have from the man himself. Which is both a perk and a downside of using the same escort service.
Not that I’ll have the need for a whore again anytime soon.
My attention slides over to Payton, who’s still busy behind the counter making my drink.
You’re the only man who’s ever been inside of her.
Lust courses down my spine.
