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“I will. See you in a bit.”
“Love you, Sukie.”
“Love you too, Mom.” I end the call and slip my cell in my purse, along with my laptop and the deposit bag. I take one final look around to make sure I remembered everything, then switch off the lights.
It’s almost dark by the time I step onto the sidewalk and cautiously take in my surroundings as I lock the door behind me. A weird sense of unease washes over me, causing my skin to prickle. I peer back over my shoulder, only to find the street nearly empty. I shake off the eerie feeling with a deep breath and set off across the road toward the back alley behind the salon.
The moment I step off the street and onto the sidewalk in front of the salon, a police car turns the corner at the end of the block and slowly creeps in this direction. My heart pounds wildly in my chest. The asshole was probably waiting for me to leave work.
Officer Campbell drives past with the passenger window to his cruiser down. He makes eye contact with me, and the sneering look on his face doesn’t go unnoticed. Luckily, he keeps moving, and I can breathe again. This is why my mom is so adamant about me calling her when I leave work and checking in with her often whenever I leave the house. She’s constantly on edge and scared of things escalating beyond tickets and bullying.
Pushing those thoughts away, I unglue myself from the sidewalk. Then my thoughts drift elsewhere. With each step I take, I can’t help but remember what happened to Sage and Harlem the night she was kidnapped and when I found Harlem hanging to life after being stabbed. Though the memories fill me with dread, stepping into the alley doesn’t. That’s because the moment I do, the motion lights kick on.
I look to my right at one of several security cameras tracking my every move. I smile, knowing someone from the club is watching me, ensuring I’m safe. A few moments later, I reach Juniper’s apartment. I lift my hand to knock, but it swings open before my knuckles touch the door.
Juniper greets me with a smile and shoves a glass of red wine into my hand.
“Hi.” I barely have a chance to get out before I’m pulled inside.
“Jesus Christ, Ju Ju.” Sage rises from the couch. “At least let the woman come in and sit down before you turn feral.”
Juniper puts her hand on her hip. “Hey, I’m going through a very long dry spell here. I’ve been living vicariously through you for over a year, and let’s face it, all your juicy stories have dried up, and now it’s Ashlyn this and Ashlyn that.”
“Hey!” Sage says, sounding offended.
Juniper rolls her eyes. “You know I adore my goddaughter but tell me I’m lying.” She waits for Sage to deny the facts. Sage just adverts her gaze and takes a sip of wine.
“Besides,” Juniper adds. “You’re the one who rushed through her last client, nearly shoving that poor girl out the door, because you couldn’t wait for Sukie to get here.”
I laugh as Sage picks up a cube of cheese from the platter and throws it at Juniper.
“You two are nuts.” I shake my head.
One hour and two glasses of wine later, I’ve given the girls the parts of last night’s event I’m willing to tell.
“I bet that man is just as broody and demanding in the sack as he is out,” Juniper says with a whimsical look on her face.
My cheeks heat at the memory of how Luca demanded control over my pleasure last night and made me come while straddling his motorcycle in front of the clubhouse.
“Damn.” Sage giggles. “Your face is giving so much away right now.”
I try to hide my blush behind the wine glass as I sip. “You can say Luca likes to…” I pause, searching for the right word. “Dominate.”
Juniper makes a show of fanning herself. “I fucking knew it.”
I bite my lip to keep from smiling.
“Tell me something else.” Juniper scoots to the edge of the sofa. “How far down do his tattoos go?”
I don’t answer her with words, but I give her a coy smile as I lift my wine glass to take another sip.
“You lucky, lucky bitch.” Juniper sighs. And I can’t help but agree.
I laugh at Juniper’s theatrics and check my phone. “It’s getting kind of late. My mom made dinner, and I don’t want to keep her waiting.”
I go to stand when my phone rings and Luca’s number pops up, making my tummy flutter. I accept his call and put the phone to my ear.
“Hey.”
