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“Where are we going?” Mom asks when I keep driving.
Again, out-of-place emotion touches me, tugging at my lips. “Maybe I want it to be a surprise.”
She shudders, but no, it’s a laugh, I realize. I expected a shudder. I’m always expecting the worst from her, a reflex that’s grown because she’s often offered the worst. What else am I supposed to think? But here, now, she’s laughing. “Haven’t we had enough of those? I keep expecting to wake up at—”
She cuts herself off, realizing what she was about to say. I don’t know the specifics, but I can guess it is where she would take drugs. I know nothing about that and who she sees when she leaves.
Finally, I pull up outside the address.
“This can’t be right,” Mom says, staring at the tall building. It towers so high I can’t even see to the top, just the sunlight bouncing off all that metal and glass.
“This is the address,” I say, but even I’m unsure. “Wait a second.”
Taking out my cell phone, I quickly take a photo. We’re illegally parked, and I’ll have to move soon. There’s no parking anywhere. Is this the place? I quickly send Sam the text.
“Why are we just idling here?” Mom asks.
“Maybe he’s near his phone. Maybe he’ll be able to confirm this is the spot.”
“This can’t be the spot,” Mom says.
“Angela, precious flower, why are you so afeared to be plucked?”
Mom rolls her eyes. She takes a moment and lets out a long breath. I can tell she’s got less patience for Eli’s unique ways than me, especially considering her current state. “Nobody ever accused me of being a flower, Eli.”
“But there is a soul in you, and it isn’t so strange to think it could belong in a place like this. You’re not stained simply because certain things have happened to you.”
Mom’s mouth drops open. Tears rise in her eyes. She’s on the edge now, but it’s not just that. It’s Eli’s blunt, honest tone, too. We can all tell he really means it. “Thank you.”
My phone vibrates. It’s Sam. This is the place. Use the residents’ entrance to the parking lot and type in your code.
CHAPTER 9
Sam
I sit in the park across from the apartment building, a tablet open in my lap, showing the security footage of the apartment on several split screens. Everything is shiny and new and ready for my woman to move in. I pay several cleaners to keep my safe houses spotless in case I need them.
Okay, thanks, Sam.
Her text causes Jackal to turn from his sitting position and tilt his head at me. He’s been doing that a lot today, as if he finds this new smile on my face suspicious. He’s a curious dog who’ll want to know more about the object of my affection. He grumbles.
“I thought you were keeping watch,” I say, and he turns away with another grumble. “You’re a big baby today.”
A minute later—I’m good at waiting—my phone vibrates. Well, the burner. We’re riding the elevator up now. There’s a man in the elevator, an employee. Eli says it’s an old-fashioned thing. He says everybody here must be millionaires.
Not quite, I reply, but it’s a nice apartment. You and your mother and your friend will be safe there.
I honestly can’t thank you enough. I still can’t believe you’d do this.
“Why do you keep looking at me?” I ask Jackal, which causes more grumbling.
You deserve it, Katy.
It would be nice if you weren’t busy, she replies, causing lust to fire inside me, physical hunger, starvation hot on its tail. You know, so we could say thank you in person.
I swallow, wondering what she’d say if I told her where I was. Would she run across the street, that full body bouncing for me? Would she slide into my lap, opening those thick legs to give me access to her sweet slit?
A chihuahua’s barking cuts off my thoughts, which is probably good. The last thing I need is to get hard in public. That’s what thinking about my woman does to me.
I’m sure we’ll see each other soon, I reply, knowing I shouldn’t write that. Maybe she just wants the cash, even with the Bratva threat removed. She has a good thing going and will agree to anything I suggest. Or she’ll run for the hills. I don’t want either.
I want—need—her to hunger for me as I hunger for her. I never believed in soulmates, but now, I don’t know.
Really? When?
I should’ve said, I’ll see you, Katy… on the security cameras.
You’re going to be watching?
I swallow, knowing I should stop, barely hearing the high-pitched yapping of the small dog even as it gets closer. I can hear Katy’s moans in my head, and I haven’t even heard her voice, but I will soon. I’ll be able to listen to her through the cameras.
