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“She’s wealthy. Not on the dark four’s level, but her name carries some weight. Since my boss dismissed this case, I’m working off the clock. I don’t need her money.” Silence meets this statement, so I decide to elaborate while inserting the key into the lock. “She can get me in the Four Dark Horsemen’s club tonight. Octavius will be there.”
“Isla.” Giselle says one word, yet it holds so much exhaustion along with judgment, and I admit I start to sound like a stalker when it comes to Octavius.
Don’t care, though.
I’m on a mission. Besides, he threw a challenge my way, and I love to prove people wrong. “All I want is a chance for another conversation. That’s it. I’m not arranging a kidnapping.” I roll my eyes. “Could you even imagine that?”
“How do you know he’ll be there tonight?”
“It’s his annual thing with women.” I open the door and step inside, shutting it behind me and dropping the keys on the counter while my eyes land on the kid lying on the couch.
He’s been coming five times a week in the middle of the night, eating and watching cartoons until he falls asleep. Whenever I want to escort him back and say a few things to his parents, he always shakes his head and hugs my knee, silently pleading with me not to say a thing.
I sometimes think he does it so they won’t forbid him from coming here, and it’s the only time he eats or sleeps properly.
While the mother either moans loudly when the asshole sleeps with her or screams in agony when he beats her, any suggestions for help are met with shutting the door in my face and telling me to mind my business.
I gave up, and the only reason I have stayed silent thus far is because the kid has no bruises. The minute they touch the kid, though, my gloves will come off.
“What annual thing?”
Grabbing a bottle from the fridge, I flick the lid and take a greedy gulp, welcoming the cold liquid sliding down my throat, and slip off my shoes, heading toward the shower. “He has sex with women once a year. In his club.” My hold on the bottle tightens, and it crunches under the pressure, the water spilling onto my palm. Thoughts of Octavius with anyone send jealousy rushing through my system, awakening the green monster I didn’t even know existed within me.
The idea of him touching, kissing, or…sleeping with another woman creates pain mixed with anger and rage, and the stupidity of this only adds to my confusion when it comes to this man.
And the fact that I have no right to feel this way…let’s just say getting information from him tonight is second on my list of priorities.
“How do you know that?”
Turning on the light inside the bathroom, I put her on speaker and place the phone on the counter before removing my clothes and throwing them inside the hamper. “I’m a private investigator after all.” I decide to omit the fact that this information slipped from Callum during our latest conversation when he called me to ask what kind of surprise Giselle would prefer.
Thinking about it now, though, it seems he just called to inform me about Octavius because he hung up shortly after and didn’t even care about my opinion regarding the surprise.
“So that’s your plan? To anger the man even more by ruining his annual hookup?”
“Yeah. And interrogate him for the information I need.”
Giselle whistles. “Isla Evans, you’re a brave woman. Stubborn and a bit foolish at this moment, but brave nonetheless.”
“What can I say? I love risks and hope for rewards.”
We share a long laugh before I sigh. “Gotta go. I have around three hours to take a shower and get some sleep before Penelope comes here. Love you, Giselle.”
“I love you too. And please message me when you enter the devil’s den. I’ll count the hours.”
“Will do.” Pressing on the display, I end our call and lean on the sink, studying my reflection in the mirror.
All the plain glory that’s me with my messy and sweaty hair.
And despite how small it makes me feel to think this way…a thought in my head remains.
If I were beautiful, would Octavius give me the time of day?
At such moments, I hate myself.
Because my reflection reminds me that I can want and lust after a man who creates problems for me…but he…he won’t ever feel the same.
If he did…he wouldn’t plan to sleep with anyone tonight.
