Page 11 of One Last Rainy Day
Even when I full-out warned her that being here wasn’t in her best interest, she didn’t pause before leaping over the line I drew, entering the garage, and making herself at home amongst us with Sean’s encouragement.
So, while she might be asking the right questions for answers she’ll never uncover on her own, this seems more a classic case of a good girl wanting to go bad or, at least, make bad decisions.
That’s where I come in.
I don’t scare her. Iintrigueher.
My blatant disgust with her invasion of my life and space only draws more curiosity, which I will use to my advantage as soon as I can swat her new bodyguard away.
Shifting my focus back to Sean, I stare past his bullshit reasoning—the image of his fingers curling around her earlier in a slight hint of possession fresh in my mind. “Do I even need to say it?”
The flick of his Zippo is the only answer I get for a few seconds until he lifts eyes full of contempt. “Yeah, Dom, maybe you better.”
“You willing to fuck us all over for her?”
“Yeah, I’m in love,” he spouts dryly.
“You’re fuckingsomething.”
“Maybe I am. Because she’s got real heart, seems pure of soul, and has a fucking brain. We both know she’s innocent in this,” he emphasizes, “I guess keeping that in consideration makes me a real fuckingmonster.”
“I’m driving her. Figure it out. I’m not asking.”
He swallows the fact that I just pulled rank for the first time in our relationship and I discard any worry about what it means for us. He steps back and gives me a slight dip ofhis chin before stalking over to Cecelia to caress her awake. It’s then I know who’s in real danger, and it’s not Cecelia fucking Horner.
Speakers bleeding with “Bundy” to drown out the possibility of conversation, I can’t ignore Cecelia’s fear-filled screech as it morphs into high-pitched laughter while I race toward Roman’s estate. Even with my agitation prominent, I fail to fight off the threat of a smile, knowing she’s high off this. Palms on my dash, hair flying around the cabin due to the open windows, I ignore the weight of her stare while she analyzes me as she has all night. A few of the lingering gazes between usI incitedearlier as I licked my blunt wrap like I lick pussy. She attempted to engage me a couple of times before and since, which I would find more irritating if I didn’t need that attention to hook her without niceties.
Unlike Sean, I am dedicated toplayingmy part.
But...I don’t deny or lie to myself about the attraction that hums when she leans over to punch in her father’s gate code as Tyler pulls up behind us. Despite her attempt not to touch me, her silky hair drags along my forearm as I get a good whiff of whatever she’s sprayed on beneath her uniform.
My eyes drink in her profile for the few seconds she crowds my space. Tragically beautiful.
Even if I’ve surprised myself by being able to appreciate the look of her—unlike Sean—I have a talent for ignoring it since I got my first hard-on and have learned to make good use of it.
Shrugging off the allure of the bait that currently has Sean’s balls in a vice grip, I slowly roll up the drive, scanning the surroundings and taking notes.
Though I’ve seen Roman’s fortress from every angle and memorized the fucking blueprints before they hammered the first nail in, this is my first up-close look.
My suspicions are confirmed as I pull up. It’s the distance from any cover to the house that makes getting it wired impossible without detection. Any attempt to do so would trigger an investigation on Roman’s part to find outwhoand why. Something he’s proficient in doing and doing well. Right now, he’s aware of every one of his earned opponents...save us.
We know this due to years of successful surveillance. Like us, Roman pays those who do his dirty work well enough to keep his secrets.
This house has never been a hot spot for activity until now—and we need in.
She’s the way.
Pulling through the circular drive to the foot of the stairs, I finally flit my attention her way.
“I don’t know whether to slap you or thank you,” she says, deep-blue gaze rolling over me.
“You loved it,” I counter before turning back toward the house. It’s impressive enough, but in my mind, this is the place where my enemy currently dwells...sleeping mere feet away. The closest any raven has gotten in nearly a decade.
With the Glock resting in my glove box, I could end this long game point-blank while simultaneously gaining the freedom to unleash on the monsters who’ve taken residence in my mind. But inside the house in front of me resides a monster who stole my childhood by plotting my parents’ deaths for seeing him beneath his carefully placed veil. Who covered up their murders and brushed their children awaylike debris with a payoff. The same sort of payoff he seems to be offering his own child for arduous and unnecessary labor.
What could Cecelia possibly fucking mean to him if he’s so willing to let her work in that factory after ignoring her for years?
Nothing. She can’t mean anything to him. She may be another victim of his ruthless fucking mind as well.
