Page 21 of Vicious Betrayal

I don't know where else he works. Reyes might be able to give me that information, but there's a panicky feeling sitting in the middle of my chest that makes me feel like I need to find him tonight.

I could just go back to his house.

I don't know the address, but I've lived in Chicago long enough that I have a basic idea of what neighborhood it's in. All I have to do is go there, and then I can probably find the house easily enough from there, with a little driving around on the part of my Uber driver.

I don't love the idea of showing up at any man's house unannounced, or how desperate that will make me look. But that's what I am now… desperate. I'm desperate to save my family, desperate not to go to prison myself.

So showing up, it is.

—

The Uber driver doesn't seem to mind that I don't have a concrete address for him to go to, just a neighborhood where I'm looking for a specific house, since the longer we drive around, the more money he earns. And he doesn't ask questions, which I definitely appreciate right now.

It takes two wrong turns, but I do recognize the house when I see it. I tip the Uber driver well and slide out, smoothing down my dress before taking a deep breath. His motorcycle is in the driveway, and there's a light on inside, so he's definitely home.

I stand on the pavement for a moment, looking at the lit window, and I make myself take another breath. I'm so nervous that my hands are trembling, which might actually help me sell the story to him that I've shown up because I wanted him again so badly I couldn't stay away. But I have to make sure it's clear in my head why I'm doing this. I'm doing it to save my family, not for myself. I have to maintain that boundary in my head, or there's a chance I could get swept away in this and hurt myself as badly as I'm going to end up hurting him.

I have to remember why I'm here, and not get lost in my own story. I'm going to use him, not fall for him.

I cross the street and ring the doorbell.

A moment passes, and I wonder if he's going to ignore it. Or maybe he's got headphones on and can't hear, or is in the shower—the memory of him dripping wet, suds sliding over his carved muscles, makes heat rise to my face. As a result, I'm flushed when, a moment later, I hear footsteps and he opens the door.

He's in a dark T-shirt and jeans, barefoot. He looks shocked to see me.

"Oksana." The way he says my name is very careful, and I see him tense. "What are you doing here?"

"I went to the club again, and you weren't there."

"I'm not working security tonight." He pauses. "So you came here instead?"

"Obviously." I flash him a teasing grin, rocking on my heels. "Aren't you going to ask me inside? It's a little chilly, and I'm underdressed. I thought you were a gentleman."

He's quiet for a moment, looking at me. Then he looks past me at the street, checking. "You're by yourself."

"Why would I bring anyone else to your house?" I smile at him. "I don't want to share you."

He sucks in a breath at that. I see the quick beat of his pulse in his throat, and despite all my lectures to myself about why I'm here, I feel the answering quickening of my heartbeat. He wants me still; I can see it. He's trying desperately not to touch me, not to give in to what he wants. The yearning I can see in every line of his body makes desire heat in mine, and I realize that the hard part isn't going to be convincing him to fuck me again. It's going to be remembering why I'm here.

"You should go home," he says tightly.

I lick my lower lip, and I see his gaze drop to my mouth. "You said that last time."

"And I meant it last time too." But he hasn't closed the door. I'm close enough to see the faint tiredness in his eyes that tells me this is a man who doesn't sleep as much as he should. "What you and I did was a mistake, Oksana. It's not something I can repeat."

"Why not?" I keep my voice soft. "You want it, I can tell. So do I. We're both adults, Cormac. There's nothing wrong with us wanting each other."

"You're twenty years old. Half my age." His jaw works. "What we did was a lapse in judgment, Oksana."

"It was the best night of my life."

I see him tense at that as he draws in a breath. "Exactly. The fact that you're saying that means you're not old enough and haven't been around long enough to be in my bed."

"Or maybe, you're just that good." I step a little closer, and then pause. He's on the verge of retreating, and if I lose him now, I'm not sure what my next move is. "Cormac."

I see the ripple that goes through him as I say his name. I'd bet money he's hard right now. If I reached down and touched him…

I want to. Fuck, I want him again. "I don't want to stand here shivering all night," I say quietly. "I know who you are, Cormac. I know how old you are, and what you do for a living. I'm twenty, but I'm not stupid, and I have my own agency. I want you. Do you think I'd be here, risking humiliating myself, if I didn't?"