Page 30 of The Innocent

“That’s an interesting name.” Gent’s lips twitched. Fucking asshole.

“So, what do you go by?” he asked.

Imogene looked confused. She knitted her brows and leaned forward. “Excuse me?”

“What do people call you?”

She hiked her brows. “Um, Imogene.”

Gent smiled, cocked his head, and his eyes travelled down her body. Jekyll tried to ignore the fire burning inside his chest with another man looking at her with interest.

“I mean, like a nickname. Em, Genie, what?”

She shifted on her feet, awkwardly swayed, and shrugged her shoulder. “Nope. Just Imogene.”

Gent smirked. “I’m gonna come up with something.”

Like fuck you are.

“Gent,” Jekyll warned. His tone caught her attention, and she moved closer.

Imogene was completely oblivious to the tension.

“It’s so crazy just running into you like this.”

Yeah, it is. Some might even say suspicious. Jekyll veered his gaze across the street. The line was wrapped around the building with most people on their phones. Except one guy who was intently staring at them. Was she on a date? He clenched his jaw, ignoring the heat rising in his chest.

“Is that your friend?” Jekyll asked, glaring at the man.

The guy looked to be a little younger than Imogene, tall but thin.

“Oh, Lou is actually a friend of a friend. My neighbors, Ricky and Angie, invited me. They’re already inside. And Lou, their friend, is kind of working tonight. He works the circuit at the club or something like that.”

The circuit? What the fuck is happening? In a matter of six months, this woman went from volunteer librarian and teacher who made cupcakes to hanging out with dealers?

Jekyll slowly angled his head to her and hardened his stare. “Sells drugs.”

Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. “What?” She shook her head looking across the street. “No.”

Gent, who was only a few feet away, laughed. “That’s what it means, darlin’. Working the circuit is selling drugs in the club. My guess, he wants you to play decoy. Did he ask you to hold something for him?”

She knitted her brows, turning to Gent. “Like what?”

Oh, Jesus fucking Christ. Jekyll dragged his hand over his head. She couldn’t be this naïve.

“Like a package.” Gent snorted.

Killcreek had been in the drug business long enough to know how it worked for the smaller dealers. Though this asshole was taking a risk doing that in Rogue’s club. The only drugs sold from inside would be their product, giving them all the profit.

She shook her head. “N-no, I’m just here for…”

“For what?” Jekyll snapped.

“They invited me out.” The color drained from her face, and she rubbed her forehead, clearly in distress. “I just thought it would be fun.”

Too innocent for her own good.

“How much fun you think it’ll be if you get arrested?” Jekyll asked.