Han tilted his head. “Of course, it is not how you remember it. Favorite sons like you never remember it the way it really was. You throw your things away, then whine and try to get it back when you realize it was valuable.”
“Okay, again, I’m not an object,” I remind the both of them.
But Han barely seemed to hear me. His hard gaze stayed on Brad. “Yes, you know what I am. And now you must make a choice.”
“Leave now my way, or….” Han stepped to the side and swept a hand toward the door. “Leave now your way.”
“Are you kidding with this macho male bullshit?” I asked Han. Then I glanced over my shoulder to tell Brad. “You don’t have to—oof!”
That was the sound I made when Brad pushed past me and ran—just cut out the still-open door like he had a fire at his back.
Or a ruthless Chinese Dragon.
I gaped in his wake.
“Do not be surprised. Most people are cowards. You cannot trust them to stay when danger is involved. It does not matter if they once claimed to love you,” Han informed me with a smirk. Then he strolled out the door himself.
By the time I gathered my stuff and made it to the parking lot, Han was nowhere to be seen. Just Chen. He waited right outside the office instead of in his usual discreet space toward the back of the parking lot. And the car was idling as if he’d been given precise instructions to meet me right there.
Han had appeared out of nowhere, then left me to get home by myself without any explanation whatsoever.
I got in the car, and neither Chen nor I said a word as he ferried me back to the penthouse.
We were also silent in the elevator before he got off on the seventh floor. I already knew he had plans to meet up with Dexter tonight for a family barbecue at his parent’s place. A huge milestone for what had started as a fun, temporary relationship. But instead of talking about it, Chen departed with a wordless wave, leaving me to continue to the top floor.
However, I knew without him telling me that Han was in the penthouse. Chen never let me go up to the top floor alone unless he was already there.
I found Han at the lanai’s glass doors when I walked into the penthouse, doing that modern Fae King kingdom survey again. He had a tumbler with clear white liquid in one hand, and on the other side of the glass, all sorts of beautiful fireworks were popping off. But I didn’t linger to watch, just beelined to my room.
And the Fae King didn’t even look up as I rushed toward a much-needed, long, hot shower.
The shower put me in a better mood. By the time it was done, I decided I’d grab a beer from the fridge and go out to the lanai to watch the fireworks popping off all over the island.
Thank goodness, I had my camp clothes to change into afterward now, I thought as I walked into the closet, toweling off my wet curls. I don’t know what I would have done if I still only had a skimpy towel to cover my—
I stopped short when I entered the walk-in closet. All my camp shirts and surf suits…they were gone. Again!
21
JAZZ
“You freaking asshole!” Forget the towel. I charged out of the room, not caring that I was as naked as the day I was born.
Han turned with his glass raised like I was an incoming train he’d been expecting. I realized he probably hadn’t bothered to acknowledge my arrival earlier because he’d known I’d be right back.
He took a sip of whatever he was drinking and had the nerve to look weary as he answered, “I’ve had a long day, Jasmine. Accept your punishment and return to your room. There is no need for further drama.”
I choked so hard on indignation, I was surprised I could even speak to answer, “Oh, I’m so sorry that you’re tired after your long day of threatening to hurt ex-boyfriends and stealing shit that doesn’t belong to you! But no, we’re doing this! Who the hell do you think you are?”
As angry as I was, he took another sip of his drink before answering, “I’m the man you still haven’t paid back. The one who gets to decide what goes where in my home. And as for your ex….”
He shrugged. “I had no intention of hurting him. I simply wanted you to understand that he is a coward who does not value your protection.”
“I don’t need protection!” I screeched at him. “There’s been no sign of K Diamond whatsoever, and for all I know, you didn’t even fall out with him. Maybe you’re some psycho who only brought me here to play your sick mind games.”
