Convict (Sin City Salvation 2)

“Hey.” I shifted on the uncomfortable bench, hoping this wasn’t the dumbest idea I’d ever had. “I’m here to see you actually.”

“Me?” She blinked. “Why?”

“Well, that depends.” I offered her a nervous smile. “Can I trust you?”

Kylie’s apartment was clean and well put together, just like her. Everything in the space painted a picture of a happy life, including the family photos that hung from the wall. It explained a lot. Someone as emotionally well balanced as she was could only ever come from a family like that.

“That’s my brother.” Kylie pointed at one of the men in the photo. “He’s the doctor in the family. And my sister Kelly is a surgeon.”

“Wow,” I murmured. “Your parents must be pretty proud.”

She shrugged lightheartedly. “I’m somewhat of a black sheep. I went into the medical profession because I felt like I had to take that path to make them proud. But honestly, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t have.”

Her words surprised me, but it was proof that even though someone’s life might look perfect on the outside, there was no such thing.

“Hope you don’t mind peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner.” She walked into the kitchen and pulled out a few ingredients. “I don’t do much of anything exciting. By the time I get home, I’m too tired to cook.”

“I bet.” I took a seat at the island bar across from her. “PB and J is good with me. I didn’t even know how to cook until…” The words faltered when I realized I was about to mention Ace. Kylie seemed to sense where I was going and took a hard left turn in the conversation.

“What about your family? What do they do?”

I threaded my fingers together in my lap, considering the best lie to give her. I always had several at the ready, but it was a lot of work to keep the stories straight. It was exhausting, in general, to lie. So I was only somewhat surprised after the day I’d had that the truth spilled from my lips instead.

“I only have a sister. Our mom passed away when we were young.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Kylie’s tone held genuine regret. “That must have been really hard.”

I shrugged like it didn’t bother me anymore, but the truth was, I didn’t know if it would ever stop bothering me. “We survived.”

She slid a plate across the bar and followed with a glass of water before she sat down next to me, and we ate together in silence. There was definitely some unresolved tension between us, and I didn’t really know what I was doing here. I just knew that I couldn’t go to a hotel or Gypsy’s, and Kylie was the only other person I knew in Vegas. But it was clear we really didn’t have anything in common, and I wasn’t entirely sure she didn’t harbor some resentment toward me.

“How about some wine?” she asked as she finished her plate and went rummaging through one of the cupboards. “It seems like we both need a glass.”

“Yes, please.” My shoulders relaxed at the suggestion. “Wine would be great.”

She poured us both a glass and then gestured to the balcony. “Want to go sit outside? It’s a nice night for it.”

I nodded and followed her out the door, and we both took a seat and stared off into the horizon where the fading sun created a wash of burnt oranges and gold across the skyline.

“Do you blame me for what happened between you and Ace?” I asked.

Kylie looked over at me and laughed. “You mean do I blame you for converting a man incapable of a relationship into a love-sick puppy dog?”

An awkward laugh burst from my lips. “Yeah, no. He isn’t in love with me.”

Kylie rocked back in the chair and lit a cigarette. “I don’t blame you for what happened. If I was a man, I’d probably feel the same about you, drop-dead gorgeous as you are. What Ace and I had was a business arrangement. I knew it could end at any time, and so did he. That’s all it boils down to.”

I swirled the crimson liquid in my glass before letting the flavor explode across my tongue, secretly trying to decipher the distinct notes before I swallowed. I always felt like drinking wine was a little like drinking the blood of the region it came from. The hard labor, the sun, and the rain that had gone into making the blend. Each bottle was unique, and this was a good one. It only made me appreciate Kylie more. I was afraid to ask her, but I knew I had to. For the sake of my own sanity, I had to know.

“By business arrangement, you mean…”

“Men hire me to do things to them,” she said. “Things that society considers taboo or fucked up, but it fulfills them.”