And Bentlee.
One of them is Arthur’s latest mark and since Tristan isn’t getting off that list any time soon, it’s either my lover or my best friend.
Chapter 8
“Hey!”
Bent smiles up at me as she lingers in the doorway in her white camisole top and her lacy black boy shorts.
I push past her without a word. She curses at me, but I ignore it. I have to make sure her house isn’t bugged so to speak and then I have to get her the fuck out of here.
Once I’ve swept the place and am satisfied that no one is listening in on our conversation, I walk back to where she’s still standing by the front door.
“I have to ask you something,” I start hesitantly.
She pouts, crosses her arms over her chest, and leans back against the door. She’s pissed that I blew past her without a kiss, but she’ll have to get over it for the time being.
“Has anyone you don’t know been by?” I ask her, rubbing my chin doubtfully. “Someone that asked you questions or … um …”
When my voice trails off, she arches an eyebrow and looks at me like I’ve lost my goddamn mind.
“Gareth, what are you talking about?” she quips, reaching up and pushing her hair behind her ears. “No one knows where I live except for you—you made sure of that.”
I chuckle despite my mood.
She doesn’t live in the greatest place in the world, but I knew that no one would ever come looking for her at an abandoned whore house. And by anyone, I mean her piece of shit father.
“Nothing, I guess,” I finally say as I dig my hands deep into my pockets. “Do you wanna go back to my place?”
“Sure!” she agrees brightly.
As she begins to walk past me, I gently grip her by the forearm and when she looks at me, I give her an inquisitive look.
“Why are you awake right now?”
“Because you were pounding on my damn door,” she replies with an eye roll.
“No, you look like you’re wide awake,” I reply with the shake of my head. “How come?”
She shrugs as she slips her hand into mine and leads me back toward her small bedroom. I linger in the doorway as she packs a bag, glance around the room, and let out a loud sigh.
Walking over to her bed, I sit down, grab the dark amber-colored prescription bottle off her night stand and hold it in my hands. I won’t look up at her because disappointing someone always fucks with her more than anger.
And I am damn disappointed right now.
“I thought you weren’t going to take these anymore,” I say to her as I read the label. ADDERALL stares back up at me and Bent comes over with a huff, swiping the bottle out of my hand.
“I only took three! I’m sorry if that’s a problem, but I get lonely out here and I missed you and I … I just didn’t want to go to sleep because I didn’t know …”
A sad smile creases my lips.
You didn’t know if the monsters would be waiting for you in the dark.
I finish her sentence in my mind.
I know that rhetoric like the back of my hand because it’s the same one she used to seduce me with and it’s what she says to get out of the shit she manages to drum up for her self.
I guess having someone in the Cavalieri Della Morte that can fight the “monsters” and cares about her helps.