He turned with the strike and clenched his jaw. He stepped back and rubbed his cheek, his eyes diverted because he couldn’t look at me. He was too enraged to say a word, to try to stop me from leaving. He turned and walked away, like being close to me was dangerous for both of us. He walked into the bedroom and slammed the door so hard, the door cracked off the hinges.
I walked out and did the same—but the door didn’t break.
10
Damien
Charlotte was asleep beside me, the sheets wrapped around her naked body. She was stuck to me like glue, calling me all the time because she claimed she needed my body on top of hers. I was lonely, so I never said no. If it wasn’t her, it would just be someone else, so what difference did it make?
Hades called me. The phone vibrated on the nightstand.
I grabbed it and headed into the hallway so I wouldn’t wake my guest. “What happened?”
“Security at the Tuscan Rose contacted Sofia.”
“Okay…”
“Anna checked in thirty minutes ago. Paid for a room.”
I stilled at his words and stared at the windows that lined the hallway. It was dark outside, and since I was on the top floor, I didn’t get any glare from the streetlights outside.
“Since you enjoy sticking your nose in her business, I thought you should know.”
Liam must have asked her if he could return to death fighting. And she gave her answer…loud and clear. “Thanks…”
“Are you gonna go down there?”
That was my first impulse. Grab my coat and leave. But being in a hotel room with her alone… Nothing good could come from that. “I don’t know…”
“I can take Sofia instead.”
They were good friends, but the idea of someone else comforting her didn’t feel right. I wanted to be there for her, to be the friend I said I would be. “I’ll go.”
There was a really long pause. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Damien—”
“Nothing is gonna happen.” I wouldn’t do anything stupid again.
Hades let it go. “Alright. Good luck.”
11
Annabella
I ordered room service and ate it in bed.
Liam didn’t try to call me. He probably knew I wouldn’t answer if he did. It was best if we both cooled off and took some time apart. When I came to the Tuscan Rose, I didn’t know where else to go. I didn’t have a friend I could call to crash on their couch. Sofia came into my mind, but she was pregnant and happy with her husband. I didn’t want to interrupt their night. So, I came to my second home, the place where I spent forty hours every week.
A knock sounded on the door.
I quickly turned off the TV and stilled. It must be the maid for turndown service because no one had any idea where I went. Liam was strong, not smart, so he wouldn’t have figured it out. I quickly put on a robe because it would take too long to get back into my skirt and blouse, and I opened the door.
And came face-to-face with Damien.
I stared at him blankly because I thought I was dreaming for a moment. There was no way he was on the doorstep of my hotel room at ten in the evening. He must be a staff member who looked just like him.
But he wore the same jeans, same shirt, and the same leather jacket I’d seen him in before.
His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked at me, studying the surprise on my face. “Hades told me you checked in to the hotel.”
So, it was him. “And how did he know that?”
“He knows everything that happens in this hotel.”
I released my grip on the door and stepped back slightly. “That doesn’t explain why you’re here.” My breath probably smelled like the burger and fries I’d just devoured, along with the ice cream sundae. There might even be fudge on my face, but there was no way to check now. I was always uneasy when I was around him, but even more so now that I was caught off guard, wearing a heavy hotel robe.
“I wanted to check on you.”
My own husband didn’t try to check on me. He hadn’t called or texted. “Well, I’m fine…”
He stared at me like he didn’t buy the lie. He invited himself inside and let the door shut behind him. He glanced around the room and slid his hands into his pockets. “You and Liam aren’t getting along…”
“Something like that.” I moved to the small table with two chairs near the window and took a seat. My clothes were on the floor, and my boots had been kicked across the room. I didn’t have any makeup on either.
He sat in the other chair.
“He told me about the death fighting.” I could barely look at Damien because I knew he was behind it. This fight had been caused by him…indirectly.