She smiles. “Definitely not. Good job we got the chance to try it before we got shut down.”
There are two men protecting the house from outside, and they’re on a shift rotation with two others to keep the coverage twenty-four-seven. That’s it. That’s all she wanted. I’m glad that they aren’t inside, but at the same time it’s kind of weird to see movement through the windows every few minutes. It’s certainly making Eden jumpy.
“I feel like I need a drink,” she says, heading to the fridge. She brings out some cans of soda and then opens a cupboard. Vodka and Bacardi come out. She pours a drink with each, using half a can with each one. “You want?”
“Sure.” I’m not overly keen on drinks that require mixers, but I take one anyway when she pushes it across the counter.
“I don’t like this,” she says with a groan, motioning as one of the men walk past the window of the living room. “I came back to Rapture to get away from this shit.”
“Eden, you’re too famous to get away with living a simple life.” Not to mention too gorgeous, and too rich.
She downs her drink. “Ugh. I need to get a new bed too. Or at least move one of the others into my bedroom.”
“I’ll sort it out while you’re gone. Don’t worry about it.” I pull her into a hug when she puts her glass down.
“How can I not?” She sighs against me. “Asher, I’m afraid.”
She pulls back to peer at my face. I know what’s worrying her the instant I gaze into her eyes. This has nothing to do with Diana and her stupid break-ins.
“No-one needs to know you have me and him.”
“It’ll come out eventually.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Everyone will know.”
“It’s not wrong, Eden. You love us both. There’s nothing sordid about it.” I believe every word, and I know she can tell I mean what I’m saying. If only the twinge of jealousy would fade. I still felt envious of the time Nick was going to steal from me, nights my bed would be cold because she was with him.
“I love you so much, Asher.” She kisses me and I try to forget it.
I have one last night to make sure she doesn’t forget what she has here. I’m going to make it memorable.
Chapter Eighteen
Eden
I could barely believe it when Asher used my own light on me last night. He calmed me down with the words I needed to hear, and he meant every last one of them. I’ve never loved him more than I did in that moment. I don’t need to worry about him. He’s okay with this. He’s not going to walk away from me.
I pack lightly. A few different outfits. Just enough for the week. One pair of heels and a little bag with my make-up and toiletries. I wear a dark T-shirt and jeans for the flight, with three-inch-heels that are easy to walk in. Asher left when I was still in bed. He kissed me long and hard and told me to have a good time. I couldn’t get back to sleep after he was gone. I felt weird about being left alone. I know he only did that because I have security now and that should make me feel safe. It doesn’t.
I don’t know why, but the only time I really felt safe before all of this shit happened, while I was still touring, was whenever I was with Logan. Now I only felt safe around Asher. It feels kind of pathetic. Those men out there are being paid to keep me safe, but in my mind that’s the whole problem. I’m just a paycheck to them. They don’t care about me. They wouldn’t risk anything to save my life.
Not that it’s my life that I’m truly worried about anymore. I’m immortal. I don’t need to worry about killers. I only need to worry about keeping my lovers happy. If I don’t it will destroy me, I’ll lose my immortality, cease to be a goddess and become human. I guess I feel safe with Asher because of how he feels about me. I know I won’t lose his love. Even if I do worry about what might change that.
What would it take? Trusting my heart to someone he thinks is a murderer? Bringing Nick home from L.A.? My stomach churns just thinking about it.
I pick up my case and head down the stairs. One of the security guys is going to accompany me to the airport. I’ll be on the plane alone, but a new guy will meet me in L.A. I start to freak a little as I get into the car with Jack, one of the two men who’ve been protecting my house.
“You’ll be pleased to know someone you’ve met before is going to meet you off the plane,” he tells me as he drives.
“Oh?” Someone I’ve met before. Could be anyone. I had a lot of guards while I lived in L.A. I couldn’t remember all of their names but I’d know their faces. It would be a relief if it was someone I could trust.
“Cain Castillo.”
I relax slightly. “I do know him.” Sky loves him. He’s the best I could ask for.
“He speaks highly of you.”
I have to smile. I barely know Cain, truth be told, but knowing how Skyler feels about him tells me everything important. He’s a good guy. He loves her too. Why else would he quit on her?
The rest of the drive is fairly quiet. He keeps the radio off at my request. I’m still trying to block any chance of hearing about Hunter and what he’s got going on. I don’t want to hear any speculation about myself either. Maybe if I keep blocking it all, it won’t matter what I do. Announce that I have several boyfriends to the world and don’t listen to the feedback. It’s my life. If people don’t like it they don’t have to.
We get there and Jack carries my case and takes me through security. We get to the private jet without incident. He passes my case to the co-pilot and I thank him for the escort.
I realise as I step onto the plane that I didn’t flirt with him, and I wasn’t attracted to him. My libido isn’t completely indiscriminate. I don’t actually desire every man I meet. It’s kind of a relief. I didn’t feel attracted to Cain, either. Or Alan. Or the pilots.
Well, that’s something. I’m currently only crushing on a doctor with a sexy voice and a by-the-book sheriff who may or may not be a killer. I’m betting on not, but maybe that’s the hormones talking.
I relax on the flight, trying not to think about the pandemonium that is L.A.X. Cain will get me through it. I’ll call Nick once I’m in the car with him. I can head to Sky’s place first if I can’t reach him.
I eat fruit-salad for lunch not long after take-off and freshen up just before landing. My hair is pinned up, and my clothes don’t look crumpled so I’m pretty much ready for anything. I hope Nick is home. I’ve missed him. We barely had a chance to see each other before he had to rush back here.
I put on sunglasses as I get off the plane. My body guard is waiting for me, as serious-faced and hugely muscled as always. Every bodyguard I’ve met has had an incredible body, but his takes it a step further. He almost looks like he’s made of stone. I can see why Sky couldn’t resist, despite her reservations about commitment. She wasn’t one for returning to the scene of a crime, as she liked to put it.
“Hi, Cain.”
He nods at me. “Miss Masterson.”
“How’ve you been?”
He seems taken off guard by the question, before he gives another curt nod. “Fine, all things considered.”
He takes me through a secure area which is always the easy part. There’s no escaping the main entrance area. He chooses the moment to escort me to the exit. I see lights flash, and I hear excited gasps. We walk faster as someone starts to incessantly call out my name.
I don’t relax until I’m in the car, the doors locked. Tinted windows are an essential. I take off the shades and put them into my purse as Cain gets in the driver’s seat.
“Not so bad,” he tells me as he starts the car.
“Yeah, you didn’t even have to threaten anyone.”
He pulls away and I breathe out a sigh of relief. I send a text message to Nick, but I tell Cain to take me to Sky’s place. He hesitates.
“Something wrong?”
He shakes his head and drives. He knows the way.
I bite my lip before I make my decision. Getting in the middle of Sasha’s love life was one thing. Sh
e’d been avoiding dealing with something when I knew getting them talking would be all it took to sort out the problem. Sky has deeper issues. Forcing Cain on her isn’t going to make her melt for him. The only thing swaying me is feeling sure he has no real grasp on how deep her feelings run.
“I don’t get what happened between you,” I say, knowing he’ll at least listen, even if he doesn’t answer me. “I know Sky cares about you. She’s cut up over you quitting.”
He’s quiet and I wonder if he’s too angry to talk. I don’t say anything more. I think about touching him, finding out how he feels. I don’t need to. I know how he feels without needing to do that.
“Good,” he says. “She should be cut up.”
He’s definitely angry with her. He sounds calm but I can see it in his dark eyes, in the whitening of his knuckles on the steering wheel.
“She has a lot of defences. A lot.” I sigh because it’s hard to find the right words. How do you convince someone there’s hope when you know it’s a long shot?
“She knew what I wanted from the start. She was never going to give me more than her body. It was driving me fucking crazy. How long is a guy supposed to wait for the woman of his dreams to get serious? She was flirting with other men all the goddamned time...” He growls and blows out a breath. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t be saying all of this.”
I’m not sure what it would take to get through to Skyler, but I know I’m going to have to try. I can see the pain he’s in. She’s in worse. Way worse. She’s been denying her heart to avoid being hurt. It could destroy her like it had been destroying me to be with Hunter.
“I’ll talk to her,” I tell him. “She loves you, I know she does.”
“That doesn’t matter if she can’t admit it herself.”
He’s right. My phone starts to beep with incoming messages.
Skyler telling me to hurry my ass up and get over there, so we can go shopping. Nick telling me he’s at the club and asking if I want to meet him there now or later? I hesitate before I tell him I’ll see him later. I tell Skyler I’ll see her in five. As much as I want to see Nick, reuniting Sky with Cain feels important. I’m trusting my instincts again, doing what I feel needs to be done.
Cain looks at me after he parks the car in the lot under Sky’s apartment block. He seems so miserable. I wish I could get through to Sky.
“What happened to make her like this?” His question makes me realise how tough this is going to really be.
“I don’t know.” It’s all I can say. If she doesn’t want me to know, I can’t force it from her. She has a right to protect herself. “Leave my case in the trunk. I’ll be staying at Nick’s place. This is just a visit.”
He nods and we get out the car. It’s going to be awkward, but Sky’s going to have to put up with it.
***
Sky opens the door and smiles, until she sees Cain standing behind me. She stares at him, pain in her eyes before she looks at me with a frown. It’s as if she thought I was a friend and just realised I’m her worst enemy. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
I sigh and shrug. “He’s who the agency sent when I needed an L.A. escort. I guess he needs to work somewhere, Sky.”
She frowns. “He stays out in the hall.”
She lets me in and closes the door on him. The fire isn’t gone from her eyes. “Seriously, Eden?”
“I didn’t know until I saw him, okay?”
“You could have warned me.”
I suppose I could have. “He’s completely cut up over you Sky. The man’s in love with you.”
She sits down on her leather couch and rolls her eyes at me. “What does that even mean?”
“It means he’d do anything for you, if you’d just let him.”
“You’re such a hopeless romantic. I can’t talk to you about this.” She picks up a cocktail glass from her coffee table. It’s full of purple liquid.
“I’m sorry I brought it up.” There’s no use going on about it. She’s made up her mind.
“God, I miss his cock though.” She sighs. “It’s as big as you’d think, just looking at him.”
“Are you drunk?”
There are empty glasses scattered around. Like she uses a fresh one for every drink.
“Oh, so what? I have a week off. I’m entitled to some fun.”
“Okay.” I’m not sure what else to say. She’s clearly hurting. There isn’t a quick and easy solution to this problem. I’m going to have to work on it while I’m here. “I need to see if I can get an appointment with Izzy. My hair needs touching up.”
“Ooh! Great idea. I could use a new style. I’m getting sick of being long and dark.”
I smile. A drastic re-style always cheers her up. She hasn’t had one in a while. A few years, to be exact. Suspicions rise at the realisation. She hasn’t needed cheering up in that drastic kind of way for the entire time she’s been sleeping exclusively with Cain? That can’t be coincidence.
“I’ll book it in for the end of the week for us both,” I tell her, hoping it’s enough time to make some sort of progress. I give Izzy a call and leave a message for her.
Then I hold out a hand to Sky. “You said something about shopping?”
She lets me pull her up. The leggings and red top look like something she’s slept in, but she steps into a pair of converse and looks around for her purse.
“Where’s your body guard?” I have to wonder. I know she got a new one.
She snorts. “Oh, the lightweight? He’s in the John.”
I walk over to her bathroom door and push it. A guy groans from the floor. It smells bad in there. I move back. “Are you sleeping with this one?”
“Hell no. I don’t do men who can’t handle a few Unicorn Fuzz cocktails without puking their guts up.”
“Were you up all night drinking?” It seems weird that she’d be drinking in the afternoon, but it wouldn’t seem so strange if it was a continuation from last night. She’s a weekend partier, staying up all hours until eventually she has to crash.
She smiles. “What do you think?”
“I think you were.”
“Winner.” She pulls her jacket on and tucks her laces into her shoes. “Let’s go.”
“Um, since your bodyguard is incapacitated we’re going to have to take Cain.”
She shrugs. “As long as he doesn’t try to touch me, I’m okay with that.”
Why do I get the feeling this day is going to be a disaster? A loud groan from the bathroom makes me grimace. “You need to call for another bodyguard. That one’s broken.”
Chapter Nineteen
Logan
Diana runs a finger over my chest as I pull her in close. Her bed is a little too comfortable, but I won’t need to worry about that for much longer. Eden has left town. So, tonight will be the ideal time to deal with the creep she’s been screwing.
“It’s perfect timing,” she tells me.
I agree, but I let her think she still has to sell me on it. “Mmm.”
“I have a key to his house. You can wait for him there. His pain-in-the-ass sister is back with her idiot husband. The place will be empty. You can sneak up on him.”
I snort. “You think I would need to sneak up on him?”
She smiles against my chest. “You’re stronger than he is. I’m not disputing that, but he’s not stupid, Logan. He sees you and he knows something’s wrong. That gives him the chance to get away.”
Oh, I like how this woman thinks. She’s so devious. I stroke her silky soft hair.
“Hmm.”
“Put a bullet in his brain. Or slash his throat open. Whatever.” Her breathing hitches. “This next part is the important bit, Logan.”
“The next part is the important bit?” I would think the murder was the most crucial part. Killing him takes him away from Eden. I don’t know why Diana would want that, considering how much she enjoys messing with him, but I’m guessing she’s messing with me now too. Maybe she thinks I’m a suitable
replacement. I smile at the thought of that. She has no idea who she’s dealing with. I’m not going to let her interfere with my plans.
“Yes, Logan. Listen, and make sure you do exactly what I tell you to do.” She pinches my nipple hard.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She smiles again. “Take my car. There’s a box in the trunk. Big enough for a body. Put him inside and dig the deepest goddamned hole you can dig. There’s a tree in the park. One with their initials carved into the trunk. Bury him close to that spot. She’ll go there to cry for him. She’ll have no goddamned fucking idea...”
“You’re sick, you know that, right?”
She laughs. “You’ve just realised this?”
“No, I knew the minute I saw you.”
She looks up at me, eyes searching as if she’s trying to work out if I’m being an asshole. I save her the trouble, moving to let my lips reach hers. I’m starting to crave that dark taste. She sighs as she breaks the kiss.
“Don’t get too attached,” she tells me. “Girls with black hearts don’t know how to love.”
“This isn’t love.” It’s addiction, pure and simple. She’s exactly what I need right now. As soon as Eden’s mine again she’ll cease to exist to me.
“Then, repeat our plan back to me.” She presses her lips together. “I want to hear you say it.”
I laugh. “How about, I tell you while you spread your legs for me again?”
She smiles. “How do you want it this time?”
“I’m so glad you asked.” Time is ticking down. My plan needs to be implemented soon. I don’t want her ruining it. I get up. “Lie in the middle of the bed, on your back. Spread your legs wide. Close your eyes.”
She follows my orders. If I could only forget about Eden, and if only Diana wasn’t such a devious fucking bitch, things could be so different. I think about that while I pull the police issue handcuffs from my bag. These are the real deal. Once she’s chained to the bed frame she won’t be escaping until I set her free. I climb onto the bed and her eyelids flutter.
“Don’t make me blindfold you, Diana.”
Wild Hearts (Rock Goddess Reverse Harem Book 2) Page 7
