Page 65 of Sixth Sin

He flashes that brutally white smile. “True, but so are you, my sweet. You’re the topic at every water cooler. I wouldn’t be the businessman I am without capitalizing on that.”

“So, you’re putting me in a movie because of my name.”

“No. I’m putting you in the movie because you were born to play the role.” Rosten leans over my shoulder, flipping the pages of the script until he finds the one he wants. “See there? Isabella is an innocent, young girl, just coming into her sexual awakening. Sebastian is the much older CEO who breaks her inhibitions and drags her into a world of darkness and carnal sin.”

He’s right. The lines he’s referring to are explicit and from what I can tell, the role calls for pretty much full nudity on my part. “I don’t know if this is the right fit for me.”

Rosten leans back, his hands rubbing my shoulders. “Do you want a sweet, romantic comedy that paints you as the cute, little Romanov girl they remember, or do you want a gritty leading role that shows the world Alexandra Romanov is all grown up?”

Please stop.

“I have to think—”

His hands pause. “No thinking, Alexandra. Either you take the role, or I give it to Kya Perrone. Yes or no.”

Shit.

The tabloids love a good rivalry whether it’s real or not, and Kya versus Alexandra is the cat fight du jour. Even though we’ve never spoken two words to each other, the media has us at each other’s throats, fighting for roles, and trash talking behind each other’s backs.

Michaela says it may be fabricated bullshit, but the more my name stays on people’s tongues the better. I’m not so sure. Because if Kya gets this role and it explodes, where does that leave me?

I’ll tell you. As the dumb bitch who handed it to her on a silver platter.

“Fine,” I bite out through clenched teeth. “I’ll do it.”

“Excellent, I—”

“On one condition.” I say the words before I change my mind. “Leave Dominic McCallum alone.”

“Very well,” he says, returning to his ministrations. “Welcome back, Alexandra. Things might not have ended the way we planned before”—I wince as his fingers dig into my skin—“but this time will be different.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

DOMINIC

A wave of dread builds like a slowly rising tide as I drive my Harley up Stone Canyon Drive. However, it’s only when I pull into the bowels of the mansion that it comes crashing down and swallows me whole.

Scrubbing a hand down my face, I catch my reflection in the side view mirror. God, I look like shit. Lines crease down from the corners of my blood-shot eyes, and I haven’t cared to shave in four days. At least Rosten kept his end of the bargain, and my mother is back upstairs in the main level of Moss Valley Hospital. That’s one less thing keeping me up at night. But I’ve done nothing but obsess about everything else.

Especially what happened in that hallway with Angel.

I tried to push her away, but Rosten backed me into a corner. The fucked-up part is he didn’t have to push very hard. I half walked there myself just to get close to her again. I lose control around her, which is a very catastrophic and dangerous thing for both of us.

“Less pussy more sleep, McCallum,” I tell my reflection before swinging my leg off the side.

Starting tomorrow.

Walking across the darkened garage, I pull a pack of smokes and my lighter from the pocket of my leather jacket. I don’t think. I spark the end, taking such a deep drag I’m pretty sure my chest is more smoke than air. Just as I reach the elevator, I exhale, glancing down at the orange ember while shaking my head.

I promised her I’d quit.

What was I thinking? I’m Dominic McCallum. I don’t change who I am for any woman.

Cursing, I toss the half-smoked cigarette on the concrete, stomping it out with the heel of my boot. “Definitely less pussy,” I mutter.

“Kind of late to be making house calls to a business partner, don’t you think?”

I chuckle. Why wouldn’t he be here? The man’s like a cockroach—ugly as shit and impossible to get rid of. Turning around, I shove my hands in my pockets. “Detective Rubio. I’d say I’m surprised to see you here, but I’m not. We both know you have a blatant disregard for private property.”

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