Page 47 of Vicious Little Darling

“Are you okay?”

He nods quickly. “Yeah. I just hit the gym hard before you moved in here, and it’s catching up with me after last night.” He chuckles, and I laugh, grabbing my purse and slinging it over my shoulder. “Hurry the fuck back,” he calls after me. “I’m gonna miss you.”

My cheeks flush as I glance back at him. “I think I might miss you, too.”

With that, I head out of the apartment, a cheesy grin on my face. Despite feeling sore, I feelgood—probably the best I’ve ever felt. And there’s no freaking stalker in the mix anymore.

Well, hopefully.Maybe, the masked guy has just given up. I have no intention of telling Xander about what I did with that the guy. It doesn’t matter. It’s the past. I punch the down button on the elevator and, as I do so, my phone buzzes in my hand.

Josh.

I answer it, blowing out a sigh. “Hey.”

“Hey.” His voice is flat. “Care to fucking tell me why you’re not at your apartment. Rose said youmoved out?She also told me you were assaulted? What the hell, Em? What are you hiding from me? I’ve already called Rich and let him know. You’re meeting me to talk about this…now.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, dread rolling through me. “Okay.Okay.I can explain. Where do you want to meet?”

“The bar will do. I’m here already. I’ll see you when you get here, andhebetter not be with you.” Josh hangs up then, and the phone beeps twice in my ear. I drop it to my side, feeling defeated. So much for a good fucking day.

I wave down a cab and give the address of the bar. I almost send a text to Xander to let him know all the shit has hit the fan, but I don’t want to worry him—and he seems to be the type to come running to my aid. After all, he was right there at my apartment, worried about me.

It’s a nice change, and the way he does it isn’t as suffocating as Josh. Or maybe it’s that Iwanthim to do it? I don’t know, and I don’t think about it anymore for the rest of the ride, choosing to zone out and focus on the thud of my headache in my temple.

Ugh.

As soon as the cab pulls up outside of the bar, I get a sick feeling in my stomach that I haven’t felt since Skull-face, the serial killer, was lurking. I glance around. But there’s no one whoseems out of place, and so I step into the bar, and then lock the door behind me.

“Spill it,” Josh grumbles from where he’s leaning against the counter. “Don’t leave out one fucking detail.”

I rub my forehead, my headache increasing with the added stress. “Um… I had this guy stalking me, I guess. He broke into my apartment and tried to, um, you know.”

“And so then, what? You take off and run toXander?How is it fucking him, by the way?”

“What?” I can’t hide the shock.

“Don’t play stupid, Em. I saw how you walked in here.”

My cheeks flush with heat. “It’s none of your damned business who I sleep with, Josh. You’ve never given me a hard time before.”

“He’san employee of mine, and a coworker of yours. That complicates things, Em. You can’t just go sleeping around the bar staff. Before I know it, you’ll be fucking Major, too, and Iknowhe won’t tell you no.”

My jaw drops. “I wouldnot.I really like Xander…”

“Why?” Josh demands, taking a step toward me. “Because he’s covered in tattoos and has a lot of money? You know I did some background checks on him, right? He’s a fucking cartel mogul’s nephew. Roman Marks. Xander isn’t even his real fucking name.”

I swallow my nerves, trying not to let him get to me. “Does any of that matter?”

“I don’t know. Don’t you want a man who’s honest with you? His name isJaxton Alexander Marks.He’s never had a fucking job untilnow.Can you believe that? He just randomly decided to come work atmybar. Bet he’s setting up some kind of drug ring right under my nose.”

I furrow my brow. “He doesn’t do drugs…”

“That you know of,” Josh snorts, and then turns back to me. “You don’t know what’s good for you, Em. You never see what’srightin front of your goddamn face. You get yourself into these ridiculous situations. For all you know, that stalker could’ve beenhim.”

I feel myself growing defensive. “It doesn’t matter. I fucked the stalker, too,” I shout at him, realizing my mistake as soon as it leaves my lips.

“What’swrongwith you?” He bellows back at me, throwing his hands in the air. “You’re fucking nuts.”

“I’m leaving,” I snap, shaking my head. I spin on my heels and head for the door, but before I can reach the handle, a firm grip lands on my wrist, jerking me back. I slam into Josh’s chest, and he spins me, pinning me up against the counter.

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