Page 24 of Midnight Wedding

“Stay in your apartment tonight and tomorrow. Don’t go anywhere until I tell you.”

“What about my job?”

“You don’t work there anymore.”

She frowns, but nods. “Okay. That’s fair.”

“Spend time with your mother.”

“Why? Are these, like, my final hours?”

“If I was going to kill you, I’d do it right now.”

I stare at her. She stares right back. Her lips are parted and her nostrils are flared and she’s scared as all hell. Her chest rises and falls, and fuck, she looks beautiful in that club outfit. She’s dressed for sex, or at least for good tips.

This is wrong. It’s all fucking wrong.

“Thanks? I think?” She licks her lips. Her tongue’s small and pink. “What happens after tomorrow?”

“I’ll come find you.”

“And then what?”

“And then you’ll still be alive if you’re lucky.” I squeeze her leg, but not too hard. “I’m trying to save your life. Do what I’m asking you to do.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “I’ll stay home.”

“Good.” I stand up and stop touching her. Why am I doing this right now? She’s a liability. She’s a fucking problem. “I hope you feel better.”

“Uhm. Thanks. I’m really fine though.”

I walk away. It’s like tearing tape from my hair. I want to stay and cradle her head in my lap and kiss her until everything’s okay, but I know that’s not how tonight will go if I stick around.

There are too many voices competing for space in my head.

Arsen thepatron. Arsen the brother. Arsen the cousin, nephew, man.

I can’t say for sure which of those will win if I don’t get the fuck away from her.

“Wait! How are you going to get in touch with me if I’m not leaving my apartment?”

“I have your number.”

She frowns skeptically. “Seriously? Since when? I didn’t give it to you.”

“Since the moment you broke into my apartment.”

Then I get the hell out of there.

Chapter 8

Arsen

Tigran picks me up from my main apartment early the next morning. “You look like shit,” he says and shoves a coffee at me. “Drink this. Uncle Garen’s going to rip you to shreds.”

“More like Aunt Sona.”

He snorts. “Yeah, her too.” He pulls out into traffic. The double shot of espresso helps wake me up, but not enough.

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