Page 12 of Sinful Promise

“A few months ago… Jana convinced me to work with her as a hostess at some high-class party.” My throat feels so thick with tears that each word is physically painful.

“Okay…”

“It was right after I caught Tom….”

Zara sighs. “I remember.”

“Jana sold the gig to me by saying that I could earn a stack of money and forget about Tom all in one night because we’d essentially be paid for partying. So…I agreed.”

As a full-time college student, money has been tight. My father is an ex-cop, and my mother is a semi-retired teacher, so we’re not exactly rolling in it, and I refuse to take handouts from Zara’s husband.

This gig was meant to be a one-off thing so that it would take the financial pressure off for the rest of the school year, nothing more.

“What happened, Emily?”

“Most of the men in attendance were criminals with connections to organized crime gangs.”

Zara gasps, but she thankfully stays quiet.

“One guy in particular was paying me a lot of attention, which made me feel uncomfortable. He just wouldn’t leave me alone and kept insisting that we go have some fun together.”

While I’ve never been able to confirm it, I’m pretty sure that guy is the one who’s been sending me these gifts. He’s a criminal after all, so he would think nothing of breaking into a girl's apartment.

“Please, Zara. Don’t tell Dad. He’ll lose his shit and make me pack up my stuff and move back home.”

“Emily…”

I take her hand in both f mine. “I need you to promise me you won’t tell him, Zara. I can’t have him knowing about the gig, or that I was out drinking tonight.”

“You were drinking tonight?”

“It doesn’t matter… What does is keeping this from Dad. I can’t have him being disappointed in me.”

At least, not any more than he already is.

Zara chews on her lower lip for a moment, and I know she’s torn.

The logical thing would have been to keep this to myself, but the thought of being alone in my apartment scares the crap out of me.

I thought all of this was behind me. I hadn’t received a gift in months, but it seems like I’m not getting rid of him that easily.

At least, not until I cross a line that I have absolutely no intention of crossing.

“Zara…”

“I promise I won’t tell Dad.”

“Thank you so much. You have no?—”

She raises her free hand. “But… I’m going to speak to Dimitri.”

“What? Why?” I drop her hand.

“Because he might have Rurik look into this guy.”

“No, Zara. Youcan’ttell Dimitri.”

“Why?”

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