Page 126 of Monster

I didn’t fucking believe him. I thought it might have something to do with Roman finding Ryleigh, but there was something else going on here. Something he didn’t want either of us to know.

I didn’t question Micah’s loyalty. He wasn’t the rat. But there was something going on in his personal life.

“If you want to talk about it…”

“I know where to find you,” he finished. “But I’m fine. Just working out some shit in my head.”

“Is whatever you’re working out here in California? Is that why you jumped at the opportunity to go to Vegas?”

He didn’t answer me.

Holy shit.

“Is it a girl?”

“Go back to Emmy, you bastard,” he said before he hung up on me.

Fuck.

It was a girl, and the unemotional psycho didn’t know what to do about it.

I laughed.

Who was unlucky enough to catch his attention?

Poor girl.

* * *

I probably got aboutfive hours of sleep before I was awakened at five by another phone call.

This one was from Roman.

“Yeah?” I asked softly, looking over at Emmy. She stirred slightly on the bed and mumbled something in her sleep but otherwise didn’t wake.

“The rat took the bait,” he said.

“Fuck, you’re serious?”

“Yup. Just got the news that one of our decoy warehouses is on fire. I’m on my way there now.”

“All right. I’ll meet you there soon.”

I quickly got up and got ready, splashing my face with cold water to wake up.

When I was finished, I went to the bed and gently shook Emmy’s shoulders.

“What?” she grumbled without opening her eyes.

I grinned. “Wildcat, I have to go. Give me a kiss first.”

She let out a small sigh as if I was inconveniencing her and held out her arms blindly for me, her lips puckering.

I laughed softly as I bent down and pressed a swift kiss against her lips.

She tried to follow my lips with her own without opening her eyes. I watched her, feeling light.

“Be careful,” she said softly.