Page 137 of Poison Aches

Me: I…I actually have to meet a friend so I’ll freshen up a bit here.

Melissa: You have a friend in NYC? I thought you didn’t know anyone. Anyway, should the car pick you at your hotel? You can always check-out same day.

“Are you taking the place or not?” Mrs. Derrington snaps.

“Uhh, can I stay for a few hours?”

“That wasn’t the deal. I won’t be giving you back?—”

“You can keep the money, it’s okay. I just think I might be leaving the city tonight.”

Mrs. Derrington gives me a once-over. “I knew you don’t have the stomach for this but newsflash, doe-eyed girl. You needto toughen up because soon, life is going to come at you pretty fast.”

Her words make a shiver go down my spine.

“Stay for as long as you want. You paid for this, just give me back my keys at the end of our agreed period.”

And with that, she leaves.

Just then, I hear the distinct sound of a toilet flushing… from right above my head.

What have I done?

CHAPTER 18

Emmett

“Sir, I’ve dropped off Ms. Irving.”

I pause and look at Ty.

There’s nothing particularly important about the words he just said but the fact that he said them is what grabs my attention.

“Is there something wrong?”

“It’s a drug den, sir.”

I’ve seen all sorts of crap in this world. I might’ve been born into wealth and privilege, but Daphne Easton made sure I was aware of the world.

She made sure I had a complete worldview and not turn into a sheltered, prep-school jerk that looks down at people and I know Ty and Kai have both had a rough start to life, so if Ty is now reporting this, there must be something seriously fucked up about Angel’s new habitations.

“Well, if that’s what she wants.” I shrug, but unintentionally, there’s a simmer beneath my blood.

I don’t want to care.

I don’t want to think of her.

But the thing is, from the day we met, I’ve never had a choice when it comes to Angel.

She just barges into every thought, every ridiculous feeling and mundane task.

“Is she that broke?”

“Well, the place was paid for by one Jackson Geffreys.”

Jackson Geffreys? “Who the fuck is that?”

“He’s the one you had us look into a few days ago,” Ty says.

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