Page 141 of Sunrise

My head’s suddenly a little sluggish. Too much is going through my brain at once and it’s a struggle to keep it all in order.

Slow down, Sophie. Think!

Okay, keys, check. Shoes, check. Cell phone, check. Head on straight, check, check, check.

I lock up, but as I walk to my car, it feels like I’m wading through mud. Logically, I know it’s because I’m stuck in some kind of freeze mode. My brain has too many tabs open, and I’m overwhelmed. Getting into the car, I sit for a second to collect myself.

You’ve got this, Sophie.

My cheeks aren’t so tingly anymore. They’re numb.

Rubbing my eyes, my vision blurs and arms are heavy. I… I can’t grip my steering wheel.

Panic hits me, full force.Something’s wrong with me.

Reaching for the door handle, I can’t grab it to open the damned thing.

Oh my god.

No.

NO!

Someone walks past my car, and I scream for help. But my voice cuts out when my worst nightmare strolls up the driveway, hands in his pockets, and a smug smile on his face.

Terror floods my system. Warm liquid pools between my legs, saturating my car seat when I piss myself.

My door swings open and Christopher Rivetti leans in. “Hello, Katrina. Have you missed me as much as I’ve missed you?”

Chapter 44

Vault

Waiting for system updates is the worst. It’s the only time I’m ever impatient. The damned thing has been stuck at eighty-five percent complete for the past fifteen motherfucking minutes. I don’t like having downtime at the club, even if it’s when no one’s here. My dependency on knowing all systems are in place is what holds my sanity together.

Safety is always my number one priority.

Popping the top off an energy drink, I sit back in my chair, making it twist back and forth while I continue to wait. My cell vibrates on the desk and Knox’s face lights up my screen.

Yay. A distraction.

“Hey.”

“You good?” he asks cautiously.

“Yeah, why?”

“I don’t know. I got a bad feeling.”

Knox is always saying stuff like that. “You see the text from Soph?”

“Yeah,” he sighs. “She’s going to the lab.”

“Maybe that’s your bad feeling. You’re worried about her seeing Bill and James, and we can’t go with her to make sure she’s all good.”

“Yeah. Maybe.” It doesn’t sound like he’sbuying it. “I got a weird text from her, though. It says, ‘they’re stunning’ and I have no clue what the fuck she’s talking about. Did you do something?”

“The roses,” I say. “She sent me a hella hot pussy shot with one of the buds from the bouquet. I’ll show it to you later. Swear to God, it should be artwork to hang at the club. It’s half stuffed up her cunt, and she’s fingering the petals.”

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