Page 102 of Masked Sins
I look at the door of the building. “Did you want to come up? I’m sure Orion would love to see you.”
He grimaces. “Nah. I should get back to Julian and Sophie.”
“Sophie?”
Something dark flashes behind Malakai’s eyes. “Julian’s wife.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize Julian was married,” I say slowly, watching his reaction.
“Yep. It was sort of arranged from a young age, I guess. They both come from old money in England. Anyway, I should go. Good luck with everything, Layla.”
“Yeah, you too.”
I open the door to the building, and once inside, Malakai walks around to the parking garage to his car.
When I turn around, I come face-to-face with the security guard.Shoot.We’d entered through the garage earlier, bypassing security.
“Oh, hi. I’m here with Orion Ravage?—”
“The infamous Layla Rivers,” he says, smiling jovially.
My brows shoot up. “You know who I am?”
“You’re famous around here.”
“I am?”
“Yep. You’re on the list of Mr. Ravage’s pre-approved visitors.”
“Oh—”
“The funny thing is, you’re theonlyone on the list.”
My mouth opens and closes as he walks over to the elevator, pressing some kind of badge against the keypad, which I assume gives him—and me—access to the penthouse.
“Have a nice day, Ms. Rivers.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
THE ANTICIPATION
Orion
I look up from the sink in my primary bathroom, taking in my messed-up hair, wild eyes, and clenched jaw. It looks like I’ve been pacing the apartment for the past hour, which is exactly what I’ve been doing.
I need some fresh air.
I’ll be back soon.
See you later.
I’ve been analyzing and overanalyzing Layla’s words from earlier the entire time she’s been gone. Kai had texted me that he was with her next door, and I know he’ll help her come down from the shock of what just happened, but I still have no idea what she’ll decide.
I rub the scruff on my jaw as I sigh heavily, hanging my head as I think about the look on Layla’s face as the elevator doors closed.
Hurt, desperation, panic, arousal.
When we kissed at Liam and Zoe’s rehearsal dinner, she was angry afterward. She pushed me away and shut me out. So whyam I holding on to some tiny thread of hope that she might not do the same thing this time around?
