Page 55 of The Burnt Heart

I casually fished out my phone and punched Briar’s name. Swiping to make sure the speaker was on, but it didn’t even ring twice.

“Adelaide?” Briar answered hurriedly. “Are you alright?”

“I need you.” I looked pointedly at Nicole, whose lip had the audacity to tremble. The spite had drained out of her, and in return, so did my fight. I didn’t want to hate Nicole, but she’d given me no choice. There was some part of her that believed Briar and she were star-crossed lovers, that given the chance, he would choose her.

“O-of course, anything, Adelaide. Oh god, anything. Tell me.” Jesse and Logan converged on the line, their voices mingling with concern. I could imagine them crowded over the phone, fighting over who was holding it.

“Can I see you? I’m hungry.” I couldn’t back down now. Not until Nicole understood reality. Not until I destroyed the delusion she’d concocted in her mind. Their gasps of delight mingled through the speaker.

“I could book Gino’s. Or, or Jesse said he’d cook? What do you feel like?” Briar was breathless with excitement. I almost felt a little guilty. Almost.

“He can cook if he likes, but that’s not what I’m hungry for,” I purred. “I want you, all of you.”

Their collective gulps echoed in the apartment lobby. There wasn’t a sound except for their labored breathing. Two red spots crowned Nicole’s cheeks, and her chest floundered with uneven breathing. Was I going to take it this far? Lara obviously thought I needed a voice of reason, sending me awhat the fucklook. But Nicole thought we were on the same level. She wasn’t even in the same league.

“Do you want me?” I asked silkily, feeling like a cat toying with its prey.

“Siren,” I heard Logan groan. I wondered if he was imagining our time at the greenhouse.

“Adelaide, we are dying for you.” That was Jesse. I could hear the smile in his voice.

Briar spoke, and I saw the moment Nicole’s illusion shattered into slivers of tainted memories.

“You own me, Adelaide. Whatever you want of me is yours.”

My body tingled. Despite all the betrayals and pain they’d caused me, I was still human. I had my own needs that had been neglected except for my vibrator. I could have all three of themright now. No strings. No promises. They owed me and no one else knew my body better than they did.

Picking up strangers was difficult when you were paranoid everyone was trying to kill you. I had three men I knew could have me begging in minutes. It made me feel powerful.

“I’ll call you back. I’m just dealing with a little pest problem,” I hung up before they could reply. Nicole’s shoulders rolled forward, and a splash of water hit the shining lobby floor. She had made me cry once, now I had returned the favor. But I wasn’t quite done with her.

“I think I made my point.”

“You won’t be able to speak by the time he’s through with you.” Her anger loosened her tongue.

Gotcha.

“Look, I’ve got a booty call to get to,” I waved my hand. “So, let’s wrap this unpleasant encounter up quickly, shall we? You can start by elaborating on who the fuck is pulling your strings. Because something tells me you’ve been a bad girl.”

Nicole’s eyes widened.

“Shit,” she breathed, looking past me to the exit. As if I’d let her make it that far.

“Start talking,” I ordered.

27

Adelaide

The lobby of my former apartment building was barren. I clutched the calico bag with melting ice cream like it was keeping me from coming undone. Every feeling within me seemed to be contorted like they were dancing in a tornado, thrashing inside of me. I fought to contain and restrain the mental chaos engulfing me, as if I had no control over it. My entire body tensed up, and I concentrated on expanding each of my fingers outwards, feeling each tendon stretch and pop with every flex. Anything to distract myself from the implications of what Nicole had confessed.

“You ok, boss?” Jonah asked, reaching around me to press the elevator button. I’d been standing there looking at the silver doors like a statue. His gaze flicked to my flexing fingers, and I hurriedly tucked them away.

“Just impatient.” I shrugged, turning away from him and cursing under my breath. I had to get it together. But how? The words Nicole had spilled were still fresh in my mind and paranoia was pounding at my back. I took out my keys, sifting through them with shaking fingers. They dropped to the ground, and I cursed again. The elevator slid open, and I hurried out, Jonah loping at my heels.

“Are you going to tell me what she said?” Jonah pressed, leaning down to pick up the keys, holding them out with his eyebrow arched. I shook my head vehemently.

“Do you know where Lara is hiding out?” I changed the subject. Once I’d coaxed Nicole’s surprising revelation, I insisted Lara go somewhere safe. If Nicole was at her apartment building, it meant they knew where she lived. She hadn’t argued. Small mercies.

---