Chapter 20
Chapter 20
“I’m sorry?” Riley double-takes.
“My car. His name is Simon. Like Alvin and the Chipmunks,” I grin listening to the way her heart
races.
“Oh,” she turns bright red.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I wanted to apologize for last night,” she changes the subject. Somewhat.
“No, you have nothing to apologize for. Mr. Thorne and I have never really set boundaries. We’ve been friends for twelve years. I should be the one apologizing to you.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Going to apologize?” I have to hand it to this little human. She has balls.
“No. Not until you understand why you feel as threatened as you do,”
“I don’t feel threatened at all,” she says with confidence. I hate that I like her.
“Then you’re not in the right place, Miss Moore. Don’t spill anything in my car. It costs more than
“I sidestep her and head back to the table. She stands there momentarily before walking out bout looking back at me.
u’re every bit the asshole all the other Wolfes are,” Alpha Barnes laughs. His face lights up as he Stands.
Arsenial Barnes is every bit the dangerous man he’s made out to be. He’s big. Six-six, maybe. Taller with the Docs on his feet. His black jeans fit his powerful legs. He’s wearing a plain black t-shirt that fits him loosely under his cut. His soft brown hair is just a few shades from being blond. It’s a bit long at the top with a perfect taper at the bottom.
There’s no product in it because he’s wearing a football cap with the Magique City Bloodhounds logo blasted on it. He puts it on with the visor facing back. His face looks freshly shaven. I can smell the aftershave from here. He’s beautiful.
“You done getting an eye full, Baby?” he smirks. “Like what you see?”
“You’re every bit the asshole people say you are,” I laugh. I place two bills on the table. He looks down at them and then at me. “Breakfast is on me.”
“Where you headed?” he asks. “I can give you a ride.”
“The clock tower. I can walk.” I try to dismiss him.
1/3
13:34 Wed, 13 Aug P PO·
Chapter 20
83%
28
“Nah, you’re not walking,” he says, taking my hand. I press my feet to the tile when he tugs me toward him. He groans and turns to face me. “You’re not walking. I’m taking you to your new place, and you’re going to show me around. I cleared my morning for you.”
“What was that condition?” I ask. His annoyed expression quickly turns into a smirk. Shit.
“You’re not allowed to be paraded like the perfect trophy wife by that fuck at any public event. He can take Riley,” he rolls his eyes.
“And I have to take you?” I assume.
“Preferably, but it’s up for negotiation if it’s too scandalous for your respected sensibilities, it’s too scandalous for your respected sensibilities, Princess.”
“One day, you’re going to look me in the eyes and tell me, ‘You’re right, Violetta. You’re not a Princess, and I will say, ‘I told you so.”
“I look forward to the day. For now, I’ve got you a helmet.”
“A what?”
He pulls me with him, and I don’t fight him this time. It’s clear that I won’t be rid of him even if I scream. I snatch my purse off the booth and wave at his aunt as we leave. She laughs and wiggles her fingers back. We stop at the beast he calls his bike, and he turns around to hand me the helmet.
That is the cutest thing anyone who isn’t Perry has ever done for me. The helmet is similar to his dark green vintage military-style helmet. This one is black and has what looks like hand-painted violets on little vines around the bottom. I look up at him and hold it up.
“Well, see if it fits,” he says as he sits on the bike and pulls his riding gloves on. I lean into the helmet and take in the scent of the freshly dried paint and the new material scent. His woodsy scent is also on it and nothing else.
“Did you do this?” I ask.
“Why did you smell it?” he grins.
“I asked first,”
“Yes, I bought the helmet the night I visited you. I saw that
you
liked my
my bike.”
“I created the green paint on it. You got it done at The Velvet Skull, yes?”
“I did,” he grins, getting off the bike to look over the sparkly metallic paint job. “You made this color?”
“Eternal green. It can only be laid over the deepest shade of purple to get that intense shade. It almost looks black, but the two colors sparkle together iridescently in the right lighting. I recognized it while you were enjoying my distress last night.”
“You deserved that for holding up in your little apartment for three days. Where I’m from, that’s
2/3
13:34 Wed, 13 Aug
Chapter 20
called being a coward,”
༨ རེ, 83%
11
“Sir, I was raised by a feral fucking wolf. I’m a lot of things, but a coward isn’t one of them. I was just licking my wounds. It’s been a long fucking year and I am not happy about the holidays approaching,” I slip the helmet on my head to find it’s the perfect fit. “I’m not going to start wearing leather. It looks very constricting.”
“You keep wearing those things, Baby. I bet the fabric’s real soft,” he gets back on his bike and starts. it. “Come on,” he taps the spot behind him. “I can’t wait to see your dream home.”
He doesn’t say a word as I stand here staring at what is probably the rest of my life. It’s not a bad look. Fate must think very highly of me and it’s flattering because I sure as fuck don’t. Maybe fate is making up for all the crazy shit it’s already put me through. I’m going to have to get a backpack.
I’ve had a lot to think about these past three days. I needed that time alone. I’ve tried living the way I felt my not-feral father wanted. I’ve politely and respectfully slipped my way into my position. I’ve lied and manipulated my way through some wild shit these past fourteen years and all I got was the potential to be thrown under the bus by the man I’ve been in love with for twelve fucking years. With a point of his finger, he could destroy my entire career and have me tossed into federal prison.
It’s time to accept that I am my mother’s daughter. If I’m going down, I’m taking everything with the name Thorne printed on it with me. I will still look as great as I do in fifteen years. I’m a fucking wolf. In fifteen years, Mr. Thorne and his brother will probably need Viagra to get it up. Disgusting things, humans. I gave that spoiled fuck everything. I think it’s time I hold up that little white flag and get reacquainted with home.
