Page 58 of These Deadly Vows

I stare up at the second floor, seeing the lights flickering on. Adeline has no idea that I have the perfect view of her as she moves from the bedroom to the bathroom, undressing as she goes.

I lose sight of her once she hits the bathroom, but she reappears in nothing but a bra and her undies. Fuck me, Ghost is a lucky bastard.

I light up my cigarette and stop gawking like a fucking pervert. Blowing smoke rings over the banister I stare down at the street below and wonder what Coralie is doing right about now. Did she move home to Drag Creek? I’ve wanted to reach out and call her so many times. Only there’s no point. She can’t handle a life on the run, and I want better for her than a lousy bastard like me.

I think about tracking her down, seeing if she’s living the good life without me. Has she found a better man? One worthy of all the love she has to give. Love she used to give me so freely.

My cell buzzes. Fucking Stray. I knew I shouldn’t have fucked her, but loneliness drives a man to stupidity. Never should have given her my damn number, either. I’ve been avoiding her. She’s a nice girl, but she’s not for me.

Stray: I have the night off if you want to hang out.

My finger hovers between deleting the message or hitting reply.

“Ahhh!” I drop my phone, ignoring the cracking sound the screen makes as it shatters. I run inside, taking two steps at a time as Adeline screams again.

I find her in the bathroom scantily clad in a towel that barely covers her ass. She’s staring at her reflection in the mirror at her hair.

“I take it your hair isn’t supposed to be black or your fingers.” What I’m assuming is hair dye drips from her hair and onto the floor.

“That bitch. That fucking bitch,” she seethes.

“Who?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. This has Boo written all over it.

Adeline glares at me. “Get out.”

I hold up my palms and back away, closing the door as I go.

That smart ass prospect lurks by the bedroom door. “She’s fine.”

“Didn’t sound like it.”

“Come on, let’s give her some privacy. I need to call Prez.”

“Where is she?” Ghost storms into the living room.

“Upstairs. Refuses to come out of the bathroom.”

He pauses at the bottom of the stairs. “How bad is it?”

“Can’t say. Was wet when I saw her.”

He nods.

“Am I free to go?”

“Yeah. Thanks for…just thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I leave him to deal with the mess that Boo has made of Adeline’s appearance and go down to the bar.

Speaking of the she-devil. Boo’s behind the bar, swaying her hips to some female rapper. Bitch looks damn smug, wearing an evil smirk as she lip syncs to the lyrics. Some song about being a bad bitch and a devil.

I snort. If the shoe fits.

I help myself to the cooler behind the bar, grabbing a longneck. Boo stops dancing and grins at me. “I hear you’ve got yourself a new girlfriend.”

“I don’t know who your source is, but you fuckin’ heard wrong. But if I was you, I’d be getting the hell outta dodge.”

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