Page 42 of Bossy Romance

“Stay here. I’ll get the alcohol.”

I locate the alcohol solution from a nearby lab and pour it over his hand. The goo hisses as it dissolves.

“I’ll take you to wash your hands in the bathroom,” I tell him.

Rowan plods behind me, keeping quiet.

The hallway seems to stretch out forever. It feels a little eerie to see no one around.

“You need my help?” I ask Rowan, stopping outside the bathroom.

He shakes his head and avoids my stare.

“I’ll be waiting outside.”

Shoulders slumped, he plods into the bathroom. I hear the water running a few moments later.

I lean against the wall and close my eyes.

He’s okay. He’s going to be okay.

The click of a woman’s heels on the floor pumps air into my deflated heart and sends it soaring. I glance around eagerly for Nova.

Disappointment crushes me when I see another woman traipsing down the hallway. Something about the way she’s moving is odd though. Her head whips back and forth and she’s staring at the paintings on the wall as if she’s never seen art before.

“Ooh, this is nice.” She lets loose a wolfish grin, her eyes darting around.

I give her a surveying look.

The woman sees me up ahead and freezes guiltily. Her dark hand drops to her skirt where she wipes it. Then she paints a grin on her face and moves over to me. “Adam? Adam Harrison?”

“Do I know you?” I watch her warily.

“No, but I know you. You’re my sister’s little pet. The goose with the weird inventions and the golden eggs.” She gives me a broad grin, flashing a gold tooth.

“Your sister?”

Rowan returns from the bathroom at that moment. There are tear tracks on his cheeks and he looks even more defeated than before.

“Yeah, Nova’s my sister.” The woman grins smugly.

Urgent footsteps fill the hallway before I can ask any more questions.

Nova appears in my line of sight, but she’s not looking at me. A mask of horror descends on her face as she stares at the woman with the gold tooth.

“Lyra?” Nova chokes out the name.

Lyra grins wide. “Hi, sis.”

CHAPTER5

THE OPPURTUNITY

NOVA

“This place isfancy.How much did those sculptures cost, girl? And are these paintings real? They look real.”

I stare in horror as my sister swaggers toward Rowan and Adam. She’s wearing a cheetah-print romper that barely covers anything. Her hair is extra-spiky at the top and dyed blue today. She’s chewing gum with her mouth wide open.

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