Page 143 of Corrupted Heart

“Thank you. I owe you.” I clap his shoulder. “And again, my condolences on your father.”

I’m turning to leave when suddenly, I hear the coughing hork of someone clearing phlegm from their throat.

Then something wet and disgusting hits the back of my head.

I go still and my shoulders stiffen before I slowly turn. Grisha is leering at me with a smug look on his drunk face.

Looks like I’m going to owe Lukas two favors by the end of tonight.

Arian groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You dumb fuck,” he mutters quietly.

Grisha grins at him. “Wha?”

Arian’s gaze drifts back to me. He sighs heavily, slipping the chips I gave him into his jacket pocket before he raises a finger.

“You get one hit. One.”

The smug grin drops like a stone from Grisha’s face. He whirls to Arian. “Wait, what?!”

I smile a shark-like grin as I roll my neck and turn to Grisha.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make it count.”

Bianca’s reading in bed—our bed—when I get home. Wordlessly, I walk over to her as she puts the book down and grins at me.

“Hey, you?—”

“Come with me.”

She frowns curiously as I kiss her softly, then take her hand.

“Where—”

“Just come.”

I usher her into the bathroom. I leave the lights off and light a couple of candles on the vanity, until the walls are glowing and flickering softly. Without a word, I start to fill the tub with warm water. I place a folded towel next to it, like she always does, before turning to her.

“Clothes off.”

She smiles, an intrigued look on her face.

“This is new.”

“What is?”

“You don’t usually ask permission before my clothes come off.”

I smile. “That’s not what this is about. Just… Take them off.”

She does. I watch hungrily, shamelessly devouring her body with my eyes. But again, that’s not what this is.

At least, not yet.

“Kneel down.”

She stiffens a little. “What?—”

“I’m going to wash your hair.”

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