Page 108 of Manacled Hearts

I swing my bag over my shoulder, and run my fingers through my sweaty, messy bob to make it look a little more decent as I climb the stairs and pass through all the secure doors.

“Hey Carter, is it okay if I come in?” I ask as I peak through the back door and notice him standing at the bar, a laptop in front of him. As always.

“Hi Evelyn. Yes, of course. Actually, can you tell me if you’ve seen this guy before?” he gestures toward his laptop and waits.

“Oh!” I don’t bother hiding the grimace when I see the picture on the screen—a man slumped on the ground in what seems like a dark street of some kind, with a bullet hole in his forehead, his eyes open, but blank.

I swallow a couple of times and take a step closer.

“Actually, yes. He was one of the ones who ushered us into that warehouse or whatever it was. He didn’t strike me as a low-ranking guy, but not as important as Frankie. I never heard his name though.”

“This helps. I have his phone and can track all his past whereabouts now, and at least I know that I’m not wasting my time. Thank you, Evelyn.”

I smile and nod. Once again Carter speaks with me more than just the polite hello or do you want a drink, and I find it hard to get used to it. Maybe he’s not quite as bad as I thought he was.

“Drink?” he asks, and I chuckle to myself as I drop my bag on a chair.

“Yes, please. A strong one, but sweet if possible.”

He nods and goes behind the bar himself.

“Oh, sorry, I thought a bartender might be here. I don’t want to bother you when you’re busy.”

“It’s no bother. I’m getting one myself too.”

I still feel awkward though, but I nod and smile either way.

“Trust me, he’ll eat out of the palm of your hand if you do that.”

That sweet voice…

When I turn, Finnigan walks in from the back, Tina next to him, and when his eyes land on me, I feel naked. I may be wearing loose joggers and a sports bra, but he watches me with startled hunger, drawing his gaze over me so slowly, I want to spread myself wide for him right here, on this wooden floor. No matter who watches.

“Evie…” he says on a breathy voice, his eyes lingering a bit too long on my breasts before they find my eyes.

Tina walks away and gives me a little wave before she takes a seat at the bar, next to Carter’s laptop.

“I was just… I trained downstairs.”

Oh my god, I’m mumbling. Keep it together, Evelyn!

“Yeah… you did.”

Hungry, so very, very hungry.

“Carter’s making me a drink.”

“You should ask Severin to take you back to the penthouse.” He takes a step closer, his heated gaze suggesting he doesn’t mean those words.

And I don’t want to go yet. “I want a drink first.”

“There’s alcohol at home.”

Home. That sounds awfully familiar, like it’s not just his home. I’m not going straight there anyway. Maya has an overnight play-date since Annika proposed that the kids should spend as much time together as they can before they’ll inevitably have to return home when this whole thing ends.

“I’m getting cabin fever. I’m having a drink here.”

Before he can give me another comeback, I move to the bar and climb onto one of the stools, my ass sliding back a bit too far in my attempt to be cocky. But I own it and brace my forearms on the bar, watching Carter’s curious gaze over us, a cocked eyebrow showing his amusement as he makes the drinks.

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