Page 32 of The Broken Wolf's Redemption

“I’m at the shop. I’m doing some drawings, trying to catch up.”

“That doesn’t answer anything!” Becka sighed with disappointment.

As far as Seren knew, vampire mind tricks were just a myth, but her best friend was pretty intuitive. She’d have to come up with something, anything, to satisfy her. She hated lying, but it was becoming easier and easier. She was trying to do something good, so why was she starting to think that she was turning into an exceptionally shitty person?

“That’s boring,” Becka went on. “I’ll come and join you.”

“No,” Seren said in a rush. She needed more time if she was going to come up with something convincing. “It’s your day off and I’m almost done. This chair is killing my back. What about dinner?”

There were so many other days off she wasn’t going to be able to hang out with Becka. If she did, she’d have to pick the time and location carefully. Sundays were better, but after her time with Rome on Mondays, she wouldn’t be fit company for anyone. She’d been avoiding her parents too. They would start freaking out if she didn’t put in some time with them soon.

She’d have to get over herself if she wanted to maintain the lie and keep her deal with Rome a secret.

“Yeah, sure. I’d love that. Where did you want to go?”

“For subs? We haven’t done that in forever.”

There was a great sandwich shop downtown, the mom-and-pop style. Nothing could beat it. Technically, it was Adrian who discovered it, but she’d got it in the divorce. He’d kept most of their shared friends, though, the house and the car, and pretty much everything they’d accumulated over the years, so there was that.

“Yes! Oh my god, so much yes.”

Her phone beeped in her ear. She fully expected it to be her parents, since she was just thinking about them. She froze, a cold chill rolling over her like a stormfront when she saw Rome’s name.

“Sorry, Becks, I have someone calling me. Want me to come for you around six? We could eat them in the park.”

“It’s a hot date. Not as hot as your secret lover, but I have plenty of time to get that out of you. I’m infinitely patient. Vampire style. It’ll happen soon enough, but if you don’t want to talk about it tonight, that’s fair. Just subs and a nice evening.”

“You’re the best. Thank you.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too. Bye.”

Her finger hovered over the end call and accept button. She felt sick to her stomach. If she wanted any peace, she had to pick up. Maybe he wasn’t playing games. Maybe he truly needed her again. Maybe it was Waverly. Maybe he was going to tell her that he didn’t need her Monday either and she got a second pass.

Maybe he was going to say that he was disappointed he didn’t get to see her, and he’d been thinking about her nonstop since Monday. He was going nuts and he doesn’t like it. He’d never lost himself that way. He was totally under her spell. He wanted to fuck her six ways to Sunday, only on Monday. He’d tear up the contract and treat her the way she deserved to be treated, which was to have the world at her feet.

She laughed sharply before she answered, but she had herself under control when she heard Rome’s breathing.

“I’m outside. Let me in.”

Wow. Yeah. The nasty girl fantasies she’d unfortunately developed for this man were just that. Make believe. Her pussy was starting to lay down the law, which was pathetic.

It didn’t stop her from feeling like she was going to tear out of her body at Rome’s proximity. “How do you know I’m here? Are you tracking me?” She wasn’t supposed to like that, so she was sure to sound like she didn’t. “It’s official. You’re one hundred percent stalker. Congrats.”

“Your car is out front. I tried here after you weren’t at your condo.”

He had her address from the contract. She’d had to fill it in. “Why not just call?” Like a normal person was implied, but she didn’t say it. Rome wasn’t a normal person.

“Are you going to let me in?”

A weird stinging sensation bloomed between her shoulder blades. It wasn’t pain from being bent over her desk for so many hours. “Not a chance.”

“Seren. Open the door.”

He tried to go for threatening, but she heard the desperate undertone. There was something wrong, but it wasn’t another I’ve crashed my bike and my wolf is going to erupt out of my skin or a there’s something wrong with Waverly situation. He sounded too agitated for that.

“No,” she croaked, voice cracking along with her resolve.

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