Page 44 of Pitiful Lies

I imagine being the Enforcer for the Vipers means he comes and goes often. Kind of like how he is with women. The thought makes my chest squeeze painfully and I close my eyes.

Don’t go there, I tell myself, turning to peruse the rest of the condo.

There’s a ladder and a toolbox along with a couple of crates holding what looks like tiles inside sitting in the hallway, and I wonder if the guest bathroom is also getting a remodel.

“Is the bedroom this way?” I ask, and yes, I am keenly aware the second I let the word come out of my mouth that I should have just stayed quiet.

Last thing I need to do is think about Angel and a bed in the same sentence.

“Hang on a second. Your stuff is here,” he says and walks back to the door.

I watch as he places the box with the stuff from my apartment on the floor and takes my small suitcase from the guard.

“Okay. Let’s get these to the bedroom,” he murmurs, and gestures for me to move in front of him.

I walk down the hall slowly, aware that Angel is stalking behind me on silent feet. I don’t know how he moves so quietly for such a big man, but he does.

Licking my lips as I try to settle my racing heartbeat, and I wonder in a moment of panic if he can hear it. I push the thought away.

Angel might look like a god. I mean, he has all the intensity and bad boy charm of Loki with the body of Thor, but he’s only a man.

A fine as fuck man, but still a man.

Angel is not mine. I shouldn’t be having any thoughts about him whatsoever.

Just keep telling yourself that, Sisi.

CHAPTER TWELVE-ANGEL

Goddamn.

She looks so fucking good.

I’ve got my Koukla inside the condo with me and I don’t know what’s harder, the pounding of my heart at having her in my personal space, or my dick at having her so close.

The way she moves is so careful. Like she doesn’t want to take a wrong step, and it endears her to me.

She doesn’t seem to know she can’t do any wrong as far as I’m concerned, but I keep that bit to myself.

Just like I don’t tell her this place is mine. Not yet, anyway.

After Nico bought Anna that house in the suburbs, I bought this condo from him. I’ve been doing the remodeling myself.

It’s not that farfetched. Once upon a time, I worked construction. And I’m good with my hands.

But seeing her here I finally admit why I’ve been pushing so hard, doing all this work myself.

For her.

It’s all for her.

I know I fucked up with this girl. I don’t know how exactly, but whatever I did, I am sure it is my fault, and I own that.

The shit I’ve done in my life, it’s, well, it’s bad. I’m not a good person. But I can be good for her.

Giselle isn’t like Anna or Maria. She has a family who loves her. A degree. She even has a small business she runs herself. And I’m so fucking proud of her.

But I am also aware of the fact she doesn’t need me like her friends needed their men. Not like I need her, and it makes me edgy.

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