Page 32 of Run From Me

I’d never tried to actually keep someone in my life. Was I even trying to keep Calliope? I rubbed at my chest as the thought invaded my mind about the possibility of just letting her do whatever it was she did. Thinking about Ripple or any other Viper putting their hands on her though?

She wasn’t answering me. She wasn’t turning to look at me.

“Slow the fuck down, Sparky.”

Her feet were still bare, I realized, and she was staring to slow down because of the cracked and broken asphalt.

“Cali, stop. That’s not what I meant. I didn’t mean I was just here because you were the job. To be fair though, you are the one that forced my hand. I wasn’t going to fuck you because I believe in keeping the lines of business and pleasure very clear.”

That was actually a new line, but she didn’t need to know that.

I could hear the little huff and the insane single laugh. It spiked my intuition, telling me she didn’t believe me.

“So this is all my fault? And this thing? This chemistry is all one sided?” she asked in an almost hysterical tone. Her hand pointed from her to me and back to her from the side, still not stopping. A few more steps, and she slowed and finally turned to glance at me.

“Not what I meant. And you know it,” I said trying to reach for her, but she was always a single step away.

Right. Fine. I pulled out a new toothpick from my pocket and slipped it in between my teeth. I needed something, and I guessed kissing her might have been out of the question at the moment.

Her eyes sparkled in the dim safety lights. Maybe she was pissed, but that was something I could work with. I wasn’t going to ever know how to be all sweet and cuddly. That was Zeid. Or at least I teased him for being a lot more heart than demon.

Moving a step closer, I lowered my voice, making this whole thing a more even playing field. Something told me her dark little secrets weren’t too far from my own, and I just needed her to find them. Maybe then she could break free of the fucking Vipers.

“Fine. Maybe you don’t know those words aren’t really what I meant. At least help me with the wedding present. You seem like a woman who enjoys a little revenge.” I winked at her as I moved ahead and turned to walk backward. She slowed, trying not to run into me.

“I’m listening,” she said.

And that might have been the moment my heart decided to beat again after being frozen and broken since I was a kid.

TEN

calliope

“Revenge?”

I paused trying to bring in some common sense. I really tried. It was probably time to get back to that therapist. No, actually she was pretty focused on the trauma from my mother, but the thing was, who was I without it?

And Xander? He was all about letting the freak flag fly apparently.

All the years of anger maybe never really needed to be fixed, but they sure as shit liked the idea of finding a way out. Revenge?

“I can get on board with that. Any chance this revenge would include assholes who use women for a quick fuck and then still expect said woman to be all loyal and swoony?”

His face fell flat. Good.

It pissed me off just how much I didn’t mean to this idiot. All curious about the Vipers, and for what? Another gang vendetta? It certainly wasn’t like he felt bad for calling me a job. Basically an obligation to keep me happy for information.

Was I happy? My vagina was at least. I smirked at that.

“No. Said guy will sort out whatever he said wrong later. I still think you will appreciate avenging Rylee. Let’s get to the third floor without being seen,” he said.

“Right. Then you need a costume change,” I said, assessing him.

He pulled the edges of his coat out and did a little twirl.

“What’s wrong with my Spector boss look?”

I snort-laughed.

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