Page 73 of Crave

“Tell me for what reason you could possibly be mad at me, when you lost my flamingo?”

“Because you’ve been avoiding me, Alexei. Because you seem to be more interested in the whereabouts of a damn bird than speaking to me.”

She crosses her arms over her chest and I pull back.

Her cheeks are burning red.

She’s flustered and probably angry. It hurts. Running my hands over my jaw, I sigh.

This is a mess.

“Just go. I’ll stay and keep an eye on this one. Maybe keeping your distance is for the best.”

The pain in her voice tells me that’s a lie.

For some reason, I just nod, bow my head, and leave. Her words replay in my head. I need to find Sheila, then I can calm down and work out what to do.

CHAPTER 31

LARA

I’ve never seenAlexei like this. So… flustered.

If anything that gives me hope, he feels this too. He wants more, he just doesn’t know what to do. I get it. My brothers, our friendship.

Or I suppose it could be his Sheila is missing.

I jump back when this new flamingo makes a noise, I can’t lie, I’m kinda petrified. It’s why I waited in the hallway for Alexei to get home the first time.

These damn things are scary close up.

Keeping my distance from the bird, I head upstairs into Alexei’s room, except this time, when I look at his bed, I think about him pushing me to my knees and calling me his good girl.

My cheeks heat.

Sitting on the edge of the mattress, I smooth my hand over the silky duvet. Spotting a couple of bloodstained shirts on the floor, I decide to make myself useful and pick them up, tossing them in the laundry.

My phone pings on the counter. I run back over, my heart in my throat hoping it’s him.

And my smile shouldn’t be as wide when I see his name on the screen, but it is.

A

We found Sheila. Bringing her home with Mikhail now. Don’t worry about looking after Bruce.

I frown. Tapping out a reply.

Me

Bruce??

A

That stray you brought into my house. Bruce.

How does he even know that one downstairs is a male? I wouldn’t have a clue. I shake my head, it’s his problem now anyway and I take it that means he doesn’t need me here. Disappointment clouds over me, that glimmer of hope fading again.

Sometimes I want to shake him, but really, I want him to kiss me again.

---