Page 46 of Depraved Desires

He joined me at the table, occupying the seat adjacent to mine. His eyes remained fixated on his food, almost like he didn’t want to look at me.

“How was work?” he questioned, taking his first bite.

Another sensitive subject. Great. Monroe has made it clear that he didn’t support this one bit. Despite him driving me there, the distaste was always written all over his face. I knew the job wasn’t ideal, but it was my best bet. For now, at least.

I shrugged, my stomach grumbling from the lack of food. “It’s okay.” Wrapping my hands around my own burrito, my teeth sank into the breakfast item. A variety of flavors danced along my tongue, making me groan. This tasted fucking amazing.

“I know this isn’t my place.” He sighed, wiping his hands on a nearby napkin. His eyebrows were pinched as he worked to find the right words. “But I’m curious. Are you and Barlow a thing now?”

The question caught me off guard. He had just asked me about my job and the randomness of the subject change was comical. My life was complicated and considering he heard what he heard didn’t make it weird for him to ask. I’m sure anyone would have.

Sighing, my shoulders dropped defeatedly. “I don’t even know. One minute, he was telling me he liked me and then…youknow. After, he just left without an explanation.” It definitely sounded like a fuck and dump to me.

“Well, that’s a risk when you just casually open your legs for someone.”

My eyes snapped to his, shock radiating through me. “What the fuck are you insinuating?” I growled. Out of all the people I’ve met at the academy, Monroe was the last person I thought would ever inadvertently slut shame me. Then again, I didn’t think Rocky would just bounce after fucking me either. It was true what they say; looks could be deceiving.

“I’m notinsinuatinganything. That’s always a risk. You know that; if you don’t, then you should.” Of course, I knew that. I wasn’t an idiot. His delivery needed some work.

“Yes,Aiden.I’m quite aware. Thank you for being an asshole though; itreallyhelped.”

It was obvious he wasn’t too pleased with me. I just didn’t know why. Maybe it was my classless job, maybe it was fucking Rocky, hell, maybe he was just tired of my presence altogether. It wasn’t like he was going to open up and tell me how he felt; he was a closed book. Then again, I’ve never tried asking him about anything remotely personal.

“I’m not being an asshole,” he retorted, his expression blank and unreadable.

I rolled my eyes and leaned forward, snatching the glass of whiskey sitting before him. Before he could hurl anymore insults my way, I was downing the contents, the brown liquid slithering down my throat, lighting a fire in its wake.

He narrowed his eyes at me as I set the glass back down on the table and smirked, feeling extraordinarily feisty today.

“Don’t worry,” I began. “I’ll be out of your hair within the next two weeks and you won’t have to worry about me ever again.”

“What are you talking about?”

“What? You didn’t think I’d be staying here forever, did you?” I snorted at the prospect. “I’ve been saving since I started working at Club Euphoria. I’ll be able to leave as soon as I gather up some more cash.”

This time it was his turn to roll his eyes. “You aren’t going anywhere.” He took another bite, and then reached forward, grabbing my juice where he proceeded to wash it down.

“Yes, I am,” I argued. “That has always been my plan. To make enough money so that I could go and find my sister and?—”

“Sister?” he questioned, cutting my sentence short.

I’d been so weary of who I could trust that it hadn’t crossed my mind to tell this man anything about me. He has done nothing but protect me and keep me safe, making sure that I was always fed, and he even kicked his bitch of a wife out over how she talked to me.

I nodded. “My twin. We were separated at the orphanage. But getting back to her is my only goal in life right now.”

“Do you know where she is? Is she identical to you?”

“Well, no…and no.”

“Do you even know what she looks like?”

I always assumed I’d know upon seeing her, but that was also wishful thinking. When I shook my head, he snorted like I was insane.

“So…in other words, you’re being impulsive and reckless and have no idea what you’re doing,” he continued, raising his eyebrows. The way he was speaking to me pissed me off. This wasn’t some teaching moment where he could make me think differently with a few dickish words.

Annoyance skittered through me, and my hands balled into fists within my lap. Monroe has always been an asshole in one way or another, but today, he was completely unreasonable.

“What the hell is your problem today?” I demanded.

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