Page 318 of Dark Love

This is insane. “You know what? I’ll take that bet.” And since I know they’ll both lose it isn’t even gambling. “Vex and I won’t be having sex in a week or a month.”

They laugh.

“Easiest fifty I’ve ever made.” Mindy swirls her drink. “You’re getting all our drinks when we visit his club too, when you lose.”

“Deal.” Hopefully, when they lose, some of their sanity will come back in relation to me.

“Talking about guys, do you see it going anywhere permanent with Tac?” Mindy thankfully changes the conversation, allowing me to relax a bit for the first time and arrange for a car to pick me up at her apartment building.

There’s so much about me these girls just don’t understand. Vex and I could never work out even if he was interested in me, which he isn’t. Not that I would date a crime lord. What kind of title is that? Those types of people live in the shadows, trying to evade the police. They don’t own legit businesses. Does heown the club? Maybe he just runs his secret underground crime organization from this club and people are too afraid to say anything about it.

Vex would definitely make an excellent mob boss or gun runner supplying oppressed people in third-world countries with the guns they need to fight for their freedom while acting as a spy for governments around the world.

Endless possible stories run through my head and each of them features Vex as the hero, not the villain.

The car stops briefly, and Diane hops out with a wave. “See you guys at work. Tonight was a blast.”

That’s not a description I would have used. Eye-opening is more like it. Maybe terrifying. Though knowing there are good men in the world who will step up to protect a stranger is comforting. “Bye.” I wave at her retreating form.

“You okay? You seem really deep in thought.” Mindy leans back against the seat as we start to move again.

“It’s been a long day.” I lean my head back against the plush leather seats.

“They always are. We might seem a bit silly, but when you work where we do you need an outlet. Going to the club, drinking, and dancing recharges us. You need to find an outlet. Something that recharges you, or it’ll drive you nuts.”

This is the outlet. This job. These people are solely to recharge my mind and my heart.

“What do you think of Adonis?”

“Other than the fact that he’s gorgeous?”

She laughs. “Yeah, other than that. Every woman, in and out of the office, hasa crush on him. But he’s really good at his job.”

I can see that.

“He’s dedicated not just to the mission, but to ensuring that all of us have what we need to help others and ourselves.”

Does Mindy have more than a crush on Adonis?

“That’s why he has a standing Friday night invitation for everyone at work regardless of what shift they work to go out to dinner.”

“Why didn’t you and Diane go then?”

“Mostly because of Tac, but also the conversation can become too serious there sometimes. I need light and happy.”

Or do you need to avoid Adonis?

“We also have picnics at the park sometimes. Anywhere else there’d be backyard barbeques, but we all live in the city. No one has a big enough space for a progressive meal let alone a place to grill meat and sit on the grass. That’s one thing I miss since moving here…grass. What about you? Or have you lived in Urbium all your life?”

“No, I just moved here recently. I grew up in the suburbs outside of the city. My parents still live in the same home I was born in.”

“Wow. A marriage that lasted all this time. That’s…astounding. My mom’s been divorced four times, and after his second wife, my dad gave up on marriage altogether. I figure I’ll try the marriage thing once, and when it doesn’t work, I’ll become a spinster and collect a hundred snakes.”

“Snakes? Why not something cute and cuddly, like cats or dogs?” I could totally see myself becoming a cat lady as I get older.

“I’m allergic to both. Their fur makes my eyes swell up and my nose itch. Plus, snakes need less room and less care, both of which are super important living around here.”

A shudder runs through me. “Remind me not to visit you when you’re old.”

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