Page 487 of Dark Love

“Go talk to Adonis.”

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“We’re going to escalate this.” Adonis types on his computer. “Protocol doesn’t call for police intervention, because he didn’t make any threats. But if he calls again, I’m going to request they step in.”

Again?

He might call again?

“It’s unlikely, but we’ve had people call dozens of times before the police tracked them down. You don’t need to worry about him. The building is secure.”

Their security measures are comforting. And this guy has no idea who I am. I’m just a voice on the phone. “Okay. That’s good.”

“If you want, you can take the rest of the afternoon off.”

Do I? It’s tempting to call Vex and just spend the rest of the evening in his arms.

But then I’d have to live in dread of yet another Friday. “Thanks, but no. I’ll just take a few minutes to decompress and head back in.”

“Whatever you need.”

What I need is for all the creepy men in the world to disappear. But I’ll settle with texting Vex for a while.

Not that I’m going to tell him about this little incident. He doesn’t seem like the type to handle what happened rationally.

Me: Hey!

Vex: Hey, Dahl!

Don’t ask him how his day is going.

Me: Looking forward to dinner tonight.

Vex: Where are we going?

Me: A steak house around the corner from my work.

Vex: Seems like it’s about time that you tell me where you work.

Why have I kept it a secret for so long? It’s not like I’m embarrassed by this job—the other one, I don’t want anyone to know about ever. Maybe because a crime lord and a 911 operator doesn’t sound like a good match.

Me: I work at a call center answering phone calls.

Vex: Why didn’t you tell me that sooner?

Just tell him already. Pull off the bandage.

Me: I answer 911 calls.

Vex: WHAT?

Me: I help people.

Vex: Dahl!

Me: It’s an important job, and I like doing it.

Vex: We’ll talk about it later.

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