Page 38 of Eye Candy

He reached for the handle, but then he happened to glance down, spotting the bulge from his dick. His erection tented his slacks as much as it could, given how tight they were on his legs, and he laughed quietly. “I better run to the bathroom and take care of this.” He said nothing else, tossing me a wink before leaving me alone, still quite worked up.

Even after he was gone, I stood there for a while, trying to calm my body down. It was like inhibitions weren’t a thing, like all of the possible consequences had ceased to matter the moment he’d touched me.

God, I’d wanted him so badly I couldn’t think straight.Kieran. Kieran, the guy who annoyed me to no end. Kieran, the guy who’d literally tossed me over his shoulder and dragged me home the one time I’d snuck out with Kelly prior to my kidnapping. Kieran, the guy who always had a smart comment for even the most inappropriate of circumstances.

Well, at least he didn’t have any witty comments for what just happened between us. If he would’ve opened his mouth and said something smart, I think I would’ve smacked him on the side of the head.

Or I would’ve been too delirious with pleasure to care. Who could say for sure?

Once I could walk without fear of my knees giving out, I headed over to my bed and grabbed my phone. I texted Lola, asking if she knew anywhere in the city that had nice wigs… and then I had to explain to her why I needed a wig.

All Lola messaged back was,I’ll handle it.

Chapter Thirteen – Laina

Turned out, when Lola said she’d handle it, she’d meant it. The next day, around lunch time, there was a knock at the door. The press conference was at three; just before the day shift people left their jobs, so any usable clips would be ready for the evening news. I was sitting in the living room, listening to Tessa drone on and on about how she couldn’t find a wig for me, but she had gone out and bought bleach and everything else I’d need to try to get the color out of my hair.

She sent Kieran to answer the door, not thinking twice. Mike stood behind me, my watchful guard. Even though his face was usually passive, I could tell he was tired of hearing Tessa talk, too.

“Look who’s here,” Kieran spoke dryly, walking into the living room with two people in tow: a man with hazel eyes that matched Mike’s and a gorgeous blond woman carrying a few bags.

Lola and Viper.

“Excuse me,” Tessa started, getting to her feet as she took on a tone that was more than scolding. “Who are you and why are you here, in my house?”

Lola grinned at Tessa, unflinching under her scrutiny. She wore ripped jeans that showed off her thin legs, along with a neon pink shirt that dipped low enough you could see the top curve of her cleavage. “I’m Lola, and this is Viper. You and I have met before, at some dinner your husband threw to welcome Sylvester’s support.”

I’d never seen a switch so fast. Tessa went from stern and annoyed to overly kind and welcoming. She walked over to Lola, saying, “Of course, of course. I’m so sorry I forgot. We’ve met so many people during the campaign. You slipped my mind, I’m afraid.”

“Viper’s also Mike’s brother,” I chimed in.

“Really?” Tessa glanced between the two men. “I don’t see the resemblance at all. Uh, Laina, how exactly do you know Lola?”

“Oh, we’re besties,” Lola answered her, drawing Tessa’s eyes back to her. “I met with her in the hospital before you and your husband did. I make it a point to do my best to protect the girls in this city. Now, if you’ll excuse us—” She gestured for me. “—I have to get her ready for a press conference this afternoon.”

I was slow in walking toward Lola and Viper, well aware every set of eyes in the room was on me. Behind me, Tessa attempted to argue, “I have someone coming at one-thirty—”

“Don’t bother.” My bestie grinned. “I got it. Your stepdaughter is safe in my hands. When she’s with me, she’s probably the safest she’ll ever be in this city.” Her bright blue eyes shifted to Viper, the man with countless serpentine tattoosrunning up and down his arms. “Viper, would you be a doll and stay here with them?” To Tessa, she added, “I work better alone.” She basically gave Tessa no way to argue with her.

Hey, I was all for it, and that was why I followed Lola out of the room with no hesitation whatsoever.

“Where’s your room?” she asked.

“Upstairs. I’ll show you.” I brought her to the grand staircase, and up we went, to the second floor. We pushed into my room soon after that, and Lola kicked the door closed with her foot, then she went to deposit her bags onto my bed. “When you said you’d handle it, I thought—”

Lola snapped her fingers and pointed to an empty spot on the bed before her, telling me, “Sit.” Only after I’d sat down did she start going through the bags. She pulled out a makeup container, along with quite a few blond wigs of all lengths. A bob cut, shoulder-length with layers, and one that had quite a bit of length.

The surprise must’ve been evident on my face, because as she fixed up the wigs, she explained, “I used to go clubbing, back before I settled down. I’d wear wigs like this—usually brown ones—and I’d catch myself a man for the night. I had a whole routine: I’d drink a bit, pretend to be tipsy and a little drunk, and I’d see who offered to take me home for the night.”

I didn’t know why she was telling me this, but I had the feeling her story was going to take a sharp left turn any time now. When she carried on, I found I was right.

“When they were butt-ass naked, ready to fuck, thinking they’d get lucky with pretend-drunk me, I sliced their necks and let them drown in their own blood.” Lola stated it so matter-of-factly, I could do nothing but stare at her in shock. “I had a name, too: the Night Slayer. I liked it. I liked it a lot.”

To have someone so gorgeous talk about murder like it was nothing made me confused on all levels. And yet, I probably didn’t react how any normal person would when they were told something like that. I stayed pretty damn calm.

“But you stopped doing that?” I asked. “Why?” It was a strange sense of morbid curiosity that led me to ask, but I genuinely wanted to know.

She let out a sigh, turning her gaze to me. “One night I killed the youngest Luciano brother. I didn’t know who he was at the time, but Sylvester and Maddox found me. They took me, said they’d make me their pet serial killer for a while, and then they’d kill me.” Lola giggled. “I’m still waiting on that last part, though I’m starting to think they like me too much to kill me now.” She outright grinned at that.

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