Page 55 of My Sweetest Temptation

“Tabi,” I said with force.

She slowly looked up and said, “Just don’t piss him off. The men in the club are dangerous. Stay clear of them and stick to Enzo as much as you can.”

“Enzo’s basically my shadow.” I tried to laugh it off, but it came out strained.

She grabbed my hand from across the table. “Listen, I’m not trying to scare you, but I’ve worked in enough places like this to know to keep my head down. Plus, the girls at the club talk. If you see anything that you’re not supposed to see, ignore it and keep your mouth shut.”

“Like what?” I asked in a low voice.

“Just look the other way and make sure you never tell a soul. Otherwise...”

I didn’t like the sound of that. “Otherwise what?”

“Otherwise, they will make you disappear.”

I gaped at her. “What the hell? What kind of people are they?” I whisper-hissed.

“All you need to know is that they are very powerful. Just do what you’re supposed to do, and you’ll be fine.”

Oh, yeah, okay. That sounds easy enough, only I’m already on Nico’s radar!

“I should’ve kept my mouth shut,” I groaned, taking an aggressive bite of my muffin.

“Look. I’m not trying to freak you out, and I’m sorry if I did. But I care about you. Just don’t give him a reason to go after you.”

I leaned back and sighed.

Too late.

After my visit with Tabi at the coffee shop, I sat in my living room by the bay window, giving myself a moment to settle my thoughts. This window was one of my favorite things about this apartment; the way the light filled the room brought warmth to everything in its path, including my emotional turmoil. I cradled a steaming cup of hot cocoa overflowing with marshmallows and started to hum one of Billy Ellish’s tunes. My gaze drifted to my electric violin standing in the corner.

I made my way to the kitchen, rinsing out the mug before returning to the living room. Kneeling beside the custom-made black stand Dad made for my birthday last year, I pulled out the yellow electric violin. I carried it and the bow over to the window.

Mom was a violinist and would play while pregnant with me. One of her favorite songs to play was “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” That was now one of my favorites to play. It made me feel closer to her.

Over the last few years, I began to write music of my own. Not only was writing a way to escape my nightmares, but the idea of turning those words into a piece was even more therapeutic. I turned something ugly into something beautiful.

Today, instead of playing one of my own, I chose a song that I could relate to— “Lovely” by Billie Ellish and Khalid. I positioned my violin on my collarbone and held it in place with my jaw. With my eyes closed, the notes danced together, creating a gentle symphony as I pulled the bow along the strings. My soul left my body and escaped into the world of music, where peace and love awaited. For just a few moments, my pain and tears ceased to exist. But then a subtle knock at my door broke the spell.

Another knock soon followed.

“Winter?” a female voice said through the door.

“What the—” I mumbled. I walked to the door and looked through the peephole. Sure enough, Mya stood outside with Enzo and another guard behind her. I sighed and rested my forehead against the door, not wanting to have to deal with anyone associated with Nico.

I removed the chain, unbolted the door, and pulled it open halfway.

“Hi, Mya,” I greeted her with a tight smile, wondering by the stoney look on her face if she was sent by Nico to finish me off.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

“To check in on you.”

“I wasn’t aware managers makes house calls.”

She shrugged. “I’m not everyone.”

Mya pushed inside without waiting for an invitation.

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