Page 37 of Wicked Rockstar

His lips flattened into a hard line. I wondered if I pushed too hard. “Don’t start giving yourself any importance to this situation or deal. Just because you’re giving us an avenue to move our product doesn’t mean you’re irreplaceable.”

“I see.” Was that a threat? I had a knife strapped to the inside of my boot and security nearby with guns watching us in case they were needed.

Replaceable. Expendable. Nonessential. Is this really what I’d become? Or was it a theme that I couldn’t quite shake off in my lifetime?

Both gentlemen remained silent.

“We good?” I finally asked, wanting to move things along before my guests became suspicious. The fewer witnesses the better.

He gave me a brief nod and gestured to the craft he cleared. “We’re starting with a small amount. If this goes well, we’ll consider doing business with you again.”

Once the product had been stored below, the two men left in their boat. “Satisfied?” Griff asked, coming up behind me. I didn’t appreciate his attitude. He was annoyed that I’d asked tomeet with someone higher up on the chain than he was. He had illusions of grandeur with his spot in the organization.

“Very,” I agreed. “Do me a favor, let most of my guests depart before you move anything. I don’t need someone seeing and spilling to the wrong people.”

“This isn’t my first rodeo, dick.”

Sometimes I wondered why I bothered with him.

No, but it might be our last if you’re not careful, asshole.I kept my mouth shut not wanting to sour our current partnership.

As I walked away from the deal, my cocaine buzz faded, and a cold reality settled in. This was my life now. Drugs, danger, and superficial connections.

Trissa popped into my thoughts. Once again, I couldn’t banish her from my mind. It was like she’d taken root and I couldn’t shake her loose. What would she think if she saw me now?

She’d be disappointed. Likely horrified. And knowing my Tink, she’d try to save me.

I shook off the thought. There was no saving me now. I was in too deep, and all this was too dangerous for her.

It was the reassurance I needed. The reminder to tell her no and walk away now. Tris was too innocent for all this.

I shook off my melancholy thoughts, plastered on my host smile once again, and rejoined the party, making every effort to ignore the growing emptiness in my gut.

I was better off alone.

Just like always.

Chapter Eleven

TRISSA

My eyes flicked open as the rumble of an engine filtered through my subconscious. I rubbed at them, hating with each swipe how it felt like sand was trapped beneath my lids.

Where am I?

This wasn’t my bed.

Reality crashed in as I remembered.

Killian’s yacht.

The party. The drugs.

The memories of tonight flooded my mind, each one arriving with a stab of disappointment, leaving my heart wounded and making me wish I’d never come aboard. I’d been pissed when Killian left me behind and expected Max to take me home, but what I’d seen here tonight was much worse.

I laid there listening to the boat docking and the music dying down. When the engine cut out, I assumed guests were exiting the boat. Indecision kept me on the bed for longer than I wanted. If I didn’t wish for Killian to know I was here, I had to slip out with the crowd.

It was now or never. Time wasn’t on my side if I wanted to leave without being caught.

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