Page 35 of Mastered By Bliss

A robotic female voice says, “You’ve reached the end of your message,” followed by a longbeep.

Why isn’t he here, tugging me into his arms, cupping the back of my head to draw me closer to his heart?It hurts that he isn’t here, that he isn’t communicating with me.

Finally, a text appears—and it’s from Gage.Working late again.Don’t wait up.

I stare at the words, my vision blurring.Then I type back,Seriously?Is everything okay?

A moment passes before he writes back.Everything’s fine.Just busy here.

I wait for a follow-up text, something explaining why he’s so busy, or an apology for not being around.If there’s anything Gage is good at, it’s reassuring me when I’m feeling off-balance.

I wait so long, my phone dims and goes black.

He knows.He has to know I’m freaking out over here.He has to have listened to my message.And if he isn’t saying anything about it, it means he doesn’t care.

Fuck this.Fuckhim.I don’t know what he thinks he’s doing, ignoring me like this.If he’s mad I won’t marry him, fine.Seriously, fine.He can be mad.But he has to at leasttalk to meabout it.

If he won’t talk to me on the phone, I’ll hunt him down at Low Vice and make him talk to me in person.

I pull on a pair of sweats and an oversized sweatshirt, covering up the pretty pink nightie.Asshole.I can’t believe I got all dressed up for him.I’m halfway to the door before I remember I’m supposed to let my bodyguard know if I want to go somewhere.I send a quick text to my Ironwood contact.Going to Low Vice.Is someone here who can go with me?

Squid is stationed in the hall.He’s ready whenever you are.

I pause in place, thinking.No.I’m not going to Low Vice.I don’t want to see Gage.As much as I miss him, as worried as I am, I’m still pissed.

I jam the silk scarves into my hoodie pocket, then open the door to see Squid, the red-haired guard, is back on duty.

“Hello, Leah.”He makes no comment about my casual attire.“We’re going to Low Vice?”

“I changed my mind.”I give him Dmitri’s address.

* * *

Gage

The sensuous bass notes of a Bastian Crown song weave through the hall and seep through my office door.I stare at my text conversation with Leah.I’m behaving abysmally, I know this.

I’m sorry for not believing in us.Her words echo in my ears, tinny and flat through my phone’s speaker.

But my knuckles bear scabs from punching Harvey Billings in his disgusting mouth.My chest is hollow and empty, my brain is dull with repressed memories.

Javi and Nic are dead.Todd is still undergoing multiple surgeries from his car accident.Jess and Claudia are recovering.I’m a mess, unable to maintain a real relationship with the woman I love more than life itself.

The Shinies have been tarnished.Everything I touch becomes tarnished.

I don’t know what to do.I can’t leave Leah, but I can’t go to her, either.Not right now.

* * *

Dmitri

Gage’s car is parked on the street in front of my house when I get home from work.It throws me for a minute, because he was at Low Vice when I left.Then I remember—Leah has been using his car.

This is a nice surprise.I get out of my Mustang.At the same time, Leah gets out of Gage’s car and hurries up my driveway.She has on sweatpants and a hoodie with flip flops.Her hair gleams.She rarely wears it down, and I love the look.

“Hey.”I can’t help the smile on my face.“This is unexpected.What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for you.”

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