Page 31 of The Kat Bunglar

And he smelled like heaven.

If heaven was a combination of soap, tobacco, and well-worn leather.

“Hey there Cinder-Laila,” he drawled, a pair of Bottega leather mules dangling from his fingers. Looking at her closely, he frowned in confusion, “You’re not Laila!”

5 Days Ago

July 5th

Los Angeles

Laila Malik

“Laila, I asked you a question,” Jay said for the umpteenth time.

Laila snapped out of her daze, turning to face her husband. His face was hard with frustration, his eyes searching hers for any sign of attention. But all she could think about was Gabriel—and his intense eyes.

“Hmmm?” she murmured. The sound of the waves crashed in her ears, but in the back of her mind, it was Gabriel’s laugh she heard.

Jay’s voice sharpened. “Are you even here right now?”

Laila blinked, realizing she’d been tuning him out for too long.

“Sorry. I’m here,” she mumbled.

The morning had been a blur—taking inventory of what was in her wallet, calling the banks, canceling credit cards, filing a police report. It had been long and exhausting.

Jay exhaled, rubbing his jaw. His frustration was palpable.

“We need to find your wallet. Focus.”

Laila turned her gaze back to the beach, to the scattered crowds, their carefree laughter drifting past her like an echo.

Her wallet was long gone.

And so was something else.

Something vital within her marriage.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was—only that there was an ache between her and Jay, a distance that had once been imperceptible but now loomed like a shadow.

And she desperately wished she could unsee it.

Shaking off the intrusive thoughts, she forced herself to focus.

Jay was here. This moment—this marriage—was her reality.

Gabriel was... impossible.

“I just—I don’t understand how you lost your wallet on the beach.” Jay’s tone was strained. “Was it before your meeting?”

“I don’t remember,” Laila said quietly.

Jay’s frustration softened, concern creeping into his features for the first time. “Laila... what do you remember about yesterday?” His voice gentled. “Break it down for me, please.”

Laila avoided his gaze, staring out at the rolling waves instead.

“I don’t remember much,” she admitted. “I woke up. I met with the client, and then—”

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