Page 52 of Vicious Hearts

“I heard you were back,” Rand says, an apologetic look on his face as he tucks his hands in his pockets.

I look at Michael – obviously he’s embarrassed because he’s the idiot who told him I was back.

“And?” I prod.

“Thought I’d drop by and say hello.”

There is no feeling in me as I look at him. I can’t believe I ever even found him good looking. And his version of charming was narcissism.

“Hello, Rand.” My voice is sarcastic as I address him. “Anything else I can do for you?”

“Let me take you to dinner.”

There’s a note of desperation in his voice. Surprisingly, in my books, Rand is the greater of two evils when I compare him to Caleph. If I was going to give anyone a second chance, it wouldn’t be Rand. Hands down.

“Thank you for the offer, Rand. But I don’t think so.”

“You could have a change of heart,’ he whispers, a note of desperation in his voice.

Ahhh… I don’t think so.

“He’s really trying,” Michael says, after Rand leaves and he comes back to join us at the table. Nina slaps his arm. Hard. Tells him to shut up and stay out of my business. It’s the harshest I’ve ever heard her talking to her husband.

Michael ignores her, his face serious as he turns to me.

“Some might consider you fleeing to Mexico to write a book some form of disorder…”

49

CALEPH

Iwatch as the good-for-nothing cheating scumbag trots down the stairs and starts walking down the street. He’s been to the apartment three days running, and each time, he doesn’t stay more than a few minutes. I wonder how long it will be before Ariadne’s resolve wavers and she decides to entertain the idea of a date with him. The bug just won’t go away.

Seven has managed to find out that the worthless piece of shit is not currently seeing anyone. He appears to have overcome his playboy ways and is regretting letting Ariadne go. I know he probably doesn’t even cross her mind that way anymore, but he seems to think he has a chance to win her back. Not on my watch.

I watch him leave and get out of the car. I’ve managed to stay away from her since I brought her home, but this exercise in patience is not doing me any favors. Every minute I’m away from her feels like another wall comes up between us. A wall I will have to bulldoze through if I am to have any chance of seeing her again.

I’ve got someone watching her around the clock. And of course, Arsen is never far away. He sits in a parked car across the road from the apartment watching and waiting; Ariadne’s ride if she needs one, and her protector if anything should happen.

When I rap my knuckles on the door, it’s Nina that opens for me. Her best friend looks like a little pixie with her round face, head of bright red curls and big green eyes. She looks like she’d be the sort of person who’d be perennially smiling. Like now. Her eyebrows rise in surprise and a crooked smile tickles her lips. She knows who I am. She turns to look at her friend with a triumphant ‘I knew it’ accusation on her face.

Ariadne is sitting on the sofa, her arms folded around her raised knees. She sets her legs down so quickly she almost topples off the sofa, then lifts herself up and comes to the door.

“What are you doing here?” She hisses, looking out into the stairwell to see if anyone’s seen me. She pulls me by the arm until I’m standing in the apartment and closes the door with a thud.

“I’ll just… um… go do something… in another room,” Nina fumbles, looking at us curiously before she disappears behind a door.

“I thought you’d left already,” she says, genuinely surprised to see me.

“I have a few more things to take care of here,” I tell her. “Wanted to check in, make sure you’re okay.”

I sweep my eyes across the apartment. It’s what you would call ‘quaint’. By no means is it comfortable enough for three people.

“Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?” She eyes me cautiously.

“How’s the job hunting going?” I ask. I already know the answer to this, but I don’t tell her that.

“It’s not.”

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