Page 59 of Pink Poison

Only one more floor to walk through.

“Ms. Waters.” My head whips to the side, dizzying me in the process. Double images of Atticus dressed in all black, from his three piece suit to thestupidmatte black Rolex on his wrist, plays over my sight.Huh. I didn't know he had a twin.The idea of him having a twin sends a shiver down my spine. He—they—he steps closer, his freaky ass mask firmly in place with brows drawn with faux concern. “Are you alright, Ms. Waters?” he asks.

“I'm fine,” I clip, desperate to cut our conversation short.

“You should come sit down with me and my guest. I’d hate for something to happen to you if you’re unwell.” Scrunching my nose, I prepare to decline until he and his visual double give me a disturbing smirk that makes my skin itch, until my eyes adjust to histhankfullysolo body. “I insist,” he drawls, offering me his arm.

Gritting my teeth, I accept his shitty offer and loop my arm through his. With a smug chuckle, he leads me towards the back of the room where a cluster of booths sit preferentially to view the hostedactivities. A head of familiar blond hair sits facing away from me, a head of hair that I couldn't be any fucking happier to see.

Kash.

“Look who I found,” Atticus announces as we approach the table.

“Stevie,” Kash breathes my name like I'm the answer to his prayers. Any other day, I'd find humor in it, but I can't seem to now when he's the answer to mine. Jumping out from his seat, he eyes me softly—too soft.“Are you okay?”

No.“Yu-p,” I pop dramatically.

His deep blues darken like a damn bloodhound, sniffing out my deceit. I canseehim stripping through my facade. Ifeelhim digging around for an answer to the bigger question that rests unspoken between us. Everythingin me screams for him to stop, to get the hell out of my head. Ineedhim to stop because I refuse to break here with Mae's warning still echoing in my head.

“She says she’s fine,” Atticus drawls. “I invited her to join us while we finish up our discussion.”

Darting his gaze between me and Atticus, Kash grits, “We can finish this another time.”

The snake on my arm pushes. “Nonsense. You’re already here, and I know you’ve beendyingto see your girlfriend.”

Girlfriend? Who the fuck?

I pinch my lips tight, eyeing Kash with a look that I only fucking hope translates well to,I'm not your girlfriend, you fucking creeper.

Kash’s eyes narrow, challenging my look with one of his own as he holds out his hand. “Come here, sweetheart.”

An invisible string pulls me to him. No, not invisible. Nothing about Kash could be, despite his ability to hide in the shadows. Everything about him is red, dark,crimson.He's a walking, talking, red flag, but I'mfuckingcolorblind, and green is all I see when compared with our present company. His arms wrap around my shoulders, engulfing me in a warmth I didn't know that I needed—offering me a semblance of protection from the hell that surrounds us. He moves us towards the booth, him sliding in before me. Before I can even blink, he swoops me onto his lap and cradles me to his firm chest.

“Now that you see she iscompletelyunharmed…” Atticus laughs, and if I didn't hate the dick bag before I, without a doubt, hate him now.

Turning from Kash's chest, I face thedick bag. Maybe it’s the eerie calm he radiates or the fact that he dared to lie so casually, knowing good and well that I’mnotunharmed, but I have to see his face after blatantly lying.

Gently, Kash’s warm, callused hand strokes my cheek before turning my face back to his chest. His words come out soft but firm, leaving zeroroom to argue. “Until Stone gets here, those beautiful blues aren’t lookin’ at anyone else.”

I feel Atticus' stare burning a hole in the back of my head, but it doesn't stop me from answering Kash. "Okay."

“Good girl,” he praises under his breath.

“Mr. Reid,”Dick baginterrupts. “In addition toouragreement, I’d like you to aid me with something personal.”

“No offense,” Kash bites. “But, I don’t suck dick.”

Atticus clicks his tongue with what I can only hope is irritation, because that means Kash got under his serpanty skin, and that brings me a morsel of joy—something that I’m sure I won’t find often around here. “No need to be so crass. It’s a personal project of sorts. I could use a man with your talents. Word is you’re quite handy with certain materials and theiruses.”

Kash’s grip on me tightens, his temper shortening drastically. “I’ll bring it to the table.”

“Bring what to the table?” a familiar, gravelly voice asks.

Chapter twenty-two

Kash

Thank fuck.

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