Page 145 of Never Die for a Sinner
“Am I?” he challenges, and I flinch at the bite in his voice. He finally looks at me, and his dark brown gaze roams over me like he’s trying to decide if I’m the same person. “You look fine to me.”
Okay, rude.
“I had a cold the last few days. I was off.”
“I’m sure you were,” he murmurs, turning back to his monitor.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He chuckles under his breath, shaking his head.
“Cross take care of you while you were sick?”
“You seem surprised.”
He leans back in his chair, glowering at me.
“Cross doesn’t give a fuck about you.”
“And you do?”
“Don’t act like that.
“Like what? Like I’m tired of being told I’m worthless and no one gives a fuck about me?”
I see him visibly stiffen.
“You know I care about you. I mean fuck, I try to take you out. I try to spend time with you. You shut me down at every turn.”
My skin bristles like he’d slapped me.
“I told you I wasn’t ready for a relationship,” I say quietly, though I can’t deny there’s a rush of guilt washing over me.
“And yet, here you are, riding Cross’s dick whenever he wants,” he snaps, working to keep his voice low. His cheeks are red, the little vein on the side of his neck throbbing from how pissed off he is.
Good, that makes two of us.
“I’m sorry, was I supposed to ask permission?”
He scoffs, chuckling humorlessly.
“Maybe I should pay you. Seems you take anyone as long as they’re paying you to fuck them.”
I freeze, ice washing over me. Bile fills my throat, and I feel sick. Alex notices, a sinister smirk spreading across his lips.
“You think your little contract was going to stay a secret, Ava?”
Tears burn in my eyes, and Alex has the audacity to look away. Like I’d hurthim.
“What happens between Levi and me isnoneof your business,” I growl, backing away.
“He’s not a good guy, Ava,” he grits. “I thought you, of all people, could see that.”
“You don’t knowanythingabout my life, Alex.”
“I know you’re only going to get hurt in the end,” he says, like he’s doing me a favor. He reaches for me, and I step back awayfrom his touch. His hand falls to his side, and the look in his eyes is defeated.
“The only thing that’s going to get hurt is your ego.”
