Page 93 of Never Die for a Sinner
“Thank you,” Patrice says, all smiles on the other end of the line. “Have a great day.”
I hang up my phone and don’t stop on my way up to the second story. Levi’s door is unlocked when I turn the knob, and I don’t bother knocking because I can barely remember to breathe, let alone my manners.
“You asshole!”
I freeze when I see he’s on the phone, standing in front of the windows at the far end. He turns around, his gaze locking with mine, and gives me a disinterested once-over before he resumes his conversation.
Well, this is awkward . . .
“Tomorrow,” he replies coolly, his gaze still on me.
Maybe I should have knocked.
I stand in the doorway, arms crossed over my chest uncomfortably, while his stare continues to bore into me like two lasers determined to turn me to ash.
“I have something that needs my attention,” he murmurs gruffly. “I’ll call you back.”
He hangs up the phone and turns away from me as he moves about the room, shoving things in his pockets.
“I’m not in the mood, Ava.”
My temper flares because I’m not in the moodeither.
“I just got a call from the nursing home. They said if my grandmother’s account isn’t paid by the end of the month, they’re kicking her out.” He slides a hoodie over his head, and despite the brief glimpse of his perfect abs, I keep ranting. “I don’t know what the hell you’re doing, butyouapproachedmeabout your little contract of sin, and if you expect me to put out without paying up on your end, you’d better think again, Levi Cross. I’m not one of those girls who’s just going to fall for your lies and not expect you to uphold your end of the bargain.”
I’m panting by the time I fall silent and still angry. It only gets worse when he raises his brows, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“Feel better?”
I’m going to beat him with the toilet brush.
Screw him. I square my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. “I’m serious. If you can’t be bothered to hold up your end of the deal, then there willbeno deal.”
The thought of losing the opportunity is crushing, but I shove my chin high, anyway.
Stay strong, Ava. He can smell fear.
“Well, as fun as this was, I really don’t have time for your games today, sweetheart.”
He turns away from me, and I gawk at the back of his head.
Fucking asshole . . .
Without thinking, I grab the closest thing I can find, and twenty-five years of pent-up frustration come out when I wing a pillow from his bed at him.
Unfortunately . . . it hits him square between his broad shoulders.
For a brief, shining moment, everything feels like glorious triumph. Angels sing. Doves do dove things. Levi Cross gets what he deserves.
Then he turns around, and those icy eyes lock on mine.
Uh-oh.
“Baby girl. . .” His voice sends a shiver down my spine. “You’re going to wish you hadn’t done that.”
I bolt, rushing from the room and nearly fall to the ground, and beg for forgiveness when I hear his footsteps thundering after me.
I don’t pay attention to where I’m going. I just run, ending up in my bedroom across the hall. I try to slam the door on him, but his heavy boot kicks it back, sending it rocketing into the wall behind it when he fills the frame.
