Page 46 of Bait Wolf
Ember
Coal seemed determined to live up to his promise of spoiling me. He got me shoes for all occasions. Flats, slides, dress shoes, runners. Then right after that, he dragged me to a bath store and bought me everything that my gaze lingered on.
By the time we were done, I felt fuzzy and warm inside with a blush that just wouldn’t leave my cheeks.
It still felt strange to be taking from him. It felt wrong. Especially with his child out there, stolen. Not to mention that Abram wanted him to pay for me and earlier today I had been attacked in his—myown home.
The whole situation made me feel like at any moment now the rug would be pulled out from under me.Again.
I tried to ignore that as we ate dinner.
He was right: the food at this place was orgasmically good.
I’d never had high-end food, but two courses in, I was ready to pledge allegiance to the chef.
I licked the butter sauce off of my fork after swallowing whatever I was eating.
“Oh my god,” I moaned. “I had no idea food could taste like this.”
“We are coming here every day,” Coal informed me, scooping some of the food off of his own plate to add to mine.
I wanted to argue but accidentally scooped more up with my fork and ate it.
“What is this stuff?” I asked through a mouthful.
“Lemon butter scallops,” he said, his gaze fixed on my lips.
He licked his own absently, his food forgotten.
Warmth tingled through me.
Maybe it was the fact that Coal kept looking at me like he couldn’t believe his luck. Like I was precious and special and maybe even worth every penny that the fight league wanted for me.
I swallowed, my gaze dropping to my plate as the issue of money came back to me. Never having enough of it seemed to be a theme in my life. And he needed it for Asha. No matter how he tried to placate me, I knew that. I’d dealt with enough of the scum of Lunar city to know how it all worked. When gangsters were involved, money was the only thing that would satisfy them. The fact that they’d lost money on Coal’s fight was especially reason to believe that they’d want pay back.
“Did,” I faltered, trying to remember how to speak, “did you find out anything about Asha’s whereabouts?”
Coal’s gaze darkened.
“Not yet” was all he said.
He turned his attention back to his food, but I could tell he wasn’t tasting it. That was sacrilege, but I couldn’t blame him right now. Not when he looked so lost.
“I know the streets,” I suddenly said. “Maybe there’s something I can do.”
Coal gave me a look filled with affection and gratitude at the offer, his lips lifting gently, but he shook his head.
“What could you do?”
I shook my head, thoughts racing.
“I’m good at blending into the shadows,” I said eagerly. “I know others who are the same. I could ask around, see if anyone saw her or the people who took her... narrow down their location and wait and watch until I find them... I’msureI could.”
Coal’s soft smile turned into a frown.
“You could really do that?” he asked.
“Of course. A bit of facing the cold and keeping still—well, I’ve dealt with worse.”
