Page 45 of Dark Torment

“Say what, now? You messaged the hot lawyer with a stick up his ass?” she asks, completely dumbfounded.

I just barely hold back a growl as Liv giggles, and it eases my frustration.

“Just because he turned you down, doesn’t mean he has a stick up his butt, Shelbs,” she says between giggles, her eyes shining with laughter when she looks at me.

“You have to admit, it’s weird,” she huffs in annoyance.

I won’t apologize for denying her advances. Even before I knew of Olivia’s existence, Shelby is the absolute farthest from my type. She screams high maintenance and too much bullshit.

That’s Dev’s cup of tea, not mine.

“You can’t be everyone’s type, Shelby,” Liv huffs down the phone. Apparently, she’s not happy with her bestie right now, either.

“You’re distracting me. Why did you call him? Oh my God! Did you have sex with him?” she whisper hisses, and I smirk at how red Olivia flushes.

“No!” my girl shrieks, and I have to hide the laughter I so badly want to let out. “I just, I don’t know. I like him, Shelbs. A lot,” she admits, and looks at me with worry.

“Just be careful, Liv. We don’t know anything about him,” Shelby warns my girl, and my gut twists in anguish.

Olivia knows a lot about me now, more than I had wanted her to. I wanted to shield her from this part of my life, but she’s still here and calm. That has to mean something, right?

“He’s sweet to me, Shelby. That goes a long way.”

Her eyes implore mine as she says this, giving me a sense of calm. She’s telling me she hasn’t written me off. That even though I’m a killer, she sees the person I am for her, and it gives me hope.

I’m not sure how long this road will be, but I will travel it to the very end of time if I have to, because there is no life without her. Not for me.

“I hope you’re right, babe. Anyway, you’re at his place? When are you coming home?”

I wince at that question because I can’t give Olivia an answer. I hope she never lives without me again, but only time will tell.

“I’ve decided to stay with him for a while. Really get to know him, you know? But I’ll be at work in the morning. See you then?” Olivia asks, and I can tell she hopes her friend will let it go at that.

“God, you’re really going all out, huh? He must be special.” She sighs. “Just tell him I’ll cut his dick off if he ever hurts you,” Shelby threatens, and I smirk.

Good luck getting close enough, she-thing.

“You will not. But how about this… if I go missing, you have my permission to crush him.” My girl gives me a look that’s pure ‘now try to kill me, buddy.’

“I’ll never hurt you,” I mouth, and she smiles broadly.

“Oh, fuck yes!” Shelby is laughing like some cocked up hyena on the other line, and I wish this conversation was over.

Apparently, I can only tolerate that woman in small doses. Which doesn’t bode well for me, considering Liv never goes a day without talking to her, or seeing her.

“K, I’m going to let you go. I want to spend some time with Jonathan before my hungover butt goes back to bed with Sadie.”

She smiles down at the dog, and I’m so glad I chose her to bring home. I think a lot of Olivia’s trust is coming from the fact that Sadie trusts me.

I need to remember to buy that dog a present.

“Yeah, I get it now. You’re there for the dog.” Shelby snickers, and I roll my eyes. She’s not one hundred percent wrong when you think about it. “Love you, Livvy. See you tomorrow.” She makes air kisses into the phone before hanging up, and the tension in my body relaxes.

“That was smooth,” I tell her when she sets the phone on the coffee table.

“It’s the closest to reality without having to lie through my teeth,” she whispers, and I feel bad. I know she hates lying to anyone.

“It wasn’t really a lie, though, was it? Aside from my taking you without your knowledge, that is.” I search her eyes, hoping and praying she wants me even half as bad as I want her.

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