Page 20 of Rogue Villain

I crack a small smile at that. “What a perfect word for him.”

A flash of perfect white teeth makes me smile even wider before Ford sobers. “I’ll check in on you. Vaughn has asked that I liaise with the detective in regard to your case, so I’ll be sure to keep you informed.”

He tips his head before closing my door and leaving me to my thoughts.

I flop back onto my new bed, throwing my hands over my face as I settle down into the soft red comforter.

Meeting Vaughn Burton in the flesh had been surreal. The man has only gotten more handsome over time, if such a thing is possible. But Christ, he is an asshole of the highest order.

“Who are you, my little bird?”

A chill races up along my spine as I remember his words, followed by a shiver when I recall the lack of feeling in his black eyes.

Clearly, he didn’t know about me despite having agreed to house me for the interim, which makes fuck all sense.

Unlesshe thought Wren was a boy’s name. It has happened before when clients have come to the gallery, expecting to speak with one of my male colleagues.

Either way, he’s a prick. A hot, sexy, soulless-eyed prick, but a prick just the same.

“Never meet your heroes, hmm?” The words are a low murmur when the comfort of the bed beneath me, alongside the flurry of activity from today, blend together, and sleep beckons.

My eyelids close for what feels like a moment until I wake with a jolt when the crappy replacement cell Detective Fratelli provided for me vibrates in my back pocket.

The room is shrouded in darkness, and I’ve clearly slept the day away. I berate myself internally as I lift my hips to slide it into my hand, grinning sleepily when I see it’s a message to my group chat.

ELODIE

Can you die from excessive orgasms? Asking for a friend…

I roll my eyes with a snort. Elodie has recently begun seeing someone here in the city, and despite being very hush-hush about his identity, she’s an open book when it comes to their sex life.

LEVI

Rub it in. Some of us haven’t gotten laid since spring break last year.

ELODIE

Have you checked for cobwebs, Lev?

LEVI

Get fucked, Ellie.

ELODIE

Will do. Heading back for round three as I type.

My grin turns bittersweet as I swipe out of the chat, thinking better of joining in with their banter. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’ve yet to tell any of them about what’s going on with me.

Instead, I open a private thread with Matt.

ME

Can you talk, Matty?

My cell rings almost instantly, and I swipe to answer the video call.

Matt’s distraught face pops up on the screen. “Holy shit, Wren. I’ve been going out of my motherfucking mind over here, waiting—”

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