Chapter 9
LILY
I’m a total coward in the light of a new day. I woke earlier than usual and left the house before Asher could tempt me again.
Last night was… something else. I know I should be concerned about the fact that he ignored my pleas for him to stop. How he wrestled me until his tongue could stroke me into submission. But hell, it made it all the more hotter.
I’ve always known I was a little unhinged when it came to killing, but the things Asher Scott makes me feel are very similar, and I’ve never been like that in the bedroom. I know that has a lot to do with Alexander, but it’s like… Asher has awakened something inside me.
It should scare me, yet it’s tempting me even more. I love that feeling of letting go and setting the animal inside me free. She’s unapologetic and thrives on the crude and depraved… and the act of inflicting pain.
It’s like Asher knows me better than I know myself. Or at least, he knows my beast. He manages to reach her so easily, to coax her out of hiding, which is why I’m fleeing before I do something crazy, like completely give in to Asher.
Arriving at the salon early, I go over the schedule for the next few days, making sure everything we need is in stock, especially for the wedding I’m styling on Saturday morning.
Bonnie eyes me cautiously when she arrives with Lenny, one of our apprentices, because I’m not known for coming in early. Staying late, yes, but coming in early, no.
Midway through the morning, when I’ve just finished a blow wave, I check my phone to see a message from Alexander. Immediately, anxiety tightens my chest, and I have the urge to simply throw my phone in the bin.
I don’t, of course. That would be stupid, so I open the message and see that he has booked a table for lunch today because he ‘urgently’ needs to speak with me.
I roll my eyes.
It’s just like that prick to tell me I’m meeting with him instead of asking if I’m available. I should tell him to piss off, but I know it will just make things worse. Meeting him and getting it over with is the easiest option.
So, as soon as I’ve finished my last morning client, I dash off from the salon, catching a taxi across town to the pompous restaurant he always insists on eating at.
I could take my car, but I know I’m going to need a stiff drink as soon as I sit down, and because I’m such a lightweight after a couple of drinks, I can’t drive.
Walking into The West End, the host at the door already knows who I’m here for and shoots me a sympathetic look.
“He’s at his usual table.”
“Thanks.” I roll my eyes at her, and she giggles as I pass by, weaving my way through the tables to see Alexander’s dark, mousy hair, perfectly styled as usual.
The urge to drag my fingers through it and rough it up as I walk past him is very tempting. But I refrain.
Be the adult, Lily. Be. The. Adult.
As soon as his eyes land on me, his face lights up.
Ugh.
Why do my sons have to look so much like their dad? They have the same hair colour and dark eyes, and even their chiselled masculine jawlines are the same.
Thankfully, my sons aren’t twats like their father.
What the hell did I ever see in him?
“Why am I here?” I sit quickly, hoping he can see I’m in a hurry.
I’m not. My afternoon is free until three, but being in his presence needs to be limited.
“Hello to you too.” He grins, taking a sip of his wine. “Can’t old friends catch up for lunch?”
Ugh. His royally British accent is cringeworthy.
I roll my eyes. “We were never friends. Cut the crap, Alexander. What do you want?”
The waiter takes that moment to step up to the table. “Would you like a drink?”
“Just another wine.” Alexander responds for me, and I frown, speaking before the waiter turns to leave.
“I’ll have a top shelf whisky on the rocks. Thanks.” I shoot the waiter a smile, his brows shooting up before a smirk tugs at the corner of his lips.
Giving me a nod, he turns to leave, and Alexander clears his throat.
“Really? Top shelf?”
“What? It’s not like you can’t afford it, Alex.”
“Lily, how many times do I have to remind you to call me Alexander?” The way his cheeks redden in anger is so satisfying, so I shrug and play dumb.
“Why am I here?” I snap again, and he sighs.
“Tamara said she will leave me if I don’t tell the boys about Melanie.”
I laugh. “And that is my problem, how?”
“Come on, Lil. You know, I’ve been meaning to tell them. It’s just hard. I don’t want to see the hate in their eyes when they know I’ve kept this from them.” He whines like the spoiled mumma’s boy he is.
“That sounds like a you problem.”
“Actually, it’s your problem, too. Especially when they find out you knew all this time as well and didn’t tell them.”
“What?” I hiss, leaning forward in my chair. “You fucking prick. I demanded that you tell them when I found out. But nooo, you wanted to wait to find the right fucking time. And now when Tamara gives you an ultimatum, you get scared and try to palm the job off on me?”
“You know how she gets.” He grits out through clenched teeth just as the waiter returns with my drink.
He places it in front of me and turns to leave, but I snatch his wrist, halting him.
When he turns back, I hold up a finger before picking up the glass and downing the whisky in a couple of gulps. Alexander’s eyes widen, and I shoot him daggers as I offer the glass back to the waiter.
“Keep them coming.”
“Of course, Miss.” The waiter grins, dashing off to fetch me another drink.
“Really?” Alex scoffs. “Keep them coming?”
I shrug. “I’m gonna need the whole fucking bottle just to deal with having to look at you, Alex.”
“For goodness’ sake, Lily. It’s Alexander.”
I wave him off. “Same thing.”
He huffs, clearly having enough of my bullshit, which is a win for me. I put up with his crap for so long, just so I could raise my sons in a happy home.
Alex was happy. I wasn’t, but I guess he was happy because he got to have his cake and eat it too. All I got was the leftovers.
“Can we get back to why I asked you here, please?” he snaps, taking a frustrated sip of his wine.
“Sure. Where were we?” I ask, tapping my finger on my lower lip. “Oh, that’s right. You were asking me to do your dirty work for you because you’re a coward, and I said no.”
“Jesus, Lily. Do you have to be so difficult? Tamara is adamant that Melanie meet her brothers, and displeasing her isn’t something I want to do. Again.” He sighs. “You know how she gets.”
“Yeah, fucking unhinged,” I deadpan, wondering if perhaps Tamara and I have more in common than I thought. “Again, it sounds like a you problem.”
“Think of poor Melanie. Doesn’t she deserve to have a family? Brothers? Are you really going to deprive her of that all because you don’t want to help me?”
He’s such an arsehole. He knows I have a soft spot for kids. It’s just like him to use that against me.
Prick.
“Why the fuck should I help you? You dug this grave, Alex. The twins are at college now, exploring what they want from life, and now, after years of opportunities to tell them that they have a little sister, you want me to spring it on them?”
The waiter arrives with my second drink, and I take it from his grasp before he can even place it down, shooting it back in one gulp this time. He looks amused, and I gesture my hand for him to go and fetch me another one, which he acknowledges with a nod.
“Yes.” Alex ignores the exchange between me and the waiter. “That’s exactly what I want, because it needs to happen now.”
“Because Miss High and Mighty demanded it?” I hiss and he shrugs. “Melanie and your skanky new wife have nothing to do with me, Alex. Why should I be the one to tell the boys?”
“Because it has to be you, Lily. They like you. They listen to you.”
“What fucking universe have you been living in? The twins may like me, but they don’t always listen to me.”
“Please, Lilian,” Alex begs using my full name, even though he knows I hate it. Then he nearly knocks his wine over as he reaches across the table to grab my hand.
I quickly pull away, slipping my hand under the table, out of his reach, thoroughly satisfied at the disappointment that flashes across his face.
“Please do this for me,” he whines. “For the boys. The blow won’t be as hard coming from you.”
“No,” I snap, standing abruptly. “I don’t want anything to do with this.”
I storm away from the table, my eyes landing on the waiter who is carrying my third whisky, so I approach him. His brows shoot up as I take the glass, down the contents, and hand it back to him.
“The prick I was sitting with will pay.”
The waiter chuckles as I hear Alexander call my name, so I hightail it, not wanting to hear his grating voice.
Flying out the doors of The West End, I’m consumed by rage, the Crimson Angel so close to the surface and ready to go back inside and show my ex-husband who I really am.
“Lilian!” Alexander’s voice comes from behind me as he calls out, making a fucking spectacle of himself in front of the staff and patrons watching from inside the restaurant.
Not thinking clearly and feeling the effects of the whisky I consumed too quickly on an empty stomach, I dash towards the curb, trying to flag down a taxi.
“Lilian! Would you stop?!” Alex hisses from behind me, his large hand wrapping around my wrist.
“Let me go!” I yell, hissing back at him and trying to tug my wrist free.
The roar of a motorbike suddenly cuts through the air, skidding to a stop right next to me on the road, and Alex drops his hold on me in surprise.
Spinning, my eyes meet the whisky pools that invaded my dreams last night as the visor of the helmet lifts open.
“Get on.” Asher barks the order, holding out another helmet to me.
What is he doing here?
“Lily, please help me. Stop making this about you,” Alexander snaps from behind me, and I don’t hesitate a moment longer before taking the helmet from Asher’s grip, tugging it on quickly, and climbing onto the back of his bike.