Chapter Ten
“IT’S BEAUTIFUL,” JASMINE said, her fingers already moving over the beadwork like she needed to feel every inch of it before letting it go.
I glanced down at the dress between us, the black fabric catching the light just enough to make the stitching shimmer.
“I know… I about lost my mind when I found that one,” I said with a small shake of my head.
“Woman passed, and her husband just… cleared everything out. Whole wardrobe. A friend called me before it hit the curb, and I got there as fast as I could.”
Jasmine made a soft sound under her breath, still smoothing her hands over it. “I swear, I never get tired of coming in here.”
I handed her card back. “Your bank account probably does.”
“Oh, it absolutely does,” she laughed, tucking it into her purse. “But I don’t listen to it.”
“Same,” I said with a small shrug. “Money comes, money goes. I’ll make more tomorrow.”
She grinned at that. “Can you explain that to my husband?”
I snorted lightly. “Yeah… husbands aren’t really my area of expertise.”
“Fair enough.” She gathered the dress carefully, like it mattered, which it did, and started toward the door. “I’ll see you in a few days.”
“I’ll be here,” I called after her.
The bell chimed as she stepped out, and I stood there a second, watching her through the window, that quiet little satisfaction settling in my chest when something found the right person.
Then I moved to the door, reaching for the lock and froze.
Kane.
He sat on his bike across the street like he’d been there a while, like he wasn’t even trying to hide it, and when he saw me looking, he smiled and lifted a hand in a lazy wave.
My stomach dropped.
I locked the door fast, turned without thinking, and headed for the back, my fingers tightening around my purse as I pushed through—and ran straight into something solid.
Arms caught me before I could stumble back.
“Easy now,” Kane said, too close, his hands tight on me like he had every intention of keeping them there. “Wouldn’t want you gettin’ hurt.”
I jerked away from him, putting space between us as fast as I could. “Why are you following me?”
“Drago wanted you watched,” he said like it was nothing. Like it should make sense. “I volunteered.”
My stomach twisted. “Why do I need to be watched?”
He tilted his head, stepping closer again, slow, deliberate. “Now, Evie… that should be obvious, shouldn’t it?” His fingers came up, brushing lightly against my nose like we were playing some kind of game. “Cute thing like you.”
I slapped his hand away. “I have to go.”
I tried to move past him, but his grip closed around my arm, firm enough to stop me cold.
“Headed to see that slicked-back Devil’s House trash?” he asked, his tone turning hard in a way that made my skin crawl.
I met his stare, even if my pulse had started to jump. “Guess if you’re following me, you’ll find out.”
That earned a low laugh. “Got a little fire in you,” he said. “I like that.”
“Can I leave now?” I asked, my eyes dropping pointedly to where he still held my arm.
For a second, he didn’t move. Then he let go. “I won’t be far behind,” he said, stepping back just enough to let me pass. “And I’m sure Ruby’ll tell you, but Drago wants you at the clubhouse tomorrow night. Check-in.”
Check-in.
Like I was something that needed reporting on.
I didn’t answer. Just nodded once and kept moving, forcing myself not to run as I reached my car, my hands already shaking as I slid behind the wheel and shut the door.
The second I was alone, the air hit different, too thin, too tight, and I gripped the steering wheel, trying to steady my breathing.
I couldn’t do this. I just… couldn’t. Ruby had to see it. Had to understand what this really was before it got worse, before we got in too deep to get out.
How could she not see it?
How could she be so wrapped up in him that she didn’t realize what we were standing in?