Chapter 6
RAIDEN
If she doesn’t want my help, I’m not going to stand here like a jackass trying to persuade her. She’s made her wishes clear.
I’m almost out of the room when she says, “Why me?”
Her voice grows raspy, like she’s throwing the question my way reluctantly. There are nerves in there as if she wishes she could take it back. Like she spoke just to keep me around a little longer, or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
“You don’t have to sound so shocked,” I say, turning back to her.
She slides her hand through her hair, like she needs to do something, anything, to relieve some tension. The movement makes her tousled hair even wilder.
“I can’t think of anyone better,” I say.
“But… why?”
Because those thick hips make me want to squeeze my hands against them, even if it’s all for show. Because, arrangement or not, tasting those pouting lips would be sweet.
I don’t say any of this. It’s not relevant. If this is going to work, it’s going to be all business.
“You understand the importance of Halloween,” I say.
“You enjoy wearing a mask and all that comes along with it: the pretending, the shift in your personality, becoming someone else. When you’re on my arm as my date, it’ll be like wearing a costume.
And if it helps with your situation in the meantime, hell, that’s just a bonus. ”
She moves to tug on her hair again and freezes, correcting herself. It’s like she’s fighting her instincts.
“It’s more appealing when I put it that way. You’re thinking about it.”
“Do you always tell people how they’re feeling?”
I approach her again, then take off my suit jacket. Her cheeks blossom crimson.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you my jacket. That way, you can get started. I should’ve brought a change of clothes so you wouldn’t have to wait.”
Her eyes flit to my arms, my shirt hugging them tightly. I’ve never been much of a showoff with my physique. Working out is a means to an end, the end being outrunning demons and staying fit.
Now, I like it. I’ve been checking her out; she’s repaying the favor. The difference is, I don’t feel guilty about it like she clearly does.
“Fine. Thanks,” she says, taking the jacket.
I hold onto it for a moment as our fingers brush.
“We could make this work, Aurora. You’ll just have to follow my lead. Do what I say, when I say it.”
She snatches the jacket. “No, thank you. I was just curious about why you were asking me. Now I’ve got my answer. Bye, Raiden.”
I shrug as if it’s no big deal. “Goodbye, Aurora.”
And really, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal.
I can find someone else. As I leave the shop, a sour mood tries to overtake me.
When I was inside there with her, I thought about what it’d be like to go to the Retreat with her, and it was so much more exciting and inviting than going alone. Or with someone else.
Perhaps it’s because she doesn’t want to go with me like so many women in this town would. For my money. For my name.
I walk onto the street and immediately hear grunting and rustling coming from the alleyway.
A gruff voice mutters, “Gotta be some dirt in here.”
I glance down the alley. Two tall, wide men are rifling through Needle & Muse’s trash can. I approach them. “Afternoon, gentlemen.”
They turn at my words. One has a nose that looks like it’s been broken a couple of times and a scar across his lip. The other has teardrop tattoos under his eyes.
“Help you, big man?” Teardrop grunts.
“You can help me by getting the fuck out of here.”
For some reason, my heart picks up speed, my instincts getting ready for a fight.
“The fuck you say?” the scarred man growls.
“You’re with Goliath, harassing the people of this town,” I state, because why else would they be looking through Aurora's trash looking for “dirt”? “And I’m telling you to back off. Now.”
I know I’ve got it right as they exchange a look, laughing at my expense. They think just because I’m not visibly scared, they can beat me, but I’m as big as they are. They can’t bully me. This just makes them approach me cautiously.
“Think it’s time you turned around and minded your own business, tough guy.”
“How about I feed you your friend’s teeth instead?”
The scar-faced one rushes me. I don’t know if he’s trying to punch me or just shove me, but I’m not going to let either happen. Once a man moves like this, the fight has started.
I catch his arm so that he stumbles into the alleyway wall, then backhand the other across the jaw. They turn to me, red-faced, eyes flooded with fury, but no longer in the mood to fight.
“Time to leave, gentlemen,” I say, not even winded by our little tussle.
They don’t think about it twice and scurry away like the rats they are. I watch as they run, still seething. I almost want the fight to keep going. I almost want them to return with backup.
“Bastards,” I growl, walking back to my car.
Aurora stands at the entrance to the alley, gazing at me with a shocked expression. She looks adorable with her eyebrows raised and her mouth open. She’d probably slap me if I told her that.
“What was that about?” she asks.
“Two wannabe tough guys were sifting through your trash.”
“Grandma says they’ve done that before.”
“They’re scum,” I snarl, walking to my car.
“Why did you do that?” she said.
For someone who seemingly wants nothing to do with me, she’s got a lot of questions. I don’t turn, but I can see her in the reflection of my car window. “I hate when people or corporations think they can throw their money around and bully people into submission.”
Even in the unclear reflection, I can see her instinctive response. She thinks I’m just like them.
“Goodbye, Aurora,” I call over my shoulder as I open my car door.
“Wait,” she says.
“What now?”
“Can I have the business card? Just in case.”
I take it out of my pocket and drop it on the ground. “Sure.”
“Jerk!” she screeches. “Why did you do that?”
“You just answered your own question.” I climb into the car. “I’m a jerk.”
Her opinion should mean nothing to me, but it takes me a few minutes to shake the shadow of her judgment. I’m pumped full of adrenaline from the fight and from her hot-and-cold attitude.
She’s not going to call me. That’s fine. I need to forget about her and find someone else to make Grandma believe I’ve been shot with a Cupid’s arrow.
As I drive through the rainy town, I get a text from my cousin.
Julian: Sebastian has saved our asses. We’re good to go.
I call my cousin and put him on speaker. “How has the butler saved us? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Shit, Raiden. Who pissed in your cereal?”
Well, she’s five foot two, and looked at me like I worked for Goliath, as though my surname has branded me and there’s no coming back from it. I need to let it go. I don’t normally give a fuck about anyone’s opinion, but hers stings for some unknown reason.
“Explain,” I say.
“He’s found two high-class escorts for us to take to the Retreat. He’s briefed them on what we need them to do.”
“And this doesn’t make you suspicious?” I say, perplexed why Sebastian would be so accommodating.
“Why would it?”
“First, he tells me he’s the one who encouraged Grandma to actually take us out of the will. Now this. He wants us to fail.”
“Why would he care?”
“Something about him has always seemed off. Maybe he just wants the sick thrill of seeing our family torn apart. I’m not taking an escort to the island.”
That was exactly what Aurora accused me of trying to make her. My personal escort. But there’s no fun bossing someone around if they don’t throw up a sassy shield in return.
“Okay, Raiden. Relax.”
“I am relaxed,” I grunt.
“Everything will work out. Grandma might just be bluffing anyway.”
“I don’t give a damn about the money.”
He laughs in disbelief. “Everyone cares about money. You know it. I know it. The only difference is, are you willing to admit it?”
He hangs up, leaving me to stew. I wish I could say he was wrong. I wish I could say that being down to my final one hundred thousand–excluding my assets–didn’t leave a sour taste in my mouth.
As the thought hits me, I hear Aurora in my mind. Your last one hundred, EXCLUDING assets… are you kidding me?
At a red light, I close my eyes, and take a breath.
That’s the last time I let a stranger into my thoughts.