Chapter 35
He’s so beautiful while he sleeps – like a prince of darkness contained by slumber.
To me, Dorran is invincible, but what happened at the gala proves otherwise. I’m terrified of it, and scared of feeling terrified.
If all of this had happened a week ago, I wouldn’t even have known about it, much less cared for it. But now – after everything I’ve seen and everything Dorran and I have shared – it seems as though we were predestined to coexist; to entangle and become irreplaceable facets in each other’s lives.
My phone vibrates in my hoodie pocket. I slowly, tentatively, pull my hand away from Dorran’s hair and sit up on his bed, then slide my phone out and open the text that’s flashing on my screen.
Alex was generous enough to lend me his spare – and absolutely
priceless, according to him – hoodie when I’d freshened up in Finesse’s bathroom earlier.
He’d also ordered McDonald’s for him, Varsha, and I while we’d waited for Dr. Myers to finish treating Dorran.
The mood around us may have been heavy, but the three of us had still managed to enjoy our meal and talk about random shit to help us pass the time.
The glass windows in Dorran’s bedroom showcase the sky and the empty street below us, and it’s such a peaceful view that it takes great effort for me to pull my eyes away from it.
I sigh and bring my attention to the message Mave has just sent me.
Mave: You okay? I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier.
I let go of a breath and press my fingers to my forehead. Fuck, I can feel a headache coming in.
Me: It’s okay. And I’m sorry I lost my temper with you. That was totally uncalled for.
Him and I had had an argument on the phone when he’d called me while I was in the parking lot with Dorran and the crew. I have to say: I behaved insensitively, and didn’t value his concerns at the time because my focus was entirely on Dorran.
His reply is almost instant.
Mave: You don’t have to apologize.
Mave: Why are you up, though? Are you still with that Ivan guy?
A pang of guilt tightens my chest.
I’ve lied to him in the past about my whereabouts and such, but it never feels good, or gets easy. But it does suck when he takes his job too seriously and tries to suffocate me with the rules, given how well he knows me.
Me: Yeah. We had a few drinks, and he let me stay over in his guest room.
I’m gonna go to hell for lying to him.
Mave: I can pick you up if you’d like.
Me: It’s okay. He said he wanted to discuss investing into Lure during breakfast, so I think I’ll stay.
Mave: I still don’t get why you’re so adamant.
Me: I told you: I care about the brand.
He takes a couple of minutes to reply this time.
Mave: Fine, but if you need me to pick you up before I start my shift, let me know.
Me: You can come in late if you wanna. I’ll be here a while.
Mave: You’re seriously pushing it, Nettie.
I sigh and type back a response.
Me: I’ll be at the estate by 10. 11 at the most.
Mave: 9, and that’s it.
Me: This isn’t up for negotiation.
Mave: Like hell it’s not.
Me: Don’t make me use the boss card.
Mave: I’d love to see you try.
Now he is the one who’s pushing it.
Me: Well, you asked. You’ll start your shift at 10a.m. today, and that’s an order, Maverick Constance.
I’m pretty sure he’s fuming right now, but it’s not the first time, and it most definitely won’t be the last.
I pinch the bridge of my nose when my head starts throbbing.
Me: I think I’m going to head to bed. All that alcohol is getting to me.
I haven’t had a drop of it tonight, but he doesn’t need to know that.
Mave: Please don’t tell me you sang in front of that guy. Because if you did, then you should kiss all your hard work and schmoozing goodbye before it’s too late.
I chuckle, but stop when Dorran groans and shifts in his sleep.
Me: Screw you.
Me: But no, I haven’t sung. YET.
Mave: Lord have mercy on the poor chap.
I roll my eyes.
Me: I’m done with you. Bye. Good night. And fuck you.
Mave: Night, Nettie.
I place my phone on the nightstand, then lie down next to Dorran again.
He shifts, then moans as if he’s in pain.
I notice beads of sweat on his temples and neck, so I get out of bed and turn on the air conditioner.
I’ve just placed the remote back on the mantel and sat down on the bed again, when Dorran’s eyelids flutter open, and his gaze lands on mine.
“Hey,” he croaks. “What’re you doing?”
I lie next to him and smile at him. “You’re sweating a little, so I was just switching on the AC.”
“Okay,” he whispers, then closes his eyes.
“Are you in pain?” I ask softly.
He shakes his head faintly, and I exhale in exasperation. He’s stubborn, and until he says he needs them, I can’t force him to take any painkillers. All I can do is ask, and hope that he decides to say yes.
“Okay.” I adjust my head on the pillow, and stifle a groan when it throbs twice as strongly as it did a minute ago.
“You’re staying, aren’t you?” Dorran mumbles, and it’s a little incoherent, but still understandable.
I inch closer to him and kiss the sharp angle of his cheekbone. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper, and can’t help but think how unfair it is that I only get to spend borrowed time with him.
If he were any other guy, things wouldn’t have been so complicated. But he’s the most feared man in Riverside; my uncle’s personal executioner. And despite all of that, I still want him. Most of all, I wanna be with him without having to rely on lies, or be haunted by restraints and fear.
And I know I’ve lost my shit when I say this, but I think it’s time that I loop Mave into all of this so that I don’t have to continue fabricating people and instances to him anymore, or sacrifice my needs when it comes to Dorran and I.
Fuck, this is going to turn into an absolute shit-show, isn’t it?