Chapter 23 – Aster #2
“Yes,” she says slowly, eyes narrowed, gaze returning to her reflection while reapplying her bright red lipstick. Fuck, those lips are so pretty. Bet they’d look even better wrapped around m—
No! Focus!
“So, he drugs people to do God knows what, and this is his punishment? Knocking him out?!”
“You have your methods, I have mine.” She kisses the mirror, leaving a beautiful imprint, then uses the pigmented stick to add a note.
“This guy should be six feet under.” I wave a hand at the unfortunately still breathing lump of loser. “At the bare minimum, his dick should be cut off and fed to him.”
“We had that conversation too,” she replies when she’s done writing, returning the cap to the lipstick with a click.
XO Karma is written on the mirror in bright red, and I can’t help but bring my fingers to my neck.
“And here I was thinking I was special,” I tease, only partially kidding, as she turns to face me.
“Just a small addition to my body count.” She winks.
“Are you not concerned that it will completely give away your little alter ego?” I ask, staring at the words. “He saw your face.”
She turns back to it, then frowns. “You do have a point.” Using a wet paper towel, she smudges the words, then uses a finger to write within the red pigment. “Better?”
The word next points to the drawing of a dick broken in half, and I huff a laugh.
“Certainly gets the point across.” She beams, then walks past me and out of the bathroom.
“You’re seriously going to leave him there?
” I ask incredulously, trailing behind her.
“What about when he wakes? He could come find you.”
She spins around, pinning me in place with her annoyed stare.
“I’ve forwarded his ID to Liam, explaining what he did so he can mark it in the system.
He might not get a conviction, but it’ll be enough for Cleosville PD to check him out, keep him under watch.
” We return to the main area, loud music immediately stifling my ability to hear.
Lily holds up a finger, slipping away. When she reaches the bar, she whispers in a bartender’s ear, pointing towards the hallway, and his expression turns from confusion to anger in an instant.
He gestures to two barbacks, and a moment later, they’re heading towards it.
Lily returns to my side, nodding at the exit. “Let’s get out of here.”
Once we’re on the quiet street, the cool breeze flowing over our skin, I ask, “What was that about?”
“Just told them what their newest customer has been doing.” She slides on a leather jacket and throws her hair into a high ponytail. Her face is bruised slightly from where he must have hit her in the altercation, and I consider going in and making a second round. Or finishing him for good.
“They didn’t look very happy about it,” I say to distract myself. I’m damn sure not.
“The cops will keep an eye on him, but those guys might scare him straight.” She sighs, sticking her hands in her pockets.
Is she cold? “The problem with assholes like him is that they think they’re invincible.
They’re disgusting pieces of shit who think they can just go through this world doing whatever the hell they want.
Until they mess with the wrong person and they’re taught a lesson, that is. ”
“Sometimes a lesson isn’t enough to get someone to stop.”
“I guess that’s where you come in.” She smirks, patting my shoulder, and walks past. My brows knit as I turn to follow her. Is she finally starting to understand me?
“Where are you going?”
“Home.” She turns back to me. “It’s almost midnight.”
“Orrrr.” I bat my lashes. “We could grab milkshakes?”
She narrows her eyes. “Are you bribing me with food?”
“Is it working?”
“Fine.” She relents far quicker than I expected. “But you’re buying.”
“I thought our date wasn’t till next week?” I tease.
She glares. “Guess I’ll be paying for myself then.”
“I’m kidding.” I walk past her and pause at my motorcycle. Opening the storage compartment, I grab the extra helmet and hold it towards her. She eyes me, then the bike.
“Where’s the Porsche?”
“It’s easier to find parking. Why? Afraid of motorcycles?”
She scoffs, snatching the helmet out of my hand.
“No, I just hope you’re fine with riding bitch.
” She tugs it on her head, tightening the strap, and steps past me, mounting the bike.
Her short dress rides up her thighs, and I struggle not to drool at her long legs as her blocked boot rests on the pavement.
My own helmet dangles off my fingertips.
“You’re not driving my bike.” My comment is weak, completely lacking any type of conviction.
She wiggles her manicured fingers towards me, and I release a heavy sigh.
Why is it so hard to say no to this woman?
Relenting, I retrieve the keys from my pocket with a jingle.
Just as she’s about to grab them, I close my fist. “Are you sober enough for this? I may break a hundred laws, but drinking and driving is not one of them.”
She pins me with a look. “I would never drive drunk. I had two sips of a martini about an hour ago.”
“Fine,” I concede, setting the keys in her hand, and she squeals in excitement.
A softening feeling squeezes in my chest at the sound.
Lily often has this faraway look in her eyes.
That haunted “I’ve got secrets or I’ve got ghosts” look.
But seeing her with pure, unabashed joy and a genuine smile on her face? That’s rare.
And I’d kill every sinner in the city to keep it there.