He knew I was with Jag. I had no doubt of that, because he hated me for it. So what was his point?
“’Course! Pretty thing like you deserves better than bein’ treated like a whore in a harem.”
The words hit me smack in the face and fell to the floor with a clunk.
“H-harem?”
The smile slid off Milo’s face, replaced with a somber stare.
“Well, yeah. You didn’t… you didn’t think you were Boss’s only girl, did you?”
My chest tightened and my stupid pale skin betrayed me, burning hot with humiliation, and likely glowing red.
“Oh, you did think that.” He reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. It was supposed to be a comforting gesture, but instead it sent a streak of fear across my skin, raising the hairs at the back of my neck. “Sorry, darlin’. You wouldn’t be the first to fall for his charms, you know. I’m certain you won’t be the last.”
I shrugged his hand off, nauseous from both Milo’s creepy touch and the crushing heartbreak pressing down on my chest.
“Sorry ’bout that, darlin’. I honestly thought you knew.” Milo stood, straightening out his clothing. “I’ll leave you be, but you can come to me if you need someone to talk to.”
I didn’t move or look at Milo as he left, afraid of cracking in front of the intimidating man. Blinking back tears, I pulled a blanket off the arm of the sofa, suddenly chilled to the bone.
Milo was lying. He had to be. The man hated me and would do anything to get rid of me.
Determined not to let that jerk get to me, I continued reading my book. Well, tried to read anyway. After Milo dropped his well-aimed bomb on its target, my concentration was shot. When I read the same page for the tenth time, still not able to absorb a single word, I decided to give up. I needed to talk to Jag. That would help. Once I did, everything would be straightened out.
But what if Milo was telling the truth? I never did understand why Jag allowed me to stay after trespassing on his property, in full-blown withdrawal and begging for a hit. Why would he take in a junkie if not for sex?
Nicky’s words from months ago echoed in my head over and over again like they had since I showed up on Jag’s front steps.
“Get real, girl. There’s no free in this game.”
On the verge of tears, I set the book and blanket on the couch and headed for the office, the one room I’d never seen. The doorbell rang right as I passed through the foyer and I let out a surprised squeak. A few seconds lapsed and no one came to open the door. No way was I answering it. It could be someone dangerous with a gun or worse.
I was about to turn away and go to my room when I heard footsteps approaching. Not wanting to be caught lingering near the door, I ducked into the front sitting room and waited for whoever it was to go away.
“Karina? What are you doing here?”
I recognized the voice of the man at the door. It was Jace, one of Jag’s Men in Black.
“Jag wants to fuck. Why else would I be here?”
The slutty, over the top, fake voice? That, I didn’t recognize.
“B-but… I mean… Are you sure? He wanted you to come here?”
It was obvious by the way Jace sputtered, he
was wondering the same thing as me. Why would Jag have a piece of ass come to his house while I was living here? While he was fucking me? I balled up a fist and bit into my knuckle to muffle my cry. That bastard Milo was telling me the truth. Jag probably had whores all over the city.
How stupid could I be?
The woman, Karina, dropped the slut act and barked like a bitch, a sharp bite in her tone. “Well, are you going to invite me in or make me stand on the steps all day?”
“Sorry, come in. Boss is in his study. Come to the kitchen and make yourself comfortable. You’ll have to wait for him, we don’t disturb him—”
“When he’s in his study. I know how it works.”
“Sorry, Karina,” Jace said.