Blood Trial Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #1) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,23

But of course, sir.”

Poor Angie.

“She is to have the rest of the day off,” he ordered. “Have someone drive her home.”

That roused me.

“No,” I objected.

“Yes,” he said coolly.

My hands were on my hips before I knew it. I stepped closer to him, breathing thinly as I tipped my head right back. “I said, no.”

Any person who had ever known me knew not to mess with hands-on-hips Basi. This tiger was a wild one. Angelica resumed her shocked gasping as I silently dared the bastard in front of me to disagree again.

I would end him.

His eyes took on a glittering quality, and his fingers twitched in my direction, but he fell short of actually touching me.

Wise male.

“Can you make it home?” he enquired softly.

Ah nuts, I hadn’t expected kindness.

The fire left my eyes and I averted my gaze again. “Of course I can.”

“Then we’ll see you tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.,” he said in the same quiet voice. On second thought, it wasn’t kindness at all. Kyros was cooing to the monkey in the room to earn its trust.

Motherfucker.

Angelica whispered, “She works 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., sir.”

“12:00 p.m.,” he repeated, green eyes flashing over my head.

Shit, son. Don’t take it out on Angie.

I stepped away from him, my weary heart thudding pathetically. Though his eyes didn’t blaze as much as Angelica’s, he was scarier by far than the woman behind me. He made her look like a field mouse. If my body wasn’t so exhausted, I’d be struggling to cope in his presence.

What the fuck was going on in this place?

“12:00 p.m.,” I echoed wearily, hoisting my pack.

I wouldn’t return to Level 44 of Kyros Sky.

Not for a million dollars and a fucking crown.

7

My head pounded.

No. That isn’t right.

The pounding was outside of my head.

I sent my new duvet flying, scrambling to answer the insistent knocking. I half fell off the bed, weaving on sleep-drunk legs to the door.

“Basi. If you don’t let me in in five seconds, I’m calling the po-po.”

Tommy.

Her voice almost undid me.

I unlocked the door and wrenched with all my might. I had no idea how I’d managed to get inside last night. Arriving home was a blurry memory.

Tommy shoved from the other side and sidled through when we managed to prop the entrance a quarter way open.

Her lips were pressed together. “What the actual fuck, Basi? Where have you been?”

I yawned and beckoned her to the kitchen. “I was exhausted after work yesterday. I crashed.”

“I came around at nine last night. And again at eight this morning. I thought something had happened to you.”

Seeking comfort myself, I padded across the orange lino and hugged her. Her arms wrapped around me.

“What happened?” she asked.

What happened? I had the worst day of my life. And I was trapped really bad. I’d trapped myself. I rushed in to renting this shitty place and buying a heap of stuff, thinking I had normal life all figured out.

But I was a fucking rich moron.

Now, I’d been sucked into an illegal business with criminals who openly intimidated me. Even worse, I couldn’t leave without really becoming homeless.

Except I could barely admit that much to myself.

Whatever I said about not needing anyone’s approval was a big, whopping lie. I needed Tommy’s. She was always so self-assured, possessing the confidence that came when a person knew how to look after themselves. That side of her had always awed me, inspired me.

“Yesterday was hard,” I said hoarsely.

“Hard is an understatement. You must’ve slept twelve hours.”

Twelve hours. “What’s the time?”

She checked her phone. “Just after nine. Lucky I woke you, huh? You can’t be late for your second day of work. Don’t suppose you bought an alarm clock when you got all this stuff?”

Nope. Because that was a practical item that would make sense.

“I don’t have to be at work until 12:00 p.m. today,” I said, swallowing my fury—every bit of it aimed inward. Despite my doomed financial situation, I was still determined not to return. Tommy didn’t need to know that though. Not until I could cope with admitting my failure to her.

She rubbed my back. “Oh good. We can ride the bus together.”

Basi, you idiot.

“We can.” I agreed, my insides twisting.

“Two besties going to work together. This is just what you wanted. Look at you go.” She beamed at me, then sniffed the air. “Before we leave, you need a shower. Big time.” She pulled back. “How about you go do your routine and I’ll head home to dig out my old phone. I