you really want those images in your head? This is your chance at a fresh start. Don’t fuck it up by filling it with ghosts from the past.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, my tongue feels dry. My head pounds, and it feels like I took a sledgehammer straight to the chest. Too bad I didn’t take my own advice.
Angel stills and then spins around, the meaning of my words hitting her. “My chance? What about you?”
Damn. I wanted to avoid a big confrontation, but this is Angel. I should’ve known better. With her, there will be no fading away quietly into the background. As much of a pain in my ass as she’s become, I’ve gotten used to having her around. Which is dangerous for both of us.
She’s a liability. In my world, attachments are seen as weaknesses and weaknesses are used as pawns. My mother has already been turned into a chess piece. I’ll be damned if I’ll let them get to Angel.
“I never lied to you. I told you I was only in this for the money.”
Angel rears back as if I slapped her. “So, that’s it? You’re just going to leave? I thought—”
“You thought what?” I force a smirk as tears well up in her eyes. “That because you let me touch your pussy we were going to live happily ever after in this fucked up house of horrors?” The words burn like acid on my tongue, but I don’t stop. “This was a business deal, cupcake, and now it’s done. We both got what we wanted. I got my money, and you got the career you kept bitching I stole. Everyone wins.”
“Everyone wins, huh?” I’ll give her credit, as quickly as the tears form, she blinks them back. “So, what happens when Rubio comes calling again?” Balling her fists, she stomps toward me, her voice lowering to a whispered hiss. “What happens when he finds out the test was faked?”
“Will you lower your fucking voice?”
“What happens if the real Alexandra shows up?” she continues, shoving a finger in my chest. “Because if you think I’m taking the fall for this, you’re insane.”
Gritting my teeth, I back her up until she stumbles into the wall, and with a low growl, I cage her in. “As long as you keep your mouth shut, Rubio doesn’t have shit. My contacts at QuestTech can’t be traced.”
“And the real Alexandra Romanov?”
I glance to the left where that damn portrait stares back at me. “Trust me, if she hasn’t come forward by now, she won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“She doesn’t want to be found for a reason, rook.” Shaking my head, I push away from the wall, putting distance between us before I do something stupid. I glance around at the house drenched in blood and secrecy one last time. “Would you want to come back to this?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I’m across the foyer headed toward the elevator.
All I hear is the frantic click-clack of Angel’s heels, and then she’s behind me, grabbing a fistful of my T-shirt. “You’re really leaving. Just like that.”
“Yeah. Just like that.”
“But what about the party?” she yells, her nails digging into my skin through the thin fabric. “You agreed to that, not me. Michaela said the press will be there. They’re expecting to see you, Dominic. What am I supposed to tell them if you don’t—”
Fuck it.
Turning around, I crush my mouth onto hers, swallowing the rest of her tirade. As pissed as she is, she doesn’t pull away, instead, transferring her anger into the kiss. Our tongues twist in frantic need and lust, and hate, and whatever the hell this is blotting out common sense.
Her nails scrape down my back as my hands dig into that uptight hairdo. The more she moans, the more my brain wars with my dick, and I have to admit, right now, I’m team dick.
Until my phone rings and knocks some sense back into me.
Pulling away, I lick my lips, watching as her pupils dilate. “I am the press, rook.” I give her an arrogant wink as my phone rings again. “See you Friday, Miss Romanov.”
I don’t answer until the fourth time he calls. I’m driving down Stone Canyon Road when I hit the button on the hands-free device. “I was wondering how long it would take you to call.”
His low chuckle grates on my nerves, and my grip tightens on the steering wheel. “I have