Wicked Destiny - By Tiffany Stevens Page 0,11

loft.” Why did this guy make me so nervous?

“You know most neighbors are nicer than this.”

“As you can tell, I’m not like most neighbors. Not into the whole pot-luck thing.”

“I can tell. So, neighbor, I will be seeing you later. There is a pool table and some desperate souls that need to be taken advantage of if I want to continue to drink at your prices.”

With that, he was gone, but not before flashing another inviting smile in my direction. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling back. Everything about him had certain swag. A new customer brought me out of my trance by ordering a shot of patron. I made sure I poured one for me too.

“You are so going to dish all the info on your mystery man,” Shay whispered in my ear while wagging her eyebrows at me.

“He just moved into my building, that’s all. Nothing big.” I shrugged my shoulders like it didn’t matter, but at this moment, Viktor intrigued me.

“So you just met him and you already invited him out here? Isn’t that like the third date if they don’t already know where you work?” Shay was always on point.

“What? He thought I was a stripper so I had to make sure he knew I wasn’t.”

Shay placed one hand on her hip and smiled sweetly at me. And then she asked the million dollar question. “Why are you so worried about what he thinks?”

“Honestly, I haven’t a clue.” I couldn’t stop myself from looking across the club where he was playing pool, and he caught me looking. I didn’t look away, either. All I could do was smile.

“I haven’t seen that smile in a while, Sloane. Not since…” She trailed off before finishing her sentence, but I already knew what she was going to say. And even remembering the pain I didn’t stop smiling. Progress, I thought to myself.

We got busy after that and I lost track of time. I didn’t even notice Viktor leaving. I figured with the cold air tonight he wouldn’t sleep alone and that he figured slipping out would be best. Thinking about it brought on a hint of jealousy, but the reasoning behind it I wasn’t sure of. I just met this man and it was like I placed dibs on him already. Wasn’t I just as free to do as I pleased?

“He slipped out about an hour ago,” Shay said as she was wiping down her section of the bar.

“Do what?” I asked.

“Viktor, right?”

“Oh, yeah, I wasn’t worried about him. I was just wondering what time we were getting out of here tonight.” Hopefully I played that off well.

“Sure you are. I saw him leave with someone when I went looking for Rick.”

At that very moment, I must have been wearing my emotions all over my face. I hadn’t told her about Rick or what I did to him. What was I going to say and how would she take it? Shay seemed to really like this guy and I didn’t want it to look like I was interfering with her life.

“So, um, where is ‘ol Rick?” I tried to play it off, but I already knew she knew something. “I can give you a ride after we walk to my building.” I couldn’t help the giggles that came.

“No, thanks. Dale and Mindy said they would give me a ride home. You know you could’ve told me what happened. Don’t try to now, because Dale already beat you to it.”

“Just what did Dale tell you?” Now I was scared, because I was already freaked out about what happened and I didn’t know how she would take it. Shay already accepted everything else, like my eyes changing colors, but now it was like I had super strength. What the hell was that about anyway? I was probably the biggest freak right now. Why Shay was my friend I would never know.

“That you caught Rick with the front door girl, and before you could get to him, Dale had already snatched him up and threw him out. Literally. Then you told him not to come back around. Which, by the way, I am very thankful for, because my checking account was rapidly depleting. I thought I was going to have to cancel our shopping day this week.”

I laughed. I gave Shay a hug and she held on tightly. It scared me, so I hesitated a little when letting go, but I hugged her just as tight. Shay was a rock, but every