Page 46 of Before and After

“It’s not just date-rape drugs. They’re dealing out of the hotel. Cocaine, Ecstasy, Fentanyl.”

I pressed a hand to my chest and tried to process. “The entire time? All the trips? They’ve been dealing drugs?”

“We suspect so. After what happened to Ms. Evans, I spent the night doing some digging. They haven’t left much of a trail, but I found a few crumbs and connected the dots. There were no reports of date rapes previously. That seems to be new…” He paused. “Or perhaps not reported.”

I felt sick.

“I’m investigating them.”

I met his dark gaze. “You knew something was off about them right from the beginning.”

“Stay away from them, Allie.”

I couldn’t make that promise. I realized he was so close. He shifted, and I pressed a hand to his chest. I felt his heartbeat.

Memories inundated me. The taste of him, his forceful kiss, the thrust of his hand between my thighs. He’d wanted me. More than anyone ever had before. And I wanted him. I wanted to see that chest bare. Touch it. Stroke it.

My gaze fell on a faint smudge on his neck. My belly tightened. It wasn’t big, but I’d managed to leave a bruise on his neck when I’d bitten him.

“Caden—”

He abruptly stepped back, and my hand dropped to my side. I could practically see him shutting down.

“I don’t need your help, Allie. I don’t need you.”

The words cut deep.

He didn’t need me.

“Right,” I whispered. “I think you’ve made that pretty clear.”

Something moved across his face. “Allie?—”

“No, I got it.” A harsh laugh escaped me. “Loud and clear. I’ll let you get back to your work.”

He stared at me with that blank, emotionless face.

I gave him a stiff nod and left as fast as I could.

I lifted my tablet,tapped, and updated some stock levels. I made a note to talk to the laundry. The level of the linen sent back for re-cleaning was too high. Whatever new cleaning products they were using were not up to scratch.

Setting the tablet away, I pushed my cart out into the corridor. I’d told Marcy that I’d clean the ESG’s rooms.

I wanted to have a little look around.

Caden the cyborg could go screw himself.

I don’t need your help, Allie. I don’t need you.

Message received. It seemed any time I was near him, the temptation was too great. I was sick of getting burned.

I needed to stay far away from Caden Castro.

Rubbing my chest, I tried to ignore the ache there. Pain hurt, but it didn’t kill you.

“Hey, you.”

I turned and saw Sierra waving at me. Tessa and Jazz were with her.