Page 136 of Captive Audience

I scanned for the bartender again, desperate for another round, but he was busy serving someone at the far end of the bar.

“Who do you have to screw around here to get an espresso martini?” I muttered.

Beth tilted her head. “You feeling okay? You’re a bit pale.”

“Just a headache,” I said, brushing it off, but I wished I could tell the girls about my argument with Rook and how upset I was over it.

I’d accepted that being with a possessive man who was used to getting everything he wanted at the snap of his fingers would be trying. But I hadn’t expected Rook’s betrayal to arrive so swiftly and brutally.

He’d hidden everything from me. Sierra. The extent of the trafficking ring. That he’d been hunting the Soul Collector without me. What had he thought would happen when I found out?

I supposed he’d been too busy fucking me these last two days to give it much thought.

Ugh. I was such a fool.

“Back up a second.” Beth narrowed her eyes. “McHottie is your bad sugar daddy?”

“Unfortunately. He’s like, a billionaire or some nonsense. And he might be nice to look at, but he’s a total pain in the ass. Literally the bossiest, most stubborn person I’ve ever met. He’s making me live with him, and he won’t even let me take this ridiculous ring off.”

Daze swirled her cocktail straw. “And this is the same man with the magic peen? The one who made you question if you could ever go back to regular dick?”

“His dick status is irrelevant since I’m never sleeping with him again.”

The bartender finally arrived with three espresso martinis, a bottle of water, and two Advil tablets still sealed in their blister pack.

“Courtesy of Mr. O’Connell.” He smiled and returned to serving customers.

“Mr. O’Connell?” Beth gave me a curious glance.

I nodded. “That’s the Irish demon-husband.”

Daisy snatched up a martini, swapping it out for her empty glass. “Guess his magical powers aren’t limited to his dick. He’s also a mind reader.”

I almost snorted. More like deranged stalker.

I wasn’t sure how Rook had heard me mention the headache or espresso martinis, but I turned off my phone in case the microphone was hacked.

Beth folded her arms. “I don’t care how hot or rich he is; if he’s being mean to you, I’ll find the overgrown leprechaun and kick his ass all the way back to the Emerald Isle.”

“I love you for saying that, but I can handle him. We have a deal, and once I see it through, I’ll wipe my hands of him for good.” I pointed out a group vacating a booth across the room and handed Beth my drink. “Grab those seats for us. I’m going to the bathroom, and I’ll join you in a minute.”

On the way to the ladies’ room, I approached Finn and Liam.

“He can hear every word I’m saying.”

They stared at me blankly.

“How?” I demanded.

“Don’t know, ma’am,” Liam replied.

Finn touched his earpiece. “The boss says to take the Advil.”

I slammed one hand on my hip. “You can tell your boss to stick the Advil up his ass!”

I carried on toward the bathroom. In the corner of my vision, Finn pushed away from the bar and fell into step a few paces back.

“Wait,” Finn called out when I reached the door. “Let me check inside first.”