Page 18 of His Lair

“I just have things to do. At home.” I don’t know what he wants from me. Well, other than to have access to my naked body, it seems.

“Lailani?”

“Yeah?”

“If this is you trying to ditch me after one night, I’m not that easy to shake,” Sammie tells me. “I’ll see you tonight.” With that, he cuts the call.

He’s not that easy to shake.What the hell does that mean? And do I even want to shake him? I don’t think so. Well, not yet anyway.

The minute I walk into my apartment, I get that sense that someone else is in here, so I reach into my bag and pull out the small knife I keep there. I then dump my bag onto the hall table and slide the drawer open, retrieving my pistol. I slip the knife into my pocket and walk farther into the entryway with my gun raised, only to stop dead in my tracks as soon as I cross into the living room.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” I ask while lowering the gun.

Emmanuel makes a point to look at his watch and then back up at me. “Busy night?” He lifts a curious brow.

“Yes,” I snap and head straight for my kitchen, which is right next to the living room. I can still see him when I turn on the coffee machine. “If you’re going to help yourself into my apartment, the least you could do is get the coffee ready.”

“Where were you?” he asks, instead of answering me.

“That’s none of your business.” I really do not have the energy to deal with him right now.

“I was about to send out a search party,” Emmanuel says, clearly unfazed by my bitchy tone.

I turn around and stare at him. “Why?”

“Because you weren’t here, and it’s very unlike you to have sleepovers.”

He’s not wrong. I don’t usually fall asleep next to people. “How do you even know that?”

“I make it my business to know everything about my friends, Lailani,” he tells me.

“Right. Then you already know where I was last night.” I return my attention to the coffee machine, sliding a cup onto the drip pan and pressing the button. Once I fill one cup, I fill another before walking back over to the sofa and handing the second mug to my unwanted houseguest.

“If I hadn’t, the fact that you walked in wearing one of his hoodies would have given it away,” Emmanuel says.

“So, is there a reason for this visit?” I question while sipping at my coffee.

“There’s a woman,” he says. “I want you to keep an eye on her.”

“Who?”

“Evie. She’s one of Charlotte’s friends,” Emmanuel explains.

I’ve seen her. She’s only just arrived to town. “What she do?”

“Nothing,” he says. “I want her protected at any cost. You get me?”

Interesting. The big, scary cartel boss wants this woman safe. No matter what it takes.

“I get you.” I nod. “But are you going to tell me why?”

“Are you going to tell me why you’re shacking up with Sammie?”

“He has a really nice dick.” I smirk.

“And I wish I hadn’t asked,” Emmanuel groans.

“So, Evie, huh? Are you going soft, E?”