Page 5

Sebastian had been talking about some dinner at his sister’s house he wanted me to go to for two weeks.

I’d finally relented because we’d agreed we were dating seriously.

I met him at the hospital where I worked as a nurse.

Three months ago, he came into the ER with a throat infection and wouldn’t let me discharge him until I agreed to go on a date with him.

He was generous with gifts and had mid dick, but he was teachable.

He had some weird tendencies, though. Sometimes his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes—like he was holding back something behind his nice guy persona. Sometimes I’d catch him staring at me too long, like a vampire stared at a vein. But all men were strange sometimes.

We pulled into a long driveway of a mini mansion on the outskirts of Tampa. The property was lined with trimmed hedges and stone lions everywhere. When he said his family was rich, I hadn’t realized he meant old-money, marble-outside-type rich.

I sighed, low and slow. I liked him. I really did. But we were worlds apart.

Sebastian parked the car and stepped out, buttoning his jacket as he rounded the hood.

He opened my door, his hand extended. I took it.

He pulled me up and into him. His dick was hard against my stomach.

It seemed to always be hard. His arms wrapped around me and slid to my ass, causing a flutter in my pussy.

I slid my eyes up to him. Sebastian looked like a walking problem in a custom suit—tan skin kissed, dark hair always a little too perfectly messy, and those eyes, black-coffee bitter with no sugar.

He held himself like he knew women wanted him.

Thirty, dangerous, and draped in quiet power, he was that ruin-your-life-on-a-random-Tuesday kind of fine.

“Don’t look so scared. You’ll love my sister, and she’s going to love you.”

I didn’t know about all that. But I nodded.

I followed him. My heels clicked too loud on the walkway.

Inside, the air smelled like lemons and something floral—probably the massive arrangements lining the foyer.

A chandelier dripped crystal above us, scattering light across the walls.

Staff in pressed uniforms moved soundlessly through the halls.

My heels sounded too loud on the marble walkway, each click echoing back at me.

A woman came down the stairs slowly. Pale skin. Dark eyes. Silk dress that looked like it wasn’t from this country. And I knew it was Sebastian’s sister.

She met us at the bottom.

“This is Lilith,” Sebastian said. “My sister.” His finger drew small circles on the small of my back. I think he meant to calm me down, but it was doing the opposite.

“Miyori ,” she said, tilting her head. “You’re even lovelier than Sebastian described.”

Her voice was smooth. Her eyes—dark and unblinking—made my skin prickle.

“Thank you,” I said, giving her a small smile.

She led us through the house to a back room set for dinner.

Lilith moved like she didn’t touch the ground. But there was something in her eyes that made my stomach twist—something unreadable and quiet and cold.

Dinner was already waiting in the back room on a long table.

A few guests were already seated. Low music played in the background, something classical.

Everybody was dressed so elegantly, and I had on a simple fitted dinner dress.

A few eyes rolled in my direction, judging me. I should have stayed home.

And that thought was cemented when my eyes landed on him.

Priest.

He stood near the far end of the table, sleeves rolled to his elbows, watching me like he’d been expecting this. Like he’d been waiting, a slight sneer on his lips.

My heart slammed against my ribs. Why was he here? Worse—would he say something about what I’d done to Sebastian? I dropped my eyes, curling my nails into the fabric of my dress. I wanted to run. The air thickened. The clink of silverware was suddenly too loud in my ears.

Sebastian’s hand settled on my lower back. “Come on, babe,” he said, drawing my attention. He led me to the opposite end of the table.

I sat two seats away from Priest, my fingers gripping the edge of my chair. The linen napkin in my lap wrinkled under my clenched fists.

“My brother-in-law is at the head of the table. I’ll introduce you after dinner,” he whispered. I stayed quiet.

I nodded, throat tight. Brother-in-law. The words slithered through my brain, causing a headache. The wife—his wife—was Sebastian’s sister. Priest hadn’t said anything about a wife .

Of course. This was my type of luck.

A fresh wave of nausea rolled in my stomach.

Then a memory flashed in my head—his teeth on my neck, my legs wrapped tight around his waist.

My thighs pressed together under the table. I could almost still feel him.

I should’ve stopped at just the one time—I agreed on that night—but he had rocked inside of me too well. So I didn’t.

And now here I was, sitting two seats from his wife’s brother, pretending like he hadn’t left me wrung out.

Through the first course, then the second, I barely tasted anything. Priest never looked away. Even though I didn’t look at him, I could feel his eyes on me like a finger tracing my spine. The wine turned acidic on my tongue.

Sebastian didn’t notice.

By the main course, my lungs felt too tight.

Priest’s fork clinked against his plate. Loud enough to know it was on purpose. My shoulders tensed.

I leaned into Sebastian. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“Down the hall,” he said, distracted. His sister wanted his attention and had it all night .

I stood and walked in that direction.

The bathroom was all marble and gold fixtures, the mirror stretching too wide, too bright. I turned the faucet on, let the water rush over my hands just to fill the silence.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it from my clutch.

Unknown Caller.

I almost didn’t answer.

Static hissed, then there were muffled voices.

“How long have you been seeing her?”

Sebastian’s laugh. “Few months.”

A pause.

“Is it serious?”

“Serious? Nah, man. Come on. She’s not that type. I wanted to test the pussy, that’s it. I can’t be serious about some broke girl with a cracked-out sister. You’ve met my parents.”

I didn’t need to hear anything else.

The water kept running. My reflection in the mirror looked the same as always—tired. I wasn’t even mad. I’d heard worse. From better men. Fuck him. Like I said, the dick was mid.

I hung up.

For a long moment, I just stood there, listening to the drip of the faucet .

Then I walked out.

Past the dining room. Past the foyer. Out the front door, into the hot night air.

The sidewalk was empty. The streetlights didn’t flicker in this neighborhood full of mini mansions. I kept walking until the house was out of sight, then pulled out my phone.

Sebastian’s contact disappeared with one tap.

The Uber app glowed in the dark.