Page 16 of Rogue’s Path (Sweet Chaos #1)

Dylan

Why did I expect to have a relaxed week after the pre-bachelorette party? But here I am heading straight from the Ivy Café to Dahlia’s house for dinner.

My taxi driver stops at the gate.

It’s odd that in one of the biggest cities in the world, there’s this little gated community that Dahlia found to live in.

Somehow, when I picture Maverick, I see him in a penthouse high in the sky. That big, angry man looks all wrong in Dahlia’s sweet little mansion.

Little mansion.

Like all the other times, a bulky Italian man in a suit steps out of the guard shack. There’s a distinct bulge of a gun on his side. I could probably guess what type it is, but it’s not like he’d show it to me to confirm.

With the thick brick walls all around, this setup would work for a dystopian book.

After the world fell apart and everyone in Urbium was dead, the survivors flocked here to the one little oasis of safety.

Or maybe they’re trapped in here by men with guns, forever wanting to escape into the woods to live off the land—What a joke.

In an apocalypse, living alone in the woods is just a hardworking path to death.

People don’t think about all the little things they need to survive.

One person can’t do it all. You can’t forge your own weapons—Stop planning a dystopian novel. You write mysteries.

Except these streets are too perfect.

Too happy.

Too safe for a big city.

It just begs to be blown apart.

“Ma’am, are you getting out?” the cab driver asks, pulling me out of my head.

“Oh, yes. Sorry.” I pass over the cab fare and tip, then hop out.

“Dylan!” Dahlia rushes down the steps. Her husband looms at the doorway, glaring at me.

Anger is so his natural state.

“I’m so glad you decided to stay a few more days.”

More like I’m hiding from my house, unsure of what to do, but we’ll call it a vacation. “Me too.”

“Your poor face. I can’t believe someone hit you like that.”

“To be fair, I hit quite a few of them first.” The guy who touched Cordelia is going to wish he was dead for a very long time.

“I would have joined in except security grabbed me and shoved me behind the bar as soon as fists started flying.”

Wait! What? “You knew?”

“Not until then. But it only makes sense. The big guy is overprotective.” She smiles up at him as we climb the steps.

“There’s no such thing when you’re protecting your greatest treasure. And you shall always be mine.”

I gag a little. Silently, though, so Maverick doesn’t hate me.

A group of shirtless men start down the street.

The one with golden bouncy curls has a basketball under his arm. He feels familiar. “Who is he?”

Dahlia twists to follow my gaze. “Oh, that’s my neighbor, Max.”

Max…How do I know him? There’s no way we’ve met. I wouldn’t forget a man that sexy.

Don’t even start trying to count to see if he has a six-pack or an eight-pack.

All the other men appear to be of Italian descent, but he’s mixed-race. Those curls…

Max! It’s Massimo Vincenti, the tech security billionaire. The one who not only just about invented tech security but also managed to get most of the world to use his company. He’s one of the richest men in the world.

The security around this place makes way more sense now.

Dahlia leans over and whispers, “He’s single. Want me to introduce you two?”

“No.” I have enough problems with my bad boy biker.

“He’s a really nice guy.”

No matter how nice he is, there’s no way I could live my life in a fishbowl like he must. “Not interested. He’s not my type.”

“Do you have a type?” She loops an arm through mine as we continue walking.

I used to think it was the nerdy guy next door.

That was until he dumped me after the senior prom and moved to Urbium to work for some big corporation in their tech department.

He probably runs the place by now. “Not really.” Rogue flashes before my eyes.

Liar. If anyone was my type, it would be Taylor.

Smart and sexy should be every woman’s type.

“While you’re here, I can introduce you to some of the single men.”

A woman in love wants all the women around her to be in love. GAH. No, thank you. “Sounds good.” I’ll just be busy those days.

***

I can pretend to like one of these guys just to come eat at Dahlia’s house more often. The grilled steaks Maverick made for us were spectacular, and eating outside made it even better in the cool night air—thanks to the space heaters, it’s not cold.

“You two ready for dessert?” Maverick asks.

“Absolutely.” Dahlia answers for the both of us.

Which is good since I might have said no. I’m practically bursting at the seams from dinner.

He kisses her on the forehead and walks back to the kitchen.

“I should warn you. Maverick only makes healthy desserts. It’s probably going to be some sorbet with fruit.”

“Sounds perfect to me.”

“How are you really? I’ve been so involved in this wedding stuff, we haven’t had time to chat. You don’t seem that excited to have a bestseller going. If my book was sitting at the top of all the bestseller lists, I’d be dancing around right now.”

It still is? Usually, if I hit it, I bounce off pretty quickly. My stalker ruined the excitement for me.

“There are rumors that it’s getting made into a television series. Is that true? Because I have a whole cast in mind.”

I don’t know. I haven’t checked my email or any of my sales platforms since I got those flowers.

“Are you okay? You turned a little white.”

Am I? “It’s been a busy weekend.”

“There’s more than that. I can see it. We should—“

Maverick walks back in with two glasses in his hands. “We should what?”

No. There’s no way I want to talk about any of this with the angry man. “We should plan another girls’ night. Cordelia suggested it, and I think it’s a great idea.” As long as there aren’t sexy pirates at this one.

Pirates? That’s dumb. They don’t really even exist anymore.

But I would look great in a big hat with a funny bird on my shoulder. Hmmm. Maybe I should learn to fight with a cutlass.

“If you wanna do something crazy again, you’ll do it at my bar. I’ll close the place down, and you can dance on all the bars you want.”

“That’s not how it works. And why did you only bring two glasses?” Dahlia asks as he sets them down in front of us.

“Because I’ll share yours, Dahl.”

Gag! But he has good taste in dessert—strawberries and cherries covered in hot fudge and pistachio cream. Suddenly, there’s an empty spot in my belly for a few bites.

***

Why did I think my jaw would hurt less when I woke up this morning? I have some aspirin in my purse.

Which I dumped on the couch in the living room. This is one of those times when I’m not sure a suite was the best choice. Now I have to get up and walk all the way there to go get it.

Next time, when Dahlia says let’s go walk off the chocolate, I’m going to say no. Though a little cold, it was an enjoyable walk.

A groan escapes as I push myself out of bed. Before the next bar fight, I'd better take some more fighting lessons.

There are a few hours before I should head down to the Ivy Café. What should I do until—

RED ROSES. How did a vase full of red roses get on the table?

Take a breath. This place puts fresh flowers in every room. There was an arrangement of white roses and tulips when I arrived. Maybe they just changed it.

To red roses?

No. This is an elegant hotel. They would never use bold, bright scarlet like that. Is he here in this room?

Should I run out of the room? Not dressed in my pajamas and a fluffy robe.

Should I search the room for him? Like that ever works well for a woman in a negligee.

Call the front desk. I pick up the letter opener from beside the phone on the desk and call.

“Hello, Ms. Oliva. How may I make your stay more enjoyable?”

Just about anything would be better at the moment. “Did you deliver flowers to my room?”

“We did. They were delivered yesterday afternoon. Our policy is to call up twice, but if the guest does not answer, we deliver them so that they can enjoy their gifts. Wasn’t that what you wanted? We can send someone up to get them?”

They delivered it. There was no one in my room.

There’s the card. Just like the last one.

My dearest love Dylan,

Are you enjoying your trip to Urbium? I know being away from me must be as painful for you as it is for me. In order to bear our separation, I keep reading your words. They are my only solace. Don’t worry, I’m making preparations for us to be together forever.

Your Only Love

“Could you please send up security and call the police?”