Page 72 of Sticky Fingers

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sonia

Dinner with Malcolm.

I know I should be thrilled, but after what Kathy found out...I don’t know how to feel. Is Malcolm planning on betraying me? Is all this just a game to him?

“Shit,” I mutter to myself, trying to pull up the zipper on my dress.

When I finally get it right, I pat the front of my dress and take a hard look at my reflection in the mirror. My hair cascades softly down my shoulders in gentle waves, and I’m wearing a tight black dress that’s the perfect balance between classy and slutty.

All the right curves are accentuated, and the amount of cleavage showing is just perfect.

The only thing off is my smile. And that’s because I’m not fucking smiling. In fact, I look like I’ve been chewing on a lemon for the past half-hour.

My forehead is creased with worry, and my lips are tightly pursed. Even my hands are balled into fists right now.

“Jesus,” I mutter, forcing a smile on my lips.

“Sonia!” Kathy shouts from the living room. “The doorman called. Malcolm is already waiting for you in the lobby!”

Okay, screw it. I’ve already said yes, so I have to just go and get it done with. Besides, it’s not like I can simply avoid him.

If we’re playing a game, stepping away is as good as declaring him the winner. And who knows what might happen if I simply shut him off? If I do that, he’ll probably just hand me over to Detective Strong and throw some made-up evidence my way.

“How do I look?” I ask Kathy as I step out of my bedroom.

“You look great,” she says, nodding appraisingly, but then she frowns at me. “But try and show some teeth, girl. You look like you’re on the way to a funeral.”

“Yeah, shit, I’m not exactly happy with how things turned out, you know?” I admit, taking a deep breath and staring out the window.

I remember the first time I saw the New York skyline from this apartment—the city seemed to hold such promise, and I knew that my life was about to become a rollercoaster. A terribly fun one.

But now, with all this shit going on...I can’t help but think that coming to this building might have been a mistake.

One that I’m paying for with my heart.

Okay, babe, I know what you might be thinking. Poor little me. Boohoo.

The spoiled little cute rich girl got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Cry me a river.

You know what? Even if you’re not thinking that, I am.

Because I haven’t been the most sympathetic character in a romance novel to find common ground with.

But I’ve had my heart broken. I’m sure you have, too.

Even if you don’t like me, at least think back to when you had your heart broken. Because it fucking hurts like shit, if you remember.

“I know this is hard, Sonia,” Kathy whispers softly, laying one hand on my shoulder. “But keep your guard up, okay? Even though we’re already on to him, you never know what someone like Malcolm might do…”

“I know that,” I say with a nod. “Don’t worry, Kathy. I’ll be careful. And...thank you for looking out for me, babe,” I finish saying, gently placing a kiss on her cheek.

God bless her. If it wasn’t for Kathy, my life would be such a fucking mess.

“Always, you know.” She winks at me. “Now, go get him!”

With a deep breath, I finally leave the apartment and make my way to the lobby. Malcolm’s already there, wearing a custom-tailored suit, one that makes him look even more otherworldly than usual. If perfection had a body, it would be Malcolm’s.