Page 8 of Wonder

If I stayed, I might even try to push myself into her heart.

Don’t look back.

But I can’t stop myself, as I head to the doorway.

Brow furrowed, she mumbles something, tugging the pillow closer and wrapping herself around it. Her bare back gleams in the darkness, the sheet wrapped haphazardly around her body.

Taking a mental snapshot, I slip out of her apartment, the elevator door closing in front of me with a finality that makes my chest… hurt.

Goodbye, Alyss Lidell.

3 – Chess

Glaring at Martin, I point to the phone. “Call her again.”

Unfazed, he meets my irritation without flinching. “I’ve tried Miss Lidell several times. As have you. Andasyou know, I’m not permitted to allow anyone into the penthouse without permission.”

Gritting my teeth, I grip the counter. “You know that’s bullshit. I had accessyesterday.”

“And today you do not.” He smiles politely, but he doesn’t fucking budge. “I’ll tell her you stopped by.”

Eyeing him, I turn away, lifting my phone to my ear again.

Fucking voicemail.

Again.

“Lyssa,” I hiss her name, aware of the bat ears behind me undoubtedly listening in. “You and I both know I’ll be coming up there one way or another, so call off your little guard dog and reinstate my damn access. You’ve got ten minutes.”

Martin swallows as I swing back to him. Glowering, I back up and lean against the wall, crossing my arms. “She’ll be calling down any minute.”

And then I’m going to spank her ass for being such a damn brat.

I’m about ready to scale the outside of the fucking building when Martin’s phone starts to ring, nine minutes and forty-five seconds later. We both glance at it, then each other.

“Well?” I force out through clenched teeth.

He purses his lips as he picks it up. “Of course, Miss Lidell. Right away.”

Martin presses the button beneath his desk, the elevator doors opening as he offers me a sunny smile. “Go on up. I’ll reconfigure your keycard.”

Dick.

My irritation only grows as I stalk into the empty penthouse. “Lyss? Lyssa!”

Silence. And then a rustle from her bedroom. “Give me a damn fuckingminute, Chess. Put some coffee on.”

My eyes narrow. “It’s almost midday. Why the fuck are you still—,”

My eyes catch something on the floor by the window, and I walk over to pick it up. And then… my heart stops, as I take in the marks on the glass in front of me.

Marks that look suspiciously like fuckinghandprints.

The card is sitting on the white counter when Alyss eventually strolls out. Her hair is loose and tousled around her face, the robe not hiding the fact that she’s wearing nothing underneath it.

Settling on one of her tall stools, she drags the steaming cup of coffee closer and breathes it in, her eyes closing. “I needed this.”

“Long night?”