LOGINLORETTA Now that all was over, I looked down at my wrist, at the place where the man had grabbed meI rubbed the skin lightly.“Where were you tonight?” My question sounded loud in the quiet of Elion's car. The city slipped past the windows in streaks of gold and white, the silence broken only by the low hum of the engine and the occasional swish of passing tires on the road.When he came, I noticed, but he and Harlan had been dressed for a night out. Now, it wouldn't have been suspicious, but Elion was hardly one for casual outings. It has to be something business-related, and if it was, there was a reason why he chose tonight, when I wouldn't be involved “I had an impromptu meeting,” He answered with his eyes firmly placed on the road. I settled back into the seat, watching him from the corner of my eye. “What was this meeting about?"For a second, I saw the faint tick in his jaw, the way his shoulders grew taut, but all it took was a second, and he returned to normalcy. It was s
LORETTA “Elion...” I breathed his name, slowly rising from the couch.His broad shoulders filled the doorway, blocking out the harsh fluorescent light spilling in from the corridor behind him.It was nighttime, but he was dressed semi-formally in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, making him look completely out of place in the tiny waiting room, too composed, too imposing, too...powerfully Elion.My eyes searched his face as I drew closer, looking for something, anything other than the darkness in those black orbs. I found none. The only thing I could make of his cold expression was quiet anger. A swallow worked down my throat. “How did you find us?” I asked instead, I hadn't told Elion I was coming to Atmosphere, I hadn't even known we'd be coming here, so how had Elion traced my friends and me Except....“Are you still tracking me?” The question came out in a rush of air. Behind me, Michelle made a sound that was very close to a snort, but I was too focused o
LORETTAThe man lunged forward, and it was as if time slowed down in our booth. I could see and feel everything slowly The tight way he clenched his fist, gritted his teeth, and the heavy pounding of my heart as fear took hold of meMichelle didn't as much as flinch; if anything, she stood her ground harder, bracing herself for the attack. She dodged his wrist mid swing and landed a hard punch to his stomach with more strength than I would have guessed she had, sending him crashing into a nearby table. Glasses shattered all around, and someone, I think it was Zara, shrieked. Holly was as still as a statue, her face going pale. The waitress dove sideways to avoid the spray of champagne and shattered crystal raining across the floor.“Michelle!" I tried to grab her arm so this wouldn't escalate further, but she was already moving, already between him and me, boots planted hard like she'd done this a hundred times before.He came at her again on unsteady feet, grunting as he did, and i
LORETTA“Love is a strong word, Michelle.”The words left my mouth quietly, almost swallowed by the music spilling out from Atmosphere. She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she kept looking at me, her fingers wrapped loosely around mine, like she wasn't going to let me dodge the question like the last time Michelle tilted her head slowly, the sapphire hoops in her ears catching the neon lights. “It's also a very simple one.”I drew in a shallow breath, my chest shaking with it. Elion and I... we had something; I just wasn't convinced it was love.Attraction? Yes. There was no denying that anymore.I was drawn to him just as much as he was drawn to me. I could feel it every time our eyes found each other across a room. Every time, the silence between us grew thick enough to touch and taste. I could feel it when he watched me pleasure myself in the bathroom, and how reckless he got in the alley a few weeks agoEvery time Elion looks at me, it seems like he either wants to pull me in
LORETTA"Atmosphere?"Even though I was looking right at the building, I still couldn't quite believe Michelle had chosen ‘this’ of all places.The truck rumbled to a stop, and I found myself staring through the windshield. Despite growing up in this city, I'd never actually been here.The club is bigger than I imagined it would be. Neon lights painted the pavement in streaks of Red, blue, and green while music pulsed through the walls hard enough for me to feel the bass vibrating inside my chest.ATMOSPHERE. The massive neon sign glowed above the entrance. Beside me, Holly let out a long, resigned sigh. Zara looked ready to order herself a ride home before we could even step out of the truck.Michelle rubbed her hands together excitedly after killing the engine. “Yup,” Her grin spread wider. “Atmos-freaking-phere”“Really?” Zara didn't bother hiding her displeasure. “You know how much I hate crowds... and loud music” Michelle shot her a sideways grin. “Which is exactly why I brought
LORETTAMichelle threw the truck into gear with a grin that stretched from ear to ear“Ladies,” she declared, loud enough so that Zara, who was sitting by her side on the passenger's seat, flinched “Operation Girls' Night one thousand and one is officially in motion. Tighten your seatbelts, grab your tequila and popcorn, because tonight we are going to forget about work, deadlines, responsibilities, and ridiculously hot men with blue, blue eyes”Zara stared at Michelle from underneath her glasses, as if she were a lab case study. “Remind me how we are friends Again?” She questioned dryly “Because you love me, Zara." Michelle grinned so wide, it was almost cartoonish. “Because I am the only source of fun you have, introvert that you are”Zara muttered something that I didn't quite catch because I had a hand over my mouth, struggling to conceal my laughter. A glance at Holly at my side told me she wasn't any better; her shoulders were practically shaking “I have considered reporting
ELION My hand was around her throat. Her delicate, fragile throat. All it would take was one flick of my wrist and I would never have to endure her presence ever again But then, I would never see her ethereal eyes come alive with hate and rage, Loretta would be gone for Good. There would be n
LORETTAI woke up feeling rested.Which was, at the very least, surprising.There was no sleep paralysis, no nightmare. No frantic jolt awake with my heart trying to burst its way out of my chest.I actually felt good waking up, There was a strange sense of calm that enveloped me as I sat up slowly
ELION Something was wrong with Loretta. And I didn't mean her ability to piss me off or that endless, infuriating urge she had to defy me at every available opportunity. I meant something different. I felt her shift unsteadily as she pushed off the wall, running a hand over her hair before h
ELION Control was a non-negotiable tool in my worldEverything I did hung in my control. I prided myself on being a man who isn't easily fazed. Even when I was sentenced to three years in prison, nearly lost my company to my greedy family, and watched as my life went downhill in a split second, ev







