Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 171 - Chapitre 180

RALIOne Month Later"So, how were the dreams last night?" she asked, that warm, dimpled smile switching on like a small lamp."It was okay. I slept really good."Hands on my skin. A knife dragging down my back. Me screaming.Lies.I kept my practiced smile on as I looked at her.But there was always something about therapists seeing right through you.She parked a long stare on me then dropped a sigh. "Are you sure, Zerali?"The performance leaked out of my shoulders. "They did come for an hour or so. But it wasn't as intense as the other nights. Believe me, my nights have been more peaceful. You can ask Marovelle."She shook her head and scribbled something in her note. A few strands slid free of her high ponytail. When she straightened, she hooked them behind her ear."How about the task I gave in our last session? Did you make that friend?"This smile was bright and genuine. "I did! They loved the cookies and even promised to come over to the house some time so I could make mo

RALI"And these rows here are for the history lovers." She pointed at the shelves for me. "I know the store is quite big. That is why it's one of the most popular on here. But with time you'll get used to everything. And if you're confused at any point, you don't forget to ask the other girlies for assistance.""Sure. Thank you, ma'am.""Zerali, you need to promise you you'll be good." Her kind smile stepped aside for the manager. "Over here, I don't tolerate sloppy. You know, I don't even hire people without certificates, but Marovelle has been a good woman. Hell, I can't say No to any of her requests. I'm giving you a chance because of her. Don't make me regret it."I brightened, my fingers finding my necklace and smoothing the chain. "I do understand the length you're going for me, ma'am, and I won't take it for granted. I promise you won't regret it."She measured me with one last look, then nodded. "Good. Come now, let me show you these records."An hour later, I'd clocked in

"No." I tapped the cigarette to my lip and exhaled a ribbon against the glass. "Torontea is a safe place. It's the kind of place someone like her would want to hide." I had a gut feeling she was still here somewhere.I wanted to be out there snapping the city open with my own hands. Damn them for not having any surveillance cameras in their streets. So far, I'd been hacking into the cameras of restaurants, cafes, boutiques—anything I could lay my hand on. But there was still no sign of her.We'd been trying to keep the search as quiet as possible. If she felt the hunt, she'd run. She'd think it was Blayne. Her fear was something I couldn't afford. So, I put Katya out there. Had her go into the streets with Rali's picture, claiming to be her sister. Maybe the rumor of family would tug her into the light.But it's been over three days already. Three days and there was still no sign of her. Fuck, it was starting to feel like I was drowning."We'll keep searching. We'll find her," I offer

"Hi. Didn't mean to startle you," she waved at me.It made me wonder: had my fear been that obvious?She had this kind of rigid face. Really beautiful, but set in a way that told you she didn't tolerate nonsense.Even the way she appeared looked tough—Cargo pants with a black crop top. Her hair was held in a perfectly high ponytail."C—Can I help you with something?" My fingers found my necklace and worried it.I had no idea why the hell I did that, but it was something I couldn't do without when I was nervous."Yeah. I was just looking for—" She paused.She must've noticed what I was staring at—the red mark near her hairline. Did she get into a fight?"A pharmacy," she finished. "Ran into a crackhead and got clipped." She touched the spot, light and dismissive. "Don't worry, he looks worse than I do."I managed a small smile. "S—Sorry about that. I think there's one down the street. Just take your left when you get to the T-road."She craned back to look down the street. "Got it. Tha

VOIDI'd never seen confusion look so pretty on a face. It perched in her eyes like a timid bird with no intention of leaving its branch.Rali Hayes. Right in front of me.If I were a vampire, I'd pull her by the waist, press her into the shelf, and kiss her until she forgot the taste of her own air. I'd thread my fingers into her short hair, feel the tug at her scalp, set my mouth to the hollow of her neck.I'd hook her leg against mine, slip beneath her denim just far enough to find skin. I'd slide along her thigh until my palm cupped the curve of her ass.I'd touch her in places that turned breath into moans, make her whimper in my arms, make her feel how much this man had missed her.And then I'd compel her to forget. Because strangers don't get forgiven for doing things like that."Y—Yes."For one stupid second I thought she was saying yes to 'that.' But then I remembered I asked a question that wasn't related.'She works here.'I glanced around the place. I was in a bookstor