Page 48 of Liberated By Sin
“Não consegui salvá-la.”
Guilt over not saving his wife.
I shook my head. “Você também não pode me salvar.”
He can’t save me either.
Silence stretched between us until he flattened his lips and nodded, worry lines back on his face.
“You still have a couple of hours before the sun. I hope you get some sleep.”
“Me too,” I said, slipping into my apartment.
Phoenix greeted me the moment I was inside as if she’d been waiting in the same spot since I left. Holding her to my chest, I tossed my keys on the counter and stared into my empty living room. My stomach hollowed when I thought of the dead man bleeding out in the alley, because the high that usually carried through hours later was gone.
Something was changing.
22
Thecut glass gave under the pressure of my grip, crumpling in on itself as I squeezed until the shards pierced my skin. But the pain was nothing but a pinprick against the aggravation, burning a trail up the back of my neck as I watched her dance on the live feed. Her number had ended ten minutes ago, yet my eyes were still plastered on the screen as the last of her winnings was collected.
Amara had been magnificent, as always, leaving me torn on whether to immerse myself entirely in her performance or chuck the goddamn bottle of scotch and shatter the screen so I wouldn’t have to witness the way other men coveted and lusted for what was mine.
And that she was.
Even if our friendship still bordered largely on this insignificant power dynamic, it didn’t matter. I’d give her the time she needed.
As a man used to taking what he wanted, my patience with this woman was unprecedented. While the last few weeks had seen our relationship grow in terms of trust, what seemed likean impenetrable barrier still existed between us. She was guarded, careful with her words and gestures, and keeping just enough of a distance. But I was anything if not determined.
Two soft raps drew my attention to the door as if I’d conjured her with my thoughts. I didn’t have to guess who it was. Amara’s presence always brought with it a spark of electric energy I’d never felt with anyone else.
“Come in,” I urged, rounding my desk with hasty steps, eager to see her beautiful face in person.
The scent of her perfume reached my nose before she’d fully stepped into the room. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company,preziosa?”
Amara tilted her head as a feigned look of exasperation at the use of her nickname crossed her features. Maybe it was unprofessional, but it slipped effortlessly from my tongue. Decorum be damned.
“I need time off in about two weeks,” she said, leaning on the back of a chair.
My heart staggered for a moment as I took in the serious tone of her voice and how she averted her gaze as she spoke the request. It was all I needed to deduce that her trip involved her very interesting extracurricular.
“And may I ask what for?”
“No.”
Why had that answer not surprised me?
“How long?”
“A week.”
“A week?” I grimaced.
A fucking week without eyes on my girl. Without knowing if she was all right.
Fuck no.
“Where?”