THE LUPINE MAFIA

rid

clinging to my skin. A folded note and a crisp hundre

bucks? That's wh

inst my body, trying to forget the feel of his hands, his voice, the way h

er felt

on't just call for desperate

my dad abandoned us. He knocked up his secretary and walked out like we were nothing. At first, Mom and I wer

o... I did what I had to do. Two jobs, endless bills, and now... this.

door jerked me

shirt as I opened it. Freya Winter stood t

on, let's get going and yes, I ne

p but chuckle,

t even trying. Radiant skin, killer curves, and the kind of confidence I fake on

" she asked as we steppe

mumbled, h

g with her. She took me and Mom in without hesitation. We split the bi

pain rather than avoids it. We stopped to grab some apples, Mom's

leeping p

her breathe. I peeled an apple, placed a note

after my shift,

ne of the elite clubs in town, serving drink

ot bath. Steam curled around me as I sank i

i

That voice like gravel dipped in honey. We locked eyes acros

eper. Someth

wn him forever. I hadn't planned it. I hadn't planned

ep groan of his voice, the way he

d climbed out of the tub,

quickly a

f garlic and spices hit me lik

d, yawning as I joine

lence until she finally

o.

I knew this

. "Don't play wit

mile. "Amazing. Better than an

grinned. "So? Did you

Nope. Just memorie

s up at the club tonight. You need

d nothing. Deep

ght... he d

e was nowhere to be found. My heart dipped with disa

onths

de the funera

was

doctors said

s, whispered prayers, and sto

d from holding in sobs, and my hands tr

e me, her hand qu

to show up. I hated him. I hated what he did to

ready to leave

ed in black, walking

fr

ck... I

riefly and

eath

was

he man I'd slept with. T

me, expressio

he turned an

e'd ne

didn't

again, wondering why something that mea