Page 28 of Damon

He stared at me for a long, tense moment before breaking into laughter. “That’s cute. It’s also not going to happen. You owe me, Athena.”

“Stop saying that.” I hopped down off the counter, pulling my skirt back into place. “I don’t owe you anything. I never asked for you to get involved with Andy. I never asked for any of this.”

Damon eyed me curiously as a red mark in the shape of my hand began to blossom on his cheek. “Didn’t you though? Your actions brought this all upon you. I may have taken advantage of an opportunity when it came my way but I didn’t get this ball rolling. You did.”

“It’s not my fault that some guys can’t handle rejection. I will not take the blame for that kind of bullshit. You and me are done. Get out.” I motioned for him to leave.

Since I didn’t feel right about leaving the washroom after what we’d done here, I got busy looking for some kind of cleaning supplies. Damon stood there for several long moments, watching me squeeze some soap onto a piece of paper towel I found under the sink. I pretended he wasn’t there as I wiped down the counter. When I finished and he still hadn’t left, I pulled the door open and walked out.

Damon was right behind me. Lucky for me, he was quickly intercepted by Rebel who grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. My plan was to grab my purse and thank Codie for dinner before getting the hell out of there. My friends wouldn’t let me go so easily. They followed me outside to my car.

“All right, Athena, we need some answers,” Storm said, speaking for the group. “Is this a situation where we need to do an intervention, or should we be happy for you and mind our own business?”

“Mind our own business?” Ripley repeated, aghast at the thought. “This is Damon Price we’re talking about. The worst kind of bad news. He’s already dragged you into a dangerous situation. Aren’t you afraid that he’ll get you in some kind of serious trouble?”

I leaned against my car, a small Chevy sedan my parents had recently given me after they bought a new car for themselves. It wasn’t in my nature to dance around such questions or give half-truth answers. Instead, I opted for an honest response.

“A little bit yes. I was so scared that night when he set fire to the warehouse. At the same time, it was incredibly exciting. A total rush. I kind of enjoyed it.” My gaze wandered toward the house where I could see Rebel and Damon through the living room window. Rebel’s expression was dead serious while Damon smirked. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I told Damon that we’re done. This messed up game he’s been playing with me is over.”

My friends all exchanged a look with one another before Codie said, “Do you really expect him to accept that without a fight? He doesn’t strike me as the type.”

“I’ll probably have to move for work anyway. He’ll have no choice but to forget about me.” Shoving a hand through my hair, I looked up to the sky with a sigh. The sun had dropped down behind the houses, lighting up the evening with a soft glow.

Luna let out a little whine. “Aww, no, you can’t move away. It won’t be the same without you.”

“I’d rather not. At least not at this stage in my life. I may not have a choice.” Still watching Damon through the window, I thought that perhaps moving would be the only way I would escape him.

Unless he chased me down. It was obvious to me that Damon didn’t belong with the Graveyard Kings. He wasn’t really one of them. There was nothing keeping him here.

Storm pulled me into a hug. “Whatever you need to do, we’re all here for you. Even if that means you keep seeing Damon, because whether you want to admit it or not, I know you, Athena, and I know there’s something about him you can’t resist. Just promise me that you won’t let him get you in over your head.”

“No worries. I really am done with him. I have more important things to focus on.”

I meant it when I said it. However, as I drove away, I caught myself glancing back, hoping to catch a glimpse of Damon. His scent was all over me. The sensation of him an echo between my legs.

We barely knew each other. Everything I knew about him so far I hated except for the way he made me feel when I was with him. That wasn’t a good enough reason to continue this dangerous game.

I told myself that I was truly done with Damon. He wasn’t worth the risk. If I didn’t stand firm in this decision, there was no telling how deep into his world he would drag me.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

DAMON

Noah had barely been home for the last few days. Always off with Dominik doing some kind of Graveyard King business. Occasionally, they asked me to join them. I always said no.

We all knew it was better for me to keep my distance from the Kings. The night of the barbeque after Athena left, Rebel and I had gotten into a disagreement. He was pissed about the incident with the beer bottle. Worried I would ruin one of their business arrangements.

Rebel was a bit of a hypocrite. If that dick had been flirting with Storm, Rebel would have done the same damn thing. Maybe he and I were too alike in some ways. We couldn’t possibly exist together in the same group.

That’s why I had been taking more private jobs. Stuff I didn’t even tell Noah about anymore. Tonight I would be breaking into a house and stealing some valuables for a man pissed off with his ex-wife. Nothing exceptionally dangerous, although every job had its risks.

After getting dressed, I picked up my phone, staring at the last message from Athena. It had been a long time since we’d messaged one another. I preferred to speak to her in person anyway.

Since I would be heading into a residential neighborhood where everyone had cameras, I wouldn’t be bringing my own vehicle. I took a rideshare downtown and stole one instead. It never ceased to amaze me how many people left their keys in their car. Did they really think they were well hidden tucked in the visor? Most of the cars I checked were locked and secured. Car number twelve was the winner.

As I drove to Athena’s apartment, I ignored the voice in the back of my head telling me not to be a fucking idiot. Some part of me couldn’t let it end the way it had at the barbecue. I needed to see her. To look into those green eyes while she told me off.

Once I was parked outside her apartment, I sent her a text telling her to come downstairs. I saw her peek out the window, looking down at me. Her reply message came a moment later.