Page 117 of A Violet Obsession

It’s like he’s seeing them for the first time, like he forgot they were there. Like he forgot where he is. His face blanks.

“Wait. What did you mean? Who told you I was dead? I don’t even know you.”

But he’s already turning.

“Callum.” Vincent’s hand lands on his shoulder. He shrugs it off without looking, and nobody moves to stop him this time.

“I can’t.” It’s barely sound at all. He’s gone gray under the freckles, swaying on his feet. “I haven’t slept in—I don’t even know. Days. I can’t do this—not now. Not like this.”

Stop him. Stop him. Stop him.

The whispers come so loud, I pull out of Finn’s grip and take a step after the mountain of a man already filling the doorway.

“Please.”

He stops, but doesn’t turn around. For one second his huge shoulders rise and fall, and I think he might come back.

“I’m sorry,” he says to the hall. “I⁠—“

His boots thunder down the hall, and he’s gone

I turn to Finn. Whatever’s on my face brings him to me fast.

“Who is he?” My voice is shaking. “Finn?”

“His name’s Callum,” he says, carefully. “He works with us. Has for years.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I know.” His hand comes up to the side of my face, “Lily. I’m not going to guess at this. Not about something this big. He’s the only one who can tell you what he meant, and right now he can’t even stand up.”

“He’s leaving.” The buzzing won’t stop. “Vincent said he’s going on tour—” Panic is rising inside of me, and I don’t know why.

“He’s not getting on any plane before he talks to you. I’ll make sure of it.” He pulls me in, and I let him, my face going into his chest. “I’ve got you. Whatever this turns out to be.”

42

FINN

The door to the safe apartment clicks shut behind us. Elite’s building is locked down tighter than Fort Knox tonight.

After the shock she had today with Callum, I’m surprised when she’s the one who reaches for me once we’re in bed. She rolls toward me and places her hand flat on my chest. “I need you.” Her nails dig into my chest. “I need this. Please.”

I kiss her, slow and deep, savoring the plush give of her lips, the sweet taste of her mouth, the way she opens for me on a sigh. Heat blooms between us instantly, her body melting into mine as our tongues slide together in a languid dance.

I rest my forehead against hers, breathing her in.

“I hope you have condoms here,” she says. “Because I’m about ready to take my chances.”

I grin, stealing one more kiss before I sit up and pull a row of folded condoms out of my pants pocket. “I went to my truck in the parking garage while you were in the shower.”

Lily’s gaze drops to the long strip of foil packets and bursts into surprised laughter. “Ambitious.” Her eyes sparkle with mischievous delight.

“Hopeful.” I toss the condoms onto the bed and pull her flush against me, smiling against her mouth. “It feels like I’ve been waiting forever.”

“I know,” she says, slipping her hands up to scrape through the hair at my nape.

I kiss her again, deeper this time. I peel her T-shirt off first, inhaling the warm, feminine scent of her skin as it lifts away. Then slide her sleep shorts off, sucking in a breath at how beautiful she is. My boxer briefs follow in a hasty pile until there’s nothing between us but heated skin and pounding hearts.