Consumed Read Free Page B

my phone into my purse and head out the door to face the real reason for my morning fight with Adrian.
    It’s partly my fault. I shouldn’t have waited until fifteen minutes before I was leaving his penthouse last night to tell him I was moving back home and returning to work this morning.
    I knew this was going to be his response, so I was trying to delay it as long as possible.
    “Good morning,” I say as I open the door to Reggie’s old, silver Lexus.
    “Good morning.” He studies my face, and it’s unnerving.
    “What?”
    “I’m seeing if you look well enough for work. I was surprised when I got your call last night. I thought you would take more time off, especially since you’re shacked up with Mr. Cassano.”
    No. He. Didn’t.
    Flinging open the car door, I jump out and begin stomping back to my apartment. I’ll take the damn bus once Reg leaves. Men suck.
    In seconds, he’s in front of me and grabbing my shoulders. “Vic, stop.”
    “Get the hell off of me. You couldn’t wait even five minutes to get your jab in.”
    He grips both my shoulders tighter and ducks his head to see my face or to ensure I see his. “Victoria, I’m sorry. I’m just …”
    I stop resisting him and make eye contact. We stare at each other, and I feel the emotion from him. My throat moves, and it’s as if I’ve swallowed his heartache in the form of syrup. It’s sticky, clinging to me. I hate that I can feel his pain.
    “You’re what, Reggie?” I murmur, not truly wanting to hear his answer. Before I can react, his lips crash to mine, but I shove him off forcefully. “What are you doing?”
    “Victoria, let me show you what you mean to me. You might feel it, too.”
    He grabs hold of my face, but I turn my head in his palms, so he can’t kiss me again.
    “I’m in a relationship with Adrian, Reggie.”
    His hands fall in a dramatic gesture. He turns away from me and paces the sidewalk, ruffling his short, black curls that have a shimmer to them from the sun.
    “I knew you cared about him, but you didn’t tell me it was that serious.”
    “I’ve been staying with him all week. What did you think it was?”
    He spins around and glares at me. “You’re the one who kept downplaying it, telling me you were only staying since he hired nursing care for you.”
    Shit, he’s right. I did downplay it. I didn’t want to hurt him by telling him I was exactly where I wanted to be. In my dream world, I had hoped he would pick me up today, and we would be the way we used to be. It’s where we pretended we had never been intimate.
    “OK, you’re right.” I hold fingers to my temple. My head is hurting again, likely from the pressure of the blood pounding through it.
    “It is serious. You can’t kiss me or try to persuade me to be with you. I–I’ve chosen him.”
    “Let’s go.” Unsure of what to do, I stand still, staring into his sad eyes, so he makes the first move and treads toward his car.
    Once he’s in, I turn and walk toward it. Is he going to try to make this work, or is he going to go straight to Bishop’s office and request a new partner?

Adrian
     
    My hardened jaw shifts from left to right as I stare at the classic car photos on my wall. I think about how far Victoria and I have come since that first day she entered my office, but I still don’t feel I have a grasp on our relationship.
    What will enable me to break down her walls? Her surrender is the reassurance I need to know she’s committed to me.
    Victoria needs to hear three words. What if Reggie says them first? What if he fights for her today? I’ll fucking hurt him. The knock on my door brings me back to the moment.
    “Come in,” I say. My younger brother, Xavier, enters. It’s been a while since we’ve talked.
    “Zev, hi.”
    “Hey, Ace.”
    I lift my forearm to take a glance at my watch.
    “It’s before five p.m., and you’re up. I’m impressed.” I smirk at him, and he rolls his eyes.
    “I’m out of bed before five