Forbidden Read Free Page B

few bucks in his pocket. He could always hit an ATM; they didn’t have that luxury.
    “Hey, are you—” The question died on his lips when he saw Indie. At least, he thought it was her. Her sleek brown hair was dishevelled, and her makeup, which was flawless, had been streaked.
    She flattened her back against the brick wall. “Get away from me. I don’t want to talk to you.” She clenched her long sleeves in her fists and crossed her arms.
    That was when Lee noticed she was trembling. He removed his blazer. “Here, at least take this if you’re not going back inside right away. You’re shivering.”
    “I don’t want that!” she cried, stepping back as though he’d offered her drugs instead of a jacket. “Just get away from me.”
    Lee knew if he was going to accept his brother’s job offer, which he was still on the fence about, he and Indie would have to co-exist. “You mind telling me what I did to make you hate me so much? You and I have barely said more than a few words to each other, yet you act like I kicked your dog. Why is that?”
    Glaring at him, she swiped a hand across her cheek, which only served to smear her makeup more. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”
    “What the hell has got you so upset?” He didn’t expect her to confide in him, but he couldn’t help being curious. The Indie he’d seen had always prioritized looking strong and put together.
    “None of your goddamn business. Now get away from me.”
    Never one to back down from a challenge, Lee said, “I’ll go in when you do.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “It’s getting dark. I’m not leaving you in the alley by yourself. Especially when you’re this upset.”
    “Like you care.”
    “My brother cares about you. So does Cassidy. I assume that means you have some redeeming qualities, though I can’t say I’ve ever witnessed any.” Lee knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere by insulting her, but he was too tired to make nice with a woman who clearly despised him. He’d tossed and turned all night thinking about his talks with Drake and Tucker.
    “You’re the last person I’d ever try to impress,” she said, practically spitting the words. “You’re a… a…”
    “What, Indie? What exactly do you think I am?”
    “A user.”
    A user? That was an accurate description of him a long time ago, but he thought—or at least hoped—he’d risen above that. “I won’t deny I’ve hurt a lot of good people, but I’ve done my best to make amends.” When she didn’t appear to soften at his admission, Lee felt his anger rising. Would he forever be branded a loser, even by those who hadn’t known him when he’d earned the reputation? “Nothing I say is going to make a damn bit of difference to you, is it?”
    “No.”
    Before Lee could argue, his brother stepped outside. “Hey, I saw you from the window,” Drake said to Lee. “Who’re you—” He stopped when he saw Indie. “Honey, what’s the matter?”
    “Nothing, excuse me,” she said, brushing past him and practically sprinting to the elevator.
    “What the hell was that about?” Drake asked, turning on his brother.
    “Be damned if I know.” Lee slipped into the blazer Indie had refused, unable to get her tortured expression out of his head. He knew that look in her eyes. He’d seen it too many times in addicts and pushers. Whatever or whoever had hurt Indie had clearly left her ravaged. He hoped she had someone to confide in.
    “I know she was angry about me offering—” Drake reached for the door handle. “Let’s head inside. It’s getting cold out here.”
    “Not until you finish what you were saying. Indie was pissed because you offered me a job, wasn’t she?”
    “This is my company,” Drake said, with a stubborn set to his chiseled jaw. “No one, not even Indie, is going to tell me how to run it. If I want to offer you a job, I damn well will.”
    “Look, I don’t want to cause any trouble for you or her.” Lee couldn’t explain why