LA

*

t one hope

ev

, any job. After everything that's happened, I feel like

o kiss her paper-thin cheek. She smelled faintly of laven

ction notice, her eyes clouded w

rying to sound optimistic. "He m

"Why him? You can't f

ide of my cheek. "I'm tr

ore but knew I wouldn't listen. I grabbed my bag and stepped o

behind his nice-guy smile, he had the kind of eyes that watched too closely, ling

something I

building was the kind of rundown place where the walls reeked of smoke and

or swu

hair messy like he'd just rolled ou

an I co

waving me in. "Yea

gether tightly. "I lost my job, Steve. And Nanny's ho

elf into the armchair across from me. "Shit, re

threw a cake in

chuckling. "Y

not to smile. "

on his knees. "Well, I mig

something twis

t w

he couch. Way too close. I shifted slightly, try

life has a price, you kno

what do

y hair around his finger

But I knew I couldn't just... have you. You're not like other girls. So I

od ran

you talk

night, Bella. That's all I want. And I'll m

heart pounding. "What th

ct surprised. You knew, didn't

acking away until my shoulders

I'm offering help. That's mo

My voice cracked, b

id the first thing I could think of-I kneed h

he ground with

an, his voice calling my name behind me, g

e I barely saw. It was like the whole city was spinning an

hing have to fa

st m

ut to los

out to be just another person who wa

s world... ever

lights were too bright. The music is too loud. The drinks are too sweet. I

umbled to no one. "Why

t a bitt

the bartender aske

d, giggling like I'd just heard

low look. "You

pile of crap. I'm broke. Homeless in a w

d help you forget your problems. Just for t

ha

hing into a drink, and pushed it toward me. "Room 119. Just go up after

my thoughts. I was about to reach for it

said next to me. "She's drunk,

landing on a stranger.

-blue eyes, perfect jawline, sharp cheekbones.

ly looked at me. "Yo

na go home..

e. You have no idea w

he told me." I pointed

oing anywhere with him.

uld I listen to you?

e you destroyed," he said firmly. "

t to go with strangers.

ple. "You really want me t

lt like lead. My brain

e muttered, "Fine. Do

icked me up-just like that

shouted, pounding his

said, trying to keep his cool. "I'm savi

utside, he gently placed me in the passenger seat of

against the window, wa

me wher

efu

s me home? What i

that. Just a mansion. A bed.

en dar

Mor

he curtains and into my eye

was po

m last night hit

nk. Steve. The s

, heart racing.

asn't

clothes weren't mine. I was we

ripped

d? What did I

my face wi

.. I couldn

appened after I pull

ven away the one thing I'

orst fears h