Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
My jaw clenches at the description of none other than my caterpillar. To think that Arlo is now talking to her makes me fucking furious.
Maya leans closer to me again, her hand coming up to my shoulder. Arlo notices and raises a brow.
“How are your sessions with her going?”
“I’ve only had one. I plan to see her again next week. We have to get down to her problems, the blood being one of them.”
“What issues do people have with blood?” Maya asks while Arlo’s date sits there and continues to eat, not even looking up at the question.
“It’s different for each person. Some faint at the sight, some want to become a doctor, and others…” He pauses, glancing at me before he looks back at Maya. “Well, they have an addiction to it, if you will. They lust over it. It can give them a feeling of euphoria, and the high after can last a while. And when the high fades, it’s like coming down after taking drugs, and you would do anything to chase it again.”
“That sounds awful,” Maya says. “To be addicted to something like that.” She shakes her head, and Arlo nods and sits back.
“Yes, I guess to some, it does sound awful. Some just wouldn’t get it.”
“You think it’s normal?” Maya asks.
“To some, yes, it is.”
Excusing myself from the table, I walk past the bathrooms as one of the doors swings partially open, and I find Soren with a woman bent over in the ladies’ room while he fucks her from behind. I push it open farther. And I stand there.
“Soren.” He looks over his shoulder at me but doesn’t stop thrusting. The woman he’s fucking is our server. I wondered where my drink order had gotten to. “I’m leaving. See your sister home.” His eyes narrow, but he says nothing as he refocuses on the woman, smacks her ass, and keeps on fucking her.
I need to get out of this place.
And away from all these fuckers.
EIGHTEEN
LILITH
Dear Diary,
I’m rich.
Fuck you.
xox
I have money—a lot of it.
“This is a three-bedroom and overlooks the park,” the realtor informs me. I step up to the windows to see the view. “It isn’t a penthouse, but the view is amazing all the same.”
This is the third apartment I’ve seen. None of them have been in the city, at my request, of course. I would rather not live close to my ex-husband if I can help it.
I’ve had two appointments with Arlo since our first meeting, and despite how cold he is, I actually think he’s good at what he does. Today’s session is being held out of the office.
“You can afford this?” Arlo says, walking in.
The realtor smiles at him before she excuses herself.
“I can. It seems my father left me money,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Blood money is always the sweetest,” he comments, side-eyeing me.
“You smell nice. Got a hot date later?”
“As a matter of fact, I have a meeting after this.” He walks to the window and looks out. “Shouldn’t you say I look nice, not smell nice?”
“I think you know you look nice, Arlo. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have spent thousands on a suit. So, I’m telling you, you smell nice.” I smile at him.
“I’ll take that compliment, then.”
“Good.”
Going back to the previous topic, he asks, “How much did he leave you?”
“I lost count, to be honest. I think it’s over one million.”
“This place would cost all of that.” He waves a hand around. “Think a little more rationally.”
“I have a job,” I point out, because I left the parties and got a new one.
I’ve been working at a car dealership, answering the phones. It’s not much, but it helps pay the bills.
“Yes, a shit-paying job. How will you explain this place?”
“Umm…”
“Look for something smaller, Lilith. Use your brain,” he says with an eye roll.
“You know, for someone who is supposed to help people, you’re a real ass,” I grumble.
“I’m helping you heal from trauma, Lilith. Trauma that causes you to feel euphoria from blood. It all stems from your childhood and your father. Now, not all children will end up the same. Many may just have father issues. They change their names and hide who they are. Others might embrace it and tell people in order to get sympathy. And then there are ones like you who happen to fall in love with it. Your father was the same… He loved the chase. Did you know the Hunt was his idea?”
“Tell me about the Hunt.”
“There are a lot of things you already know that you shouldn’t. If you want to know about the Hunt, ask your father.”
“I asked you,” I challenge.
Just then, the real estate agent walks back in, interrupting us.
“She won’t take this one. Show her one more in her price range with two bedrooms,” Arlo tells her, then heads to the door and calls out, “Lilith, coffee now” over his shoulder.