What kind of messed-up person did that make her? She closed her eyes again, refusing to dwell on things better left in the past. If she had her way, she’d never see him again because she sure as hell would never venture into places like Impulse where even the hired help were seen in a more superior, deserving light than she was.
It might make her the biggest coward on earth, but even if she wasn’t scheduled for work that night, there was no way she would be here at seven that evening waiting to be collected like a “possession” and expected to do unimaginable things—even if the thought of those things sent her body up in flames.
She gave a small sigh, ignoring the looks of growing impatience and irritation on her friends’ faces. One taste was all she’d ever allow herself and it would have to be enough. Because Drake Donovan was not a man to be trifled with. He demanded and expected unquestioning obedience. That much was obvious in his demeanor.
She had to work tonight until closing, and no matter that her girls had told her she could always take a nap after giving them the scoop, Evangeline knew she didn’t have a prayer of going back to sleep. Not with the vivid details from the night before still playing over and over in real time in her memory.
No, she’d simply leave early and go on. Get caught up on some of the things that had piled up over the last few weeks and had been largely ignored by the other workers.
But first, she’d give her friends what they wanted—what they deserved—because they’d never held back from her, nor would they ever.
Then she’d worry about what to do about Drake Donovan. Just as soon as she looked up every piece of information she could find about just who this man was and what he could possibly want with someone as insignificant as her.
Evangeline was exhausted when she stumbled out of the pub an hour after the official closing time. Her feet were killing her, swollen from the many busy hours rushing drinks to customers in very uncomfortable heels. She was sorely tempted to take them off and just walk barefooted home. She’d been so frazzled by all that had occurred the night before and the exhausting interrogation from her roommates that she’d forgotten the pair of comfortable flats she brought to work to walk home in. Now she was stuck walking ten blocks in the wee hours of the morning in shoes she wanted to toss into the nearest trash can. At least she had an even larger amount than her already generous nightly tips stuffed into her pocket, so her misery was a little more bearable given that she could send more than usual back home to her mother.
She was so dead on her feet and already dreaming of at least twelve hours of sleep that she didn’t even see the man outside the pub until she nearly bumped into him. Her adrenaline spiked and her heart nearly pounded right out of her chest as she stumbled back, assuming a defensive position.
A scream lodged in her throat as she frantically assessed the potential threat. Then she recognized the man, but realizing she knew him only ratcheted up her fear, and her first instinct was to run for her life.
Maddox, Drake’s minion, stood nonchalantly in front of her, effectively blocking her escape, his stance deceptively casual. She nearly allowed hysterical laughter to escape her mouth at the idea of having time to pry her too-tight heels from her feet and run for her life because this man would have her before she got the first shoe off.
“My apologies for frightening you, Evangeline,” he said in the same gentle tone he’d used at Impulse when he’d rescued her.
“Why are you here?” she stammered out. “How did you even know where to find me? What do you want?”
She sounded desperate and frightened, but she didn’t even bother trying to disguise that fact. What woman wouldn’t be terrified in her situation? She was surprised she’d even been able to articulate the questions for him that had come out more of a squeak than any sort of actual coherent speech.#p#分页标题#e#
Maddox’s expression was bland but there was a hint of warning in his eyes. “It’s not a good idea to keep Drake waiting. You were to be at your place at seven o’clock sharp and I had strict instructions to take you straight to him. And he is a man who expects—demands—obedience and compliance. In all matters.”
Her unease was fast paralyzing her as the last of his words sank in. All matters? He demanded obedience in all matters? Who did he think he was? God? What the hell had she gotten herself into by allowing herself to be coerced into going to that damn club? Damn it, but she should have just listened to herself and refused to set foot in that place. Where was her spine? Oh yeah, she didn’t have one.