Chapter 12 As soon as they were gone , Ivanna dragged me out of the club . Damn it . I hated that Katherine had predicted every single thought running through my mind . [ ] Yes , I had still been considering salvaging my relationship with Rhys But now ? The truth was right there , unmistakable and raw - they'd been sleeping together behind my back all along . And me ? I was just the foolish , unnecessary third wheel in their twisted little story What I couldn't wrap my head around was - why had Katherine faked her disappearance four years ago ? What exactly had she been hiding ? And why come back now ? My eyes stung . I ulted my head toward the sky , forcing the tears back Fine . Katherine's back . Perfect . Now they could all reunite like a happy little four - piece family , and I … I was finally free . [ " Mira I'm so sorry . I had no idea they'd be there tonight . I didn't even know Katherine was back . " Ivanna's eyes were full of regret I gave a bitter laugh and shook my head . Neither did I. But I heard it loud and clear - they've been screwing around for a while . To them , I was just in the way . " Those goddamn assholes ! Ivanna hissed through clenched teeth . " You should tell your parents . Let them know Katherine's not the perfect angel they think she is . What about Rhys's parents ? No way they'll tolerate a scandal like this . " I was quiet for a moment . Ivanna had a point - Rhys's parents were the only people who had supported me . But he was their son . They wouldn't choose me over him . Not in the end . [ ] And my parents ? I let out a breath , heavy and tired . " You know better than anyone - they only care about Katherine . No matter what I do , I'll never replace her . " Ivanna grabbed my shoulders , worry darkening her gaze . " So what now ? You're just going to let them humiliate you ? " " Maybe . " My voice dropped to a whisper , a weariness weighing it down . " Maybe is accept it , it'll finally be over . " ] Suddenly , Ivanna's phone buzzed . She glanced at the screen , brows knitting in frustration . " Mira ; my agent just called . There's a last - minute ad shoot - I have to go now . Can you get home on your own ? I nodded , managing a faint smile . " Go . Don't worry about me . I'll call when I get back . After she left , I hailed a cab . Instinctively , I gave the driver my home address . But barely two minutes into the ride , a wave of suffocating pressure settled over me . " No , wait , " said quickly . " Take me to a bar . Any bar . Just far away from Roxanne . " ] The driver didn't blink - clearly used to the erratic demands of Sky City's broken - hearted . ] We eventually pulled up outside some unfamiliar nightclub . Velvet ropes . A crowd of influencer types wielding selfie sticks . I didn't bother checking the name . I handed the bouncer some bills and strode inside . Straight to the bar . " Whiskey sour . Large . Keep them coming . Opur 12 " Ma'am , maybe you should slow down , " the bartender said gently , with concern I slammed my empry glass on the counter and shoved my card across . " Did I stutter ? Top me off . " The bartender sighed , but obliged . " That guy's right , " a smooth , magnetic voice murmured beside me . " Too much alcohol can impair cognitive function and judgment . Unless you want to wake up in a stranger's bed tonight- turned , irritated - then froze . [ ] It was him . [ ] The man from last night . My new neighbor . The one who'd handed me my keys with all the casual elegance of a Renaissance statue . [ ] resist other people's business , huh ? " " Well , well . You u again . " " I raised an eyebrow , a teasing sing smile tugging at my lips . " You really can't resist He chuckled softly , completely unfazed . " Think of it as a well - developed instinct for being helpful . " ] I gave an exaggerated sigh . " You're a hero , truly . But I don't need saving . g . Key Man . " ] I know , " he said calmly , lifting his glass and taking a slow sip . His eyes were clear and sharp . " But you do seem in desperate need of clarity . " I frowned . " Is this how you treat all your neighbors ? First their keys , then their dignity ? " He laughed a low , rich sound . " Only when the neighbor looks like she's on the verge of self - destruction . " But I am always self - destructing . " I muttered , suddenly quieter . Doesn't it seem kind of pathetic ? Like my whole life is just one mess after another ? " He didn't laugh . He didn't rush to reassure me , either . He didn't even deny what I'd just said . He just 0 looked at me . Calm . Quiet . Like he was watching a slow - motion disaster unfold - but had no intention of stopping it . [ ] " You're not wrong , " he finally said , voice low and steady . " You are pretty good at making a mess of things . Like right now - you can't even stand properly and you're still demanding more alcohol . " I froze , frowning instinctively . But he went on , his tone unhurried - like he was flipping through a book and had landed on a sentence he already knew by heart : " But strangely , you always seem to meet someone who refuses to walk away … right before everything falls apart I stared at him , half in shock , half in suspicion . " Are you flirting with me ? " He gave me a slow smile , his eyes lazily curving with just the right amount of mischief . His voice came out smooth and provocative , like velvet wrapped around steel . Does it make you feel any better ? " ] His voice was low and warm , like whiskey being poured into a glass at midnight - just a little dizzying , just a little dangerous . He looked at me with an intensity that felt nearly uncontrollable , like he might lean in close and whisper things in the dark , on a bed , asking if his touch was hard enough || My heart skipped a beat . My cheeks flushed instantly . My fingertips tightened against the edge of the bar . Chapter 13 I had to look at him properly . Really see him [ That face - it wasn't just handsome . It had the kind of quiet , devastating maturity that no amount of cologne and hair g Not the kind you'd find among the over - groomed boys who danced to house music like they were owed the world . [ ] gel could fake . A wild , uninvited thought flashed through my mind . If I let him walk away tonight , maybe I was rejecting one of those rare , merciful moments when fate offered a second chance . Before I could stop myself , my hand wrapped around the sleeve of his suit jacket . I rose from the barstool , heart pounding . " So , Mr. Keys , " I said , my voice hoarse but firm , " since you're so committed to helping … why not help all the way ? He clearly hadn't expected that . His brow lifted slightly , surprise flickering across his face - but he didn't step back . He didn't laugh . He simply said , calm and steady : " Of course . As long as this is something you won't deny when you're sober . Im sure . " I answered without hesitation . [] Gripping his wrist tighter , I pulled him through the crowd and out of the bar The night wind struck us like a cleansing slap , city lights flickering above . I didn't let myself pause . No time to think , no space for regret . We crossed the street . Entered the nearest hotel lobby. Because tonight , I needed to know if I had the courage to accept what fate had placed in front of me . [ ] ΠΕ It must have been one hell of a night , because when I woke up , sunlight was spilling through the curtains , and the red LED numbers of the digital clock blinked at me with the judgmental smugness of a nun catching you sneaking out of the church . The sheets still carried his scent - bergamot and sin - and my body buzzed from the lingering aftershocks of what we'd done . I stared at the ceiling and thought That was absolutely phenomenal sex The kind that wrecks you , delights you , and makes you stupid enough to want another round . I ached everywhere - in the best , most regrettable way . But my head my head was a battlefield . It felt like a hundred tiny jackhammers were drilling through my skull . The alcohol from last night had declared mutiny , and my brain was paying the price , like someone had jammed a red - hot poker through my temple . [ ] I had no idea how much I drank - definitely more than I should've . The details had vanished into a fog thicker than a London morning . Gruaning . I rolled out of bed . Groaned again . Began gathering the scattered pieces of my clothing . The plan was simple : Get dressed . Sneak out . Pretend this never happened . I had just picked up my skirt when a voice stopped me . ] ] | " Leaving so soon ? Shut . I turned - very slowly , thanks to the hangover and the shame - and saw him standing in the bathroom doorway , a towel slung low on his hips Droplets clung to his abs , catching the morning light , trailing down the deep V of his torso . I stared . Unashamed . ] Images from the night before surged back into my brain . I suddenly felt … very , very thirsty . ] " We need to talk , " he said .