“I figure there’s only so much fucked up you can take at a time.”

“The world you live in is different,” she mutters. “That’s for sure. But you don’t have to handle me with kid gloves. I’m here to listen, always.”

I feel better having told her, and I hope I got through to her, but something is still lingering in her thoughts. It makes me nervous because I don’t want Solana getting twisted up in the warped world of IVI, especially with someone like Theron. But there’s one thing I know about her. She’s strong-willed, intelligent, and feisty… yet she has another side. A darker side. She’s made that remark more than once about wanting a man who can handle her. Translation… she likes the dominant type. Someone who will be the alpha and try to put her in her place. That’s what she meant about a challenge. And from what I’m gathering, she’s sensed those qualities in Theron. I just hope she doesn’t cross his path again because I doubt I’ll be able to stop her from wanting a taste, even if he’s not good for her.

My phone chimes again, and I consider ignoring it because I’m certain it’s Judge. But Solana isn’t helping to divert me by her own distracted thoughts, so I check it. And I’m surprised to see it’s the last person I’d expect. Clifton Phillips. It’s strange, considering I haven’t heard from him since the night of that insane dinner at Judge’s house. Yet here he is, texting me like no time has passed, asking if he can take me out. I reply with a polite thank you and decline the offer. But that doesn’t seem to deter him because he’s texting me again a moment later.

Please, let me make it up to you. That last date was a disaster.

I stare at the screen in confusion at his persistence. I don’t know why the sudden interest now. Surely, after that trainwreck, he’d cut his losses and run.

“Who is that?” Solana leans over my shoulder to peek at the text.

“He’s a Sovereign Son,” I explain. “I think I really stuck my foot in it with him because I had a lapse in judgment and clearly wasn’t thinking things through when I considered the idea of marrying him just to escape my captivity. Now, it seems he’s still holding on to that hope.”

“Creepy.” Solana shivers. “Tell him hell no.”

I laugh but decide to ignore him too. I already told him no once, and that should be enough.

“We’re done!” Georgie proclaims proudly from the living room.