“Five minutes,” I mutter in her ear. “Then we’re out of here.”

“Yes, dad.”

“Morning,” I say to the bored-looking woman behind the front desk. “Anthony Mills. My daughter and I are here to visit June Mills.”

I pulled the name off Bobby’s scouting notes. Some old girl we can pretend to be visiting if Parker’s still checking the guest register.

“Ms. Mills is on the third floor,” the receptionist says. “Sign in then take the elevator to the left.”

I scribble a fake signature on the guestbook then steer January to the lift. She sticks her heels into the ground. “Can’t we buy Auntie flowers?” She gestures at the stand beside reception.

I grit my teeth. “Fine.” I get a bunch of stupidly expensive yellow roses and January does a decent job of looking bored as she picks her nails at my side. She should really be on her phone, but I’m not giving her one. She can buy something when she gets to where she’s going. It’ll be safer that way.

“Here,” I say handing her the roses. “All yours.”

The corner of her mouth twitches. “Thanks, dad.”

As we make our way to the elevator, I think of her father, Nicholas Whitehall. He gave in to cancer without stopping his viper of a second wife from doing whatever she felt like after his death. He knew what she was, warned her not to meet with Parker, but he never took steps to protect his daughter.

If I was January’s father, I’d have sold off my foreign properties and tied up the money in trust funds the stepmother couldn’t touch. I’d have sent January to a Swiss boarding school to grow up in the snow and soft skies. Made sure she came into millions as soon as she turned eighteen. But that’s rich idiots. Always thinking nothing can hurt them, even once they’re dead.

When we’re in the elevator I hit the button for the sixth floor. Zia Teresa is in room 612. As the elevator moves, I hear January’s shallow breathing and think about her sprawled in bed, my tongue between her legs. She was under me, moaning and seconds away from coming. All I had to do was plant my cock inside her and end it. But I couldn’t take her virginity. I don’t know why. Only that I’d have cut my dick off before I slid into her.

Maybe she’ll fuck a man as soon as she lands wherever she goes. Get rid of the thing that everyone wants. Maybe she’ll even fall in love with the guy. Some nice, normal guy who vows to protect her and give her the safe little world she craves.

I’ll still find her. I’ve tasted her cunt and watched her dance. I was the first man she offered herself to. We’re joined now. As long as she’s alive, she’s mine.

We exit at the sixth floor. January walks too fast up the hall. I yank her shoulder, make her slow down. She’s crying already. Tears splashing onto her slutty pink dress. I turn my face away. I can’t stand women’s tears. We pause outside room 612.