As the doors opened, the guards looked over, both scowling. I pasted a smile on my face and made my way to the doors with a cheerful “Goodnight.” Of course they didn’t reply. I exited out the doors and into the cool night.

Death appeared out of nowhere, and I hate to admit it, but I squealed like a girl, causing him to laugh.

“No issues?” he asked, smirking.

“Nope, smooth sailing like last time.”

“Good. You got another tonight? I couldn’t remember, and my fuckin’ phone went flat while the goddamn charger is broken. Well, now it is.”

I shook my head. “Sounds like it’s not your night, and yes, it’s only this one. I’m heading home.”

“I’ll follow you.”

Rolling my eyes, I said, “You don’t—”

“I’m following.”

“Okay. Thank you, and see you next time.”

He tipped his chin up to me, and apparently, that was his reply. He turned and stalked to his car. Smiling, I suddenly felt more comfortable from my little pep talk earlier.

I would put Adrik in the client bubble, and that was it.

As soon as I googled what he’d said in Russian.

Chapter Three

West

I wasn’t sure what happened to me over the two weeks before our next appointment. But my little talk to myself went out the window. Worse. Adrik kept popping into my mind, even when I jerked off. I tried pushing him out, but no matter who I pictured, it would morph into Adrik, which had me coming instantly.

I’d kept myself busy with other clients, school, studying, and helping Lucas move into the house he and Wreck got, but it wasn’t enough, obviously. I even visited a bookstore to buy the rest of the series for Adrik. The books were bundled in my arms. Death had given me a weird look about the gift, but he didn’t say anything. I wished he had. Maybe then I would have seen some sense and kept the parcel in the car or thrown it out the window. Only books weren’t meant to be treated like that. I could have kept them for myself and had two sets of them or given them to Lucas and Wreck as a present.

Shit, why hadn’t I thought of that before?

I glanced to the shrubbery beside the doors and considered hiding them before I went in. I’d collect them on the way out, but I worried the guards would think I was planting a bomb or something and shoot me before asking.