Page 49 (1/2)

"You couldn't handle me" It sounded defensive even to her own ears

"More like you can't handle you," he said, all the gruffness in his voice replaced with a softness she didn't understand and sure as hell didn't want

This wasn't how this was supposed to go Then again, it never ith Marko He was the one man who didn't fall prey to her con Time for her to smarten up and cut her losses She jutted out her chin and blew him a kiss

"I'll leave you to your little therapy session then" She whirled around "I' a shower"

Years of practicing how to present just the right facade got her across the rooht under pounding hot water before she admitted out loud just how on the money he'd been

Chapter 21

Tamara

Not even the royal straight in Tamara's hand or the 300- point lead she had in ru to choke her A golden glow fro lot seeped in around the edges of the closed curtains Wrappers fro machine dinner filled the trash can by the door The third can of soda hadn't been a good idea for her nerves—not that anything short of having Essie back was going to do a da to help

"This is ridiculous" She tossed her cards face-down on the table

"Your hand?" Isaac asked, keeping his own cards in his hand and his voice carefully neutral

"No, sitting here playing cards while God-knohat is going on at that compound" She shoved her chair back and stood up

The need to move wasn't just optional, it was almost beyond her control Frustration, worry, the lack of control, it all whirled around inside her, forhter knot with every step she paced in the narrow space between the table and the bed

Isaac laid his cards on the table, slow and steady "We've been over this"

That tone She knew that tone It was the bitches-be-crazy-so-talk-calive a fuck Essie was in danger and Ta told to sit and wait like a pretty little girl should She'd promised Amelia—promised her—that she'd keep Essie safe

"I know Of course I know," she seethed, the anger rushing through her like a fast- opportunist If you’re looking for a sugar daddy then I' important I a and she couldn't stop herself The volume, the words, the emotion, they were out of her control "Just look at theso far"