11. Eli

Chapter 11

Eli

V eronica drove like she’d just got her permit, unsure of herself at every intersection. The vehicle veered a little, hesitating when it merged onto the freeway and either went too fast or too slow. It was a good thing the pakhan of the Volkov Bratva ensured that my little liar was driving what was essentially an armored tank, or I would be concerned. The thing could catch on fire and roll over twice, and it’d still be driveable.

She had moved the seat almost all the way forward and clutched the wheel as if her life depended on it. I briefly considered sliding into the car and offering to drive her to the appointment, but it was good for her to do it herself. I was close by if she needed anything .

Halfway there, I was pretty sure she’d spotted me because she kept glancing into the rearview mirror, the car weaving a little when she did. I’d not been exactly stealthy, but I went ahead and dropped back since I knew where she was going, and it seemed to make her anxious.

Veronica was dressed in all black today: black shorts, a crop top, sunglasses, thigh-high stockings, and tall boots. She looked phenomenal, like a little goth girl wet dream. Fuck she was beautiful. As she hopped out of the Rover, she looked critically at her parking job and strolled into the building like she didn’t care what anyone thought. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was walking into a mall instead of a doctor’s appointment — but I did know better. She had been a good girl and had worn the bracelet. I could see it winking on her wrist among the clutter of her other bracelets.

I wouldn’t have minded if she’d gone down the other route. I would have rewarded her either way. My naughty little goddess and I were going to have lots of fun.

I waited while she went inside for her appointment, wishing I could go with her the whole time. The thought that I wanted to sit with her while she spoke with a doctor was new to me. I’d never cared about someone before like this. The desire to be with her had burned inside me until it was tearing me up from the inside out. Laying my hands on her had only made it burn hotter.