Was this his new pet? It had to be new, because I would have remembered seeing it before otherwise.
“Meet Sterling. He’s learning a lesson the hard way,” Dickhead said. He shifted to glance over his shoulder at the bird.
“What lesson is that?” I asked without meaning to. I’d only meant to think the words, not say them.
Dickhead shifted to face me. He took a sip from his scotch and then said, “That it’s unwise to betray me.”
The crow ruffled its feathers. Was he agreeing with Dickhead, or insinuating how much he hated him? If it was the latter, I could relate. In more ways than one.
Chapter Three
I propped my feet up on my coffee table and opened Trenton Manfred’s folder Dickhead had given me. My gaze fell to his picture. He looked like a put together guy with short-cropped dark hair in his early thirties. There was an all-American look to him, but I could see the snake hidden in his eyes. He would sell his soul for the right price in an instant.
Of course, this was why Dickhead had chosen him.
I shifted my attention to the papers clipped to the inside of the folder. My gaze scanned the information provided. Trenton was a lawyer. Although, from the information given, he didn’t seem to be a good one. I imagined it was because of his desire to win more cases he’d captured Dickhead’s attention, but I could be wrong. It could have been anything.
Even so, my chest tightened.
There were too many similarities between Trenton and me. Once upon a time, I’d worked in the field of law. I’d desired more winning cases. My lips pressed into a thin line. I hated Dickhead had given me a Charge that resembled myself so much. My gaze fell to Trenton’s picture again. Had that been Dickhead’s intentions—to remind me of what he’d done to me? He had seemed irritated with me.
Hell, he’d threatened me.
I tossed Trenton’s folder on the table and stood. With an exhale, I made my way to the bathroom for a shower. It wasn’t until I was standing beneath the hot water, sudsing up my hair, that I remembered the thick piece of paper in the front pocket of my slacks. I rinsed my hair and then cut the water off. My heart hammered as I jerked back the curtain. My suit was still on the floor, exactly as I’d left it.
Thank goodness.
Dickhead’s magic did my cleaning. There was a time limit I hadn’t yet figured out placed on articles of clothing that littered my floor. They always vanished before long.
Once I’d secured a towel around my waist, I stepped out of the shower and grabbed my slacks. I reached inside the pocket, feeling for the paper. It was still there. My heart thumped fast and hard as I pulled it out.
It was a postcard. Which explained why it had felt so thick.
The tension left my shoulders as I stared at an image of a rocky ocean shore and a beautiful sunset. In the bottom right corner, Outer Banks, North Carolina was printed in an italic font. I flipped the postcard over and read the words written in thick, elegant handwriting.
Ryan,
There is freedom in acceptance.
XOXO
P
“What the hell does that mean?” My brows pinched together as I stared at the writing. “And, who the hell is P?”
I focused on the one-lettered signature, trying to figure out who the person could be and when they would have been able to slip me the postcard. There was a vague sense of knowing that rolled through me as I thought about who the person could be. Sort of like when someone’s name rests on the tip of your tongue.
P.
Did I know any woman whose name started with a P? It had to be a woman, right? A man could sign his name with X’s and O’s but the handwriting seemed feminine. Could it stand for the Proprietor? Maybe the postcard was from the woman who hosted The Monster Ball? Hadn’t Alayna said the host was female? Could she have slipped me this postcard during the night?
My brows pinched together.
Why, though? And what did she mean by there’s freedom in acceptance?
I flipped the postcard over and stared at the picture of the rocky ocean waters. Outer Banks, North Carolina. That was in the United States. On the East Coast.
What did it have to do with my freedom, though?
A sigh of frustration escaped me. I’d never been good at riddles. My brain didn’t work that way.
Wait. Was the Outer Banks where Alayna was? Was this a clue to finding her?
I stared at the picture. Something inside me told me I was right. I knew that I was one step closer to finding Alayna. Now, I just needed to figure out what the message written on the other side of the postcard meant.
Acceptance of what? Freedom from what? This life? Dickhead? And what exactly did I have to accept? All of those things and more?
My mind spun as my thoughts raced.
The suit on my bathroom floor blinked out of existence before returning. It hung on a black hanger balanced on a hook that was secured to the back of the bathroom door. Just like always.
I set the postcard on the counter, my thoughts still tumbling. Once I was dressed, I folded the postcard and placed it back in my front pocket. Then, I headed to the coffee table where the info on Trenton was. Dickhead had mentioned he wanted this one taken care of swiftly. I didn’t want to piss him off any more than I already had, especially not when I felt like I had a lead on finding Alayna, so getting this Charge out of the way was best.
I thumbed through the pictures in the folder Dickhead had given me that showcased the places Trenton liked to frequent while in Sin City. There was one restaurant. Given the time, I assumed that would be my best bet at finding him. Closing my eyes, I focused on the restaurant while also thinking of Trenton. Seconds later, I was in a restroom I imagined belonged to the place. Trenton stood inches from me, pissing. He flinched and jolted backward at my sudden appearance, sending a spray of pee across the floor and up the tiled wall of the restroom.
“Holy shit!” He zipped his fly and rushed to put more space between us. “Where the fuck did you come from?”
I tried not to smile, but failed. This had to be the most comical introduction I’d had to date.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “What matters is that I’m here to grant you three wishes.”
He didn’t blink. In fact, he didn’t even seem to breathe. The concept of my being a genie might be too much for his logical brain to accept. I hoped I was wrong, because I wanted this to go smoothly so I could get Dickhead off my back and begin searching the Outer Banks for Alayna via the web.
“Yeah right. And, I’m Santa Claus,” Trenton said with heavy sarcasm after a few more seconds ticked away.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Santa Claus,” I teased. “Now what would you like your first wish to be?”
“You’ve got to be kidding. You’re trying to tell me you’re a genie?” Trenton flashed me a look that said he suspected I wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed before shifting his gaze to the exit.
I couldn’t blame him because I knew how it sounded. There was only one way to make him believe. I snapped my fingers while thinking of my lamp. It appeared on the floor of the restroom between us. Trenton stared at it. A dazed look I knew well formed on his face. He was being pulled in by its beauty.
“Okay, so you are what you say,” he said, blinking. He smoothed a hand over his face and puffed out a breath. “What do you want with me?”
“To grant you three wishes.”
“Why? Why me?” Trenton asked.
It was a good question, one I hadn’t been asked by many. Generally, they didn’t care about the why. All they cared about was if I was legit.
“Why not?” I countered. It was an honest answer, considering I had no clue what drew Dickhead to the Charges he sent my way. All I knew was that each had a hunger he attributed to greed.
Trenton folded his arms over his chest and glared at me. Music outside the restroom door increased in tempo and the scent of seafood seeped through, reminding me of where we were.
“
So, you’re a genie?” Trenton asked, drawing my attention back to him.
I shoved my hands into my pockets, feeling the edge of the postcard with my fingers, and held his gaze. “Yep.”
“Do you frequent this bathroom often, or is there something about me in particular that drew you in because I don’t remember picking up a lamp and rubbing it.”
I cracked a grin. “No, I don’t frequent this bathroom. Does my reason for being drawn to you really matter? I’m here. I’m offering you three wishes. Aren’t you going to take advantage of that?”
Direct and straight to the point—I believed that was how Trenton worked.
He chewed the inside of his cheek. His gaze dipped back to the lamp. When he took a tentative step toward it, I prepared to snap my fingers. Hesitation crept through me.
What would happen if I allowed him to touch it, though? Would he take my place? Would he become another genie ruled by Dickhead? Was this what the postcard meant?
Maybe gaining my freedom came when Trenton accepted his role as my replacement.
My heart danced in my chest as goose bumps prickled across my skin. I watched Trenton inch closer to the lamp. When he bent to pick it up, doubt crept through me.
Could I let him do it? Could I let him touch the lamp and potentially seal his fate without telling him what he was getting into? Without warning him?
Fuck yeah, I could.
I hated being a genie. I hated being tethered to Dickhead the way that I was. If he was dumb enough to touch the lamp, then he deserved to take my place.
As Trenton picked up the lamp, I held my breath, waiting for any indication of magic to transpire between us while hoping beyond hope that he was about to take my place.
He gripped the lamp tightly. Nothing happened.
“This is insane,” he said. There was awe reflected in his tone. It irked me. “Beautiful.”
I snapped my fingers, and the lamp disappeared. Trenton glanced my way, and I noticed greedy hunger glisten in his eyes. My jaw tightened as my teeth ground together.
I wasn’t pissed at him. I was pissed at myself for being such a fool.
I’d been stupid to think ending my time as a genie for Dickhead would be so easy. If touching a lamp was how genies were created, then there would be new ones being made all the time.
“You’re a genie.” Trenton grinned. “A real-life fucking genie.”
“I am,” I gritted out.
“I get three wishes?” he asked.
I nodded. “You do.”
“Best. Day. Ever.” His hands balled into tight fists, and he shook them at the ceiling. “Thank you!” His words were aimed at a higher power he felt had done him a solid when in reality there was no higher power at play. Not the kind he was thinking of, anyway.
“And your first wish is?” I prompted, ready to get this moving.
Trenton smoothed a hand over his jaw. “I imagine it should start with the words I wish, correct?” I nodded, but didn’t speak. “All right then, I wish I had a red Lamborghini.”
I fought the desire to roll my eyes and instead folded my arms over my chest. I nodded and said, “As you wish,” to seal the deal.
A set of keys appeared in Trenton’s right hand. He dangled them in the air, his mouth open and eyes wide. “No freaking way! This is insane! I can’t believe it!”
He bolted for the exit and I followed, knowing he was headed to the parking lot to see his flashy car. It was a stupid wish. Although, there was a time in my life when I would have wished for something similar.
Not anymore.
Now all I wanted was Alayna and my freedom. A twinge of pain pinched at my insides as a question coiled through me—would I truly ever have either?
Trenton made his way to the front of the restaurant, floating on cloud nine, while I followed. When we finally made it outside, a sleek-looking red Lamborghini sat parked in front of the double doors. People had already spotted it and gathered around. Yes, it was a luxury car, but that was all it was—a car. A material possession. Metal. Rubber. Fiberglass. What was so special about any of those things?
“Holy shit! I can’t believe this baby is mine.” Trenton ran his fingers through his hair, his eyes soaking in the sight of the car as though he were seeing a woman’s naked body for the first time. “I mean, it is mine, right?” Trenton asked, casting a glance my way.
“Try the key,” I said, even though I knew the car belonged to him.
“Right. The key.” He stepped close to the car, clicked the button on the key fob, and the doors unlocked. “Unbelievable. This is the best damn day of my life!”
One wish down. Two more to go.
It would be awhile before his excitement died down and he was ready to make his next wish. I knew this, and still time seemed to drag as I waited for him to seek me out again. When he finally did, I was glad.
“I can’t decide what I want more—to take this thing out for a spin or have you grant me my second wish,” Trenton said as he stepped to my side. His gaze dipped back to the car. “I feel like you’re going to disappear. Both of you.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you make your next two wishes,” I said. “Although, I’d love if you did so sooner rather than later. I’m on a time crunch.”
“Oh. Right. Sure.” His fingers stroked along his jaw while he thought. “For my second wish… I wish to be the most successful attorney in my home state.”
It wasn’t lost on me the way he’d said the last part as more of an afterthought. I imagined it was because he’d felt the original wish wasn’t specific enough. He was right. It could have been twisted in more ways than one, leaving him as the most successful attorney on his street.
His final words had given the wish clarity. It was smart.
I folded my arms over my chest and nodded. “As you wish.”
Trenton stared at me, waiting for something to happen. What, I wasn’t sure.
“So, how do I know it worked?” he asked.
“Maybe check your email? Look through your calendar? Find a business card? Heck, Google yourself.” My words sounded irritated and slightly clipped. After the Lamborghini, he should have faith in my wish-granting capabilities. It irked me that he didn’t.
“Right. Good ideas. One second.” He held a finger up as he reached for his cell. I watched him as he tapped around on the screen. “Booked. Booked. Booked. I’m solidly booked for appointments, meetings, and court dates for the next six months! This is amazing! I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m glad you came along.” He slapped me on the back.
“You still have one wish,” I reminded him, my tone dry.
He pocketed his cell and a wide grin formed on his face. “You’re right, I do.”
“Have one in mind?”
“Let me think about this one for a minute.”
“Sure,” I said, because apparently, I had all the time in the world.
Chapter Four
Trenton paced in front of the restaurant while he struggled to decide what his final wish should be.
“No loitering, please,” a young guy affiliated with the restaurant called to us. His gaze shifted between us as he cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. Clearly, he didn’t like being the one to say something to us. “You’re going to have to leave.”
“Oh, sorry,” Trenton said. “I stepped out to check on my car. There was a group of people crowding around it, and I wanted to make sure everything was all right.” Trenton hooked his thumb toward his new Lamborghini. A satisfied grin pulled at the corners of his lips when the kid’s eyes widened.
“That’s your car?” the kid asked in awe.
The door he stood by swung open wider, and a stuffy older guy marched out. “Please excuse him. He’s new. How about you come inside and have a drink? On the house.” He propped the door open to allow Trenton to slip through while flashing the kid a nasty look.
Trenton glanced at me and wiggled his eyebrows. “You are my lucky charm.”
“Something like that,” I muttered as I followed him back inside.
“Where were you seated, sir?” the stuffy guy asked Trenton.
“Back in the corner.” Trenton pointed to a dark corner.
“Is that where you prefer?”
Trenton glanced at the guy. “Why? Do you have someplace better?”
“Absolutely. How about near the stage or on the balcony? Take your pick, sir.”
Trenton chuckled. It was clear he couldn’t contain his happiness at being treated with so much respect. “I’ll take a seat on the balcony.”
“Right this way,” the stuffy guy said as he motioned for us to follow. We climbed a set of marble stairs before we were seated at a table that overlooked the restaurant. “What can I get you gentlemen to drink? It’s on the house. Again, we’re so incredibly sorry for our misunderstanding.”
“Nothing for me, thanks,” I said as I situated myself in the plush seat opposite Trenton.
“I’ll have a top-shelf whiskey,” Trenton insisted.
The stuffy guy nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll be right back with it.”
Trenton straightened his tie once the guy was out of view. A wide smile stretched across his face. “Tonight has been insane. I still can’t get over all this.”
“Did you decide on what your third wish will be?” I asked, trying to steer him back to the task at hand.
“Actually, I have.” He rested his elbows on the table and leaned in. “I wish I was married to the sexiest woman alive.”
It was a good wish. However, it was one that was riddled with too many loopholes. Being married to the sexiest woman alive didn’t guarantee she would want to be married to him. It didn’t guarantee he would be happy with whoever she was on a level that went beyond beauty.
Even so, it wasn’t my place to say any of those things. It wouldn’t matter even if I had. The wish had already been said. I had to grant it.
I folded my arms over my chest and said the words to seal the deal. Three wishes had been granted in the span of roughly an hour. That had to be some sort of record. Especially for me.
Greed Page 2