Chapter 37

Shit. It isn’t really my nature to argue. I always try to take a stand, like when he said he was going to give me money, but I really hate to argue. And worse than that, I hate to agree with him. But he isn’t wrong. I have pride. And principles.
That’s why I remember that he can kick me out of there whenever he wants, just like he did last time. I can’t do this to my son this time.
There are some things I just can’t agree with.
“What do you say?” He presses.
I take a long, deep breath. My brain is going crazy with thoughts.
There is silence, and I have to fight the urge to fill it. “I don’t know if this is a good idea, Ethan. What if you kick me out again after, I don’t know, one month? Or one week? What would happen if you hate the way I do my job? What if I fail?” *What if I am not good enough to be there?* “What happens then?”
Ethan approaches me, his irresistible charm making it difficult to avert my gaze from his physique.
“You’re scared.”
“Well, duh,” I say before I bite my lower lip.
“You don’t need to be scared about any of this. I won’t kick you out of Blackmoon—unless you give me a good reason, of course. But I don’t think I’ll be disappointed by your performance at work,” he says. A slight grin appears on his handsome face. “I have a feeling you’ll do just fine.” For a brief moment, his intense gaze makes me lose track of my thoughts, and then Ethan’s right hand comes up and cups my face. “I’m going to take care of everything. Of you. Of Azrael. Tonight, both of you are coming home with me, Little Dove. All you have to do is say yes and let me take care of everything else.”
I look away for a second before looking up, my eyes meet his. “Will… will I be safe there?” I ask, almost like a whisper. I bite the inside of my cheek. I can hear my vulnerability in my voice.
He gazes at me with a puzzled expression, as if he’s searching for something in my eyes. He’s probably wondering why I asked that. His hand moves and clasps my chin. “Nothing will happen to you while you’re in Blackmoon,” Ethan says arrogantly. That voice soothes me. It tells me that he has everything under control. I just pray that I don’t put them in danger.
“Fine.” I stick my hand out to him.
He lets go of my chin, and my palm meets his. His massive hand engulfs mine in a way that I can feel the pads of his hand against the dainty bone in my wrist.
“Fine, what, Little Dove?” The command in his tone has moisture pooling between my legs. I’m afraid that I would do anything he wants if he spoke to me in that confident tone while holding my chin the way he was.
I take a quick look downward, and I notice my nipples protruding through the cotton of my sweater straight at him, almost as if my body is urging him—*This one, pick this one!*
“Fine. I’m going with you,” I say.
A smirk crosses his lips, making his right cheek arch.
He releases my hand, visibly relieved. “Then, let’s go.”
“But I have one condition.” He gives me a questioning look. Before he asks anything, I go on. “Az isn’t here. He’s with his dad. Meet me in two hours in front of the building, and then we can go.”

🐺 🐺 🐺

“Are you sure you don’t want me to carry him for you?” Shawn asks for the thousandth time.
“It’s okay. No need. Seriously.” I repeat as we walk back to our building.
After I gathered everything I needed from my place—which all fit in a backpack, the same one I used last time—I went to pick up Az at Logan’s house. I had to take an Uber to get back because my son was sleeping. Logan was more than happy to finally get Az out of his house, especially after I told him I got a job. Although I didn’t go into details with him, my ex-husband was eager for me to start working soon and was too agreeable with everything so I could keep sending him money.
A huge victory, I’d say.
It was a coincidence that Shawn and I crossed paths as he was leaving the building and I was just arriving. After I greeted him, I asked him to go with me to my car because I remembered I had forgotten some documents in the glove box. Shawn was super attentive and got them for me while I carried my sleeping son in my arms.
“Thanks again,” I say as we turn the corner.
Shawn gives me a huge smile, but my attention is drawn to Ethan.
He’s standing beside his bright black car. It’s sexy and modern. Just like him.
“Boss?” Shawn says as we approach Ethan.
Ethan frowns. “What are you doing here?” He looks back and forth between the two of us.
“I’m Allie’s neighbor,” Shawn answers. Then he turns to me. “Is he the ride you said you were waiting for?”
Az is starting to feel heavy in my arms. “Um, yeah.”
“She’s coming to Blackmoon with me,” Ethan says firmly.
“If you want, I can take your car to get fixed and drive it to you,” Shawn offers.
Good Lord, I don’t have the money to fix my car right now. Unfortunately, I have other priorities, like sending money to Logan and paying my landlord.
My face flushes, “I don’t want to bother you, I—”
“It’s no bother at all. I insist,” Shawn says with a nod.
“Okay...” I accept, too embarrassed to tell him I don’t have the money.
“Let’s go.” Ethan opens the car door for me, and when I get in to put Az in the backseat, he puts one hand on top of my head to protect me. “Watch your head.”
After securing my son, he opens the passenger door, a silent command for me to get in. Before I do it, I turn to Shawn and reluctantly hand him my old car keys. “Thanks again. Bye, Shawn.”
“Bye, Allie,” he says with a charming smile.
Then I get in the car, and Ethan closes the door. Minutes later, we are already heading towards Blackmoon. Unlike my old car, Ethan’s car is quiet and smooth even though he’s going fast.
As he drives, I think about the big step I am taking. I hope I don’t regret it later.
But now is not the time to lick my wounds because now I need to focus on making this big step work. I must satisfy all the things he is offering me because I really need to get laid, I mean *paid*.
Ugh, I groan internally.
“You are doing eighty in a fifty zone,” I say.
We’ve been silent since we left Summerville.
“Well, aren’t you Miss Helpful and Informative tonight?” Ethan drawls, his eyes darting a lazy glance in my direction.
He doesn’t change the speed.
Crossing my arms, I glare at him, and all I get in response is a low, sexy chuckle. I want to be mad at him, but when I face the window, I’m smiling.

🐺 🐺 🐺

Eventually, Ethan slows down, but not long after, we arrive at Blackmoon.
I open the car door for Az.
He rubs at his eyes with closed fists, looking so adorable that it nearly kills me.
“Can I lie down again? I’m so sleepy, Mom,” he says.
“You’re going to bed now, buddy. We’re already arrived. Do you want me to carry you?”
“No, I can walk,” he says, yawning.
“Then, let’s go. Time for bed. It’s way past your bedtime,” I say quietly.
The moment we step into Ethan’s mansion, I follow closely behind him, my backpack secured on my back. With one hand, I hold Az’s backpack, and with the other one, I guide my sleepy son while we make our way to one of the living rooms, where we run into Vi and Lily.
Smiling, I say, “Vi!”
She looks at me, but she shifts her eyes to Ethan.
She crosses her arms tightly over her chest, raising her eyebrows with a look that clearly says she’s waiting for her brother to speak up. Even though she’s way too pretty to come off as intimidating, there’s a sharpness in her expression that makes me glad I’m not the one on the receiving end of that glare. It’s the kind of look that cuts deep, even without saying a word.
Then, after a moment, even though Ethan says nothing after they stare at each other, she opens a smile to him.
She looks at me again before making her way toward me. “Allie! I’m glad you’re here!”
“Hi, Vi!” I say, hugging her back.
“I hope you stay longer this time,” Vi says in a firm voice. “Stay. Please.”
When she lets go of me, I spot Az and Lily hugging, too. Even though they're dozing off, their cute faces light up with happy smiles as they meet, like they've known each other forever.
Not long after, Vi leads me to the bedroom we stayed in last time, and as soon as we enter, she hurries Lily to go to her bedroom.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Lily says to Az with sleepy eyes but a smile on her face. She is wearing a set of cute pink pajamas with a teddy bear on the front.
“Good night, precious girl,” Az says, hugging her. “Sleep tight!”
I can’t hold back my smile as I see him so happy with her. Maybe I made the right choice coming here. Vi and I exchange glances, amazed by how cute they are.
She holds Lily’s hand and leaves the room.
After I put Az to sleep, I also leave the room to go to the living room because I realize that I’ve forgotten to thank Ethan. I can thank him tomorrow, but it feels better to do it today, even though it’s late. I blame my exhaustion for forgetting.
However, he’s not in the living room; he was here after I left.
I look from one side to the other in the vast space. Yep, tomorrow it is.
When I’m about to leave, I almost bump into *her*.
Kelly.
“Oh,” I take a step back. “Sorry, I, uh,” I don’t know what to say to her frowning face. “Good night,” I settle with that.
With a disdainful expression on her face, she scans me from head to toe.
My lips purse in a thin line.
“Don’t get too excited. I’m sure you’ll be long gone from here soon.” Kelly smirks, her voice dripping with cruel amusement. “You’re only here because you opened your legs for Ethan.”
“I’m not not here—”
Before I can finish explaining, Kelly sneers and walks away.
I let out a long sigh, but when my eyes hover ahead, I stop breathing, and my body freezes.
Her slim, toned arms are crossed. “Looks like you took my advice, bitch,” I hear Vi say.