Life of Sin Book 1

Chapter Twenty-Two

I went to one of the last people I’d ever ask for help. Sure, we were friends but our relationship never really extended outside the club. I called ahead just to make sure she was home before popping up. She didn’t seem upset with me, but then again, she really had no reason to be. We were side chicks to each other. If anything, her anger was best directed towards Falen. I reached her door and knocked a few times, patiently waiting on her to answer.

“Hey…” Kiana's warm smile faded slightly once she saw my duffle bag resting beside my feet. She stepped aside to let me in.

“What’s going on? Why the luggage?” She asked, shutting the door and walking back into my field of vision.

“Can I stay with you for a couple days? Just a couple, I’m not trying to move in or anything.”

“May I ask why?” She eyed me warily.

“I just… don’t really feel safe at home right now.” Her expression softened and she gestured for me to sit at the bar while she fixed a couple drinks.

“Patrón?”

“Something lighter's fine.” She poured us both some wine and walked around to sit next to me. There was a split second of silence as we sipped from our glasses.

“Why don’t you feel safe? I mean, if you don’t mind talking about it.”

“I-I—” I stammered as the extremely vivid visuals flooded my head. Taking a deep breath, I forced them away before starting over.

“I was… attacked,” I said, trying to stay as vague as possible. There was a look of concern on Kiana's face. I was already growing tired of being pitied. Or is that actual empathy I’m seeing? Clearing my throat, I directed the conversation back to my original question.

“So is it cool if I stay? I really just need a place to recollect my thoughts.”

“Yeah, stay as long as you feel you need to.” She stood up and beckoned for me to follow her as she walked to her guest bedroom. It had a bed and a tv, the only two things I really needed. I had sat my bag down and started digging for my charger when I noticed Kiana slinking away.

“Ki, this… isn’t gonna be awkward for you, is it?” She chuckled, leaning against the door frame with her arms folded.

“Why would it be awkward?”

“I don’t know, we were kinda dating Falen at the same time.”

“Neither of us knew. It’s really no big deal, you're still my bitch,” she said, a sliver of a smirk crossing her face. I couldn’t describe how that look made me feel, I just simply brushed it off. She walked off, I guess to busy herself while I got comfortable. I sat on the bed and called Ivy, plugging up my phone in the process.

“Hey, you finally made it?”

“I did, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to stay there—”

“Because of Nikki? Dev, I know you’re fuckin' with her again, it’s whatever to me.” I put Ivy on hold and made sure Kiana was preoccupied before shutting the door.

“That’s not the issue. I mean, Nikki is but that’s not why.” I explained everything to her, including why I needed to stay with her in the first place. When she spoke, I heard anger in her tone.

“Something needs to be done about him. He has us both fucked up if he thinks he can just—”

“No, don’t worry about it. I told you to just focus on getting better.”

“Well, I’m still in a lot of pain but at least I can rest knowing I have someone here to protect me,” she said.

“Will Ducati's men be guarding me at home too?”