1
Carter (aka Titch)
“Zach, open the motherfucking door,” I shout for the millionth time. The wanker’s locked himself inside ever since his brother’s wedding last weekend. He only emerged for a mysterious client the other night, then quickly retreated back here again. “Who was she, huh? If you’re fucking about on Biff, I’ll rip your fucking balls off.”
Silence.
My lips purse as my frustration gets the better of me. I’ve been in a perpetual state of pissed off since she walked out on me that night. I know I looked different, but I didn’t trick her. Not really. Everything she knows about me, aside from my job, is true. The person she’s got to know? That’s me. I thought we had a connection. I know it was only through the dating app, but I still felt it was there—even more so when I looked up and saw her. Fuck, her profile picture didn’t do her any justice, because she was fucking gorgeous. Thick, dark hair that surrounded her shoulders like a curtain, and she had huge, chocolate eyes that I swear looked right into my soul in those few seconds she was standing before me.
Jesus, as my mind conjures up my memory of her standing there with her tiny fists clenched at her sides, my cock jumps. I still want her just as badly now as I did that night when her sweet, alluring scent was surrounding me.
“Fine, asshole. You refuse to come out, I’ll find someone who can push their way in,” I bark in warning before waiting another couple of minutes to see if it’ll get him moving.
My best mate is a moody fucker, and I’m not ending another day without him at least attempting to sort his shit out, whatever the fuck it might be.
With a sigh, I run down the stairs that lead up from the tattoo studio below to the flat he’s locked himself inside of. I can’t even make use of the spare key, because the wanker’s locked it from the inside, probably knowing that I’d try to force my way in.
I’ve already cancelled my couple of clients tonight. I was fed up, knowing he was dealing with some shit while Biff had apparently decided not to turn back up to do her job. The other guys can cope if any walk-ins turn up.
I don’t bother going back to my room to grab anything or tell the others, I just storm through the front door and head in the direction of Biff’s flat. If anyone knows what the fuck is going on, then it’ll be her, seeing as she’s avoiding the studio just as much as Zach is.
I hit the buzzer the second I’m outside her building, expecting to have to convince her to let me in. This shit is seriously getting boring. I’ve been calling and messaging her since she disappeared, but everything has gone unanswered.
To my surprise, I’m instantly buzzed in. She doesn’t even ask who it is. Not wanting to argue with this easy entrance, I push the door open and start heading up the stairs when I discover hers is at the top.
The second I’m in front of her door, my patience snaps.
“Biff, open up,” I call at the same time my fist rains down on her sleek black and chrome door.
The second she pulls it open, I’m inside and demanding she get her arse to the studio to sort Zach out. I can tell she’s concerned, but the moment another person comes into view behind her I almost forget the reason I’m here and why I need her.
“You. What the fuck are you doing here?” The words are out of my mouth before I have time to compute anything.
I’ve not seen or heard anything from her since she walked out of that restaurant almost two weeks ago. By the time I’d ordered myself a drink and pulled up the dating app on my phone, her profile had already vanished. The only communication we’d had up to that point had been through the app, and now it was gone I had no way of contacting her. All I knew was that her name was Danni Lou, she was twenty-six and an operations manager for a business I knew nothing about because she didn’t disclose the details.
She stares at me, her eyes hard and filled with hate at having to even look at me once again. I know I look different to the photo I used online, but I also know that I’m not exactly hard on the eyes.
“Dan—”
“Don’t,” she barks with such venom that it makes Biff’s eyes widen in shock.
Our eye contact holds, mine begging for her to give me a chance and to hear me out. I know I shouldn’t care so much, but there’s just something about this woman. I knew it from the moment we started chatting. Something was… different to all the others who had come before, and I really thought my risk might pay off, despite Spike’s warning that it was a dumb arse idea.
“Err… what the fuck is going on right now?” Biff asks, looking between the two of us as if that will help her work it out.
“Nothing,” Danni snaps, dragging her hate-filled stare from me to look at Biff. I don’t miss that her features immediately soften as she silently begs her not to ask any more questions.
Without her stare, I’m able to regain my own thoughts and remember why the hell I’m standing here in the first place.
It takes some convincing, but eventually I manage to get Biff out the door and heading towards where Zach is. She’s not happy about it, but I can see the concern in her eyes knowing that something’s not right. Neither of them may want to admit that there’s something between them, but I see through both of them.
Convincing him to let her in is easier than I thought it was going to be, but with Biff now inside with my grumpy arse boss and my clients cancelled, I have nothing left to do. Unless…
Without thinking, I’m back out of the studio and heading in the direction I just came from. I’ve no idea if she lives there, if she’s Biff’s roommate or even sister for that matter, but right now I don’t really care.
My one short memory of her has been driving me crazy since that night, and my need to explain myself to her is uncontrollable now I know where she is.
I jog the short distance back, afraid that she might be one step ahead of me and have already left—or, if I’m lucky, on her way out so I can intercept her when she’s not expecting it.
As I turn the corner for the building, I come up behind a delivery guy. I wait a few steps back and watch as he lifts his hand to ring the buzzer for whichever flat he’s delivering to. I can’t believe my luck when he presses for Biff’s.
I stand with my heart damn near in my throat as I wait to see if she’ll answer, if she’s still there. And two seconds later she does.
“Delivery for Biff?” the guy says into the speaker.
“Yeah, come on up.” I wait for the crackle to say she’s released the button, and he’s pushed the front door open before rushing over.
“Hey, is that for Biff?” I ask, coming to stand next to him. “I’m her boyfriend. Cosy night in,” I say with a wink. “I can take it from here. Thanks, man.”
I don’t give him the opportunity to refuse me. I take the bag from his hand and walk away.
“Thank fuck for that. I’m running so behind tonight.”
“Glad I could be of help. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” I give him a friendly wave as he turns and rushes back to his moped.
With a smile curling one side of my mouth, I take the stairs two at a time.