Mister Black: A Billionaire SEAL Story, Part 1 (In the Shadows) by P.T. Michelle Page A

glad to know I hold up well.”
    I smirk. “Celeste would be so proud.”
    My comment draws a wan smile. She turns her pale face my way. “Please tell me you at least got to talk to Mina.”
    I nod and turn onto a main road, my tone dry. “Yeah. And by the way, that condom popped out at the most inappropriate time.”
    When she giggles evilly, then winces and holds her forehead, I chuckle.
    “Did you get to use the condom?” she asks, blinking to keep her eyes open. I guarantee it’s so she won’t get the spins.
    “I don’t kiss and tell,” I say and head in the direction of her place.
    “No fair. If I didn’t get any, you should at least tell me about your sexcapades.”
    I’m a little surprised by her comment. “Didn’t you hit it off with Mr. Navy?”
    She nods, then frowns. “Too bad he thinks he kissed Celeste.”
    “Unfortunately, that’s the downside of pretending to be someone you’re not,” I say in a low tone, knowing all too well how that truth caught me by surprise tonight. When Cass doesn’t respond, I glance over to see she’s already snoring lightly against the window.

 
    “D on’t touch me! Get your hands off me!”
    Panic whips me into a frenzy. I flail my arms, heart racing. Hands touch my arms in the darkness, then wrap around my shoulders, squeezing me tight. Finally, Cass’s voice bleeds through. “It’s a nightmare, Talia!”
    I roll over onto my back, inhaling deeply through my nose, then exhaling. In and out until I feel like I’m going to faint.
    Her soft hand touches my face. “You’re okay. I’m right here.”
    I squeeze the tears back, but a few manage to escape. She brushes them away with her knuckles and then pulls me into a tight hug. “It’s okay.”
    When I stop panting, she says, “You haven’t had one of those in a while. Do you want to talk about it?”
    I capture her hand and roll onto my side, pulling her with me. “No.”
    She snuggles close and I feel her nod against the back of my neck. “One of these days you’re going to tell me.”
    I run my fingers across the scars on her wrist. “Just like you’ll tell me, right?”
    When she sighs her answer, I nod my understanding. “I love you, Cass, but you still smell like a bar.”
    Snickering, she hugs me close, purposefully breathing alcohol fumes across my neck. “Ugh!” I try to roll away, but she just clasps me tighter. The fact that we laugh despite our sisterly silence makes me smile even as I struggle to free myself.
    “Think about the fact you finally got laid last night instead. Hold on to the positive thoughts.”
    Her comment makes me go still in her arms. “How did you know that?”
    “Because you smell like cologne and taste like sweat.” Licking my cheek, she giggles when I gag and swat her away. “And because you wouldn’t tell me. That’s how I know.”
    I don’t say anything more, but as we lay there quietly the remnants of the dream linger, and my mind gets unwillingly drawn back to the first time Hayes attacked me.
    Walt had just left our apartment to run an errand. I don’t pay much attention to what he says, because I’m studying for a math test while I can. Amelia will be getting up from her nap in an hour.
    I hear the TV blaring in the apartment next door and Hayes and Jimmy cheering for their favorite teams. I don’t remember when Walt installed the door that joins our apartments, but I wish he had made it soundproof when Hayes yells through it for me to bring him a beer from our fridge. Grinding my teeth, I quickly put down my pencil and do as he asks, because I don’t want Amelia to wake up early.
    Jimmy shoves his shoulder-length blond hair back and winks at me as he grabs his beer from my hand.
    I resist the urge to roll my eyes. He’s lanky and harmless, but also around thirty-five. Yuck!
    I never have liked Hayes though. Around forty, he’s thin and wiry, with spiked brown hair and a ruddy complexion. The few instances I’ve brought them a beer or pizza