Dark Escort by E. L. Todd Read Free Book Online

and why you despise me, then can you try to be somewhat civil to me?” I put my hands on my hips. “Because I will kick your ass if I have to.”
    “Kick my ass?” he asked incredulously.
    “Hell yeah I’ll kick your ass,” I snapped. “I know a front guillotine choke, a stable headlock, and a rear mount. You want to try me?”
    He came closer to me but was more than an arm’s length away. “Those are all military moves.”
    “Your point?” I hissed.
    “How do you know all that?” He suddenly turned serious, no longer angry or cold like before.
    “None of your damn business. Now, are you going to stop being a jackass? I can’t deal with you, Joey, and my family. So decide.”
    He regarded me for a long moment before he headed toward the hallway. “I’ll try.”
    “You’ll try?” I yelled after him.
    He looked at me before he turned the corner. “It’s the best I can do.”
    ***
    A knock on my door sounded after midnight.
    Who the hell would drop by so late? It was unusual. I was on my guard when I approached the door. When I looked through the peephole, I saw someone I didn’t expect.
    Joey.
    What was he doing here?
    I opened the door and studied him closely. “Hey…kinda late to drop by.”
    His hands were in his pockets and his hair was ruffled like he ran his fingers through it too many times. His eyes were slightly red like he was exhausted. He was still wearing his clothes from the benefit, a suit and tie.
    When he didn’t respond, I spoke again. “Joey?”
    He looked at me like he finally noticed me. “Katarina.”
    I held the door with one hand just in case I needed to slam it in his face. “Can I help you?”
    His eyes were practically black. “What happened to never falling in love again? You said you would never have anyone as long as you lived. But then you bring some boy toy around. What the fuck is that, Katarina?”
    He never spoke to me like that before. I didn’t think he even had it in him. It was clear he was drunk because his inhibitions were far lower than normal. “You’ve been drinking.”
    “What does that matter?” he snapped. “These thoughts exist either way. So, what the hell are you doing?”
    “My personal life is none of your business, Joey. You should be ashamed of yourself for talking to me this way, for making me feel guilty over something I shouldn’t feel bad about. I’m sick of having our parents push us together. They won’t stop unless I give them a reason to stop.”
    “So you start dating some loser?”
    “You know nothing about him.” I wanted to confess the truth and say he was an escort but I couldn’t trust Joey to keep my secret. With his behavior I wasn’t sure if I could trust him at all.
    “I know he’s not right for you. And that’s all I need to know.”
    I knew I should end this conversation before it went somewhere we could never come back from. Joey was obviously upset and he was saying things he would never spit out if he were sober. I would cut him some slack. “Let’s talk tomorrow.”
    “I want to talk now.”
    “Joey.” My voice cut through the air and even made me flinch. “I have a feeling you’re going to say something stupid that will ruin the friendship we have. I’m more than happy to talk to you in the morning. But now, you need to leave.”
    He stared at me but held his silence. It was clear he wanted to burst and scream. But he made the smart move. “Good night, Kat.”
    “Good night, Joey.”

Cato
    I was such a dick to her.
    I couldn’t stop myself. Years had come and gone, and I thought I was over what happened between us. But when I was around her, I remembered how much that morning hurt. What we had was special but she didn’t see it that way. She left me in the middle of the night or early in the morning without saying a word to me. I was grateful I even got a note.
    There was no justifiable reason why I should be angry with her. What she did to me, I’d done countless times to others. It was