Addict (Hunter #2)(49)

It took a moment to grasp what she was saying. I laid back and curled into a fetal position, carefully avoiding the already melted gift Lee had left behind. “Oh, god, I made a sex tape.”

Liv giggled viciously. “I can’t believe he stopped the elevator and f*cked you. It was hot, Kelsey. I have to admit I’ve always thought Marcus was kind of scary, but I see the appeal now.”

“Tell me this isn’t happening.” Visions of my ass on the Internet flooded my brain. I would be a weird meme somewhere, a cautionary tale to all other Hunters.

“It’s all right, Kels,” Liv assured me. “I only got a copy because Scott is drinking buddies with the security guy, who got his ass kicked by your uncle when he realized what he’d done. Zack has spent the majority of the morning erasing everything and threatening to kill anyone who forwards it. He’s making Quinn do a system search to make sure all the copies are gone. That’s how I got stuck with kid-sitting duty. Quinn’s running around making sure your dignity is maintained, and the queen is nursing a sick friend. So, I get the kids. I tried to explain that I teach high school, but they didn’t listen. They were too busy talking about candy and how cool you are.”

“I’m never leaving this room again.” I could totally live right there. It was a nice room, and I never had to face anyone again.

“If it makes you feel any better, Quinn didn’t see the problem. He said he and the queen have been caught doing it on tape all over the building.”

Yep, this never happened back in Italy. I sat up because it was obvious I wasn’t going back to sleep. “Tell me something, Liv.”

She knew exactly what I was going to ask. That’s what happens when you’re friends with someone for a long time. “Your butt looked great.”

I sighed. I would have to be happy with that. I put aside all the fun stuff because Liv and I needed to talk. It wasn’t something I was looking forward to. I hadn’t been successful the night before, and Scott was in more trouble than I could have imagined. “I talked to him last night.”

Liv’s face fell. She braced herself. “He wouldn’t come home, would he?”

I reached for her hand. “I don’t think he has a choice, Liv. He’s in deep. Whatever is going on in that club, it’s bad. I think he’s hooked on the same drug Alan was on.”

Big fat tears sprang from her eyes. “Alan died last night. Henri Jacobs wants you in his lab in an hour. That’s why I woke you up.”

“Shit,” I cursed. “Liv, I’m so sorry. Just because Alan…”

She held out her hand to stop me. “I know. I know. Kelsey, you tried. Promise me that if you can save him, you will.”

“I promise,” I said solemnly.

Liv got up and walked to the window. I could see it was still snowing, big flakes turning the world into an icy wonderland. “I don’t love him anymore, you know.”

I wasn’t sure about that, but I kept my mouth shut. She needed to talk.

“I haven’t loved him for a long time. I know he’s a shit, but he wasn’t always like that. He was…so sweet when we first met. He got comfortable and decided he didn’t need to woo me anymore. I let it happen. I was comfortable, too. I hate dating. When he asked me to marry him, I said yes.” Liv laughed hollowly. “He didn’t actually ask me, you know. He said we should probably do it, and then when I would try to set a date, he’d come up with excuses. I haven’t tried to pin him down in eighteen months. I knew it wouldn’t work. I know I shouldn’t have watched that tape of you and Marcus.”

“It’s fine, Liv.” I meant it. I’m honest with myself, at least. If someone had sent me a tape with Marcus f*cking, I would have watched it.

She turned back and brushed away her tears. “I should have respected your privacy, but I sat there and watched it and realized I want that for me, Kelsey. I want someone who can’t wait to have me. I want someone who needs me the way Marcus needs you. He’s passionate about you. I was so envious of you.”

“Liv,” I started.

She shook her head. “I don’t love Scott anymore, but I can’t leave him to fate. Let me help you, Kelsey. I need this so I can move on.”

“Of course,” I said immediately. “You can come with me to see what Henri found out.”

Liv nodded and gave me a watery smile. “I’ll be good, I promise. I remember how to play Watson. Now, you better grab a shower. I’ll go make another round of breakfast. I’m sure the kids ate everything. They’re like locust. Marcus gave them a big bag of candy and they inhaled it.”

I got up and started to make my way to the bathroom. “Where did Marcus go? Is he helping Zack erase the tape?”

“No, he told me he had a morning appointment to make,” Liv explained. “He also told me to keep you out of trouble.”

“He’s meeting with Sloane.” Sneaky bastard had left me sleeping because he knew damn well I wanted to mediate.

“Okay,” Liv said, her eyes wide. “I’d love to be a fly on that wall.”

I shook my head and went off to take a long shower.



Kim Jacobs waved us into her apartment. She was a beautiful brunette who always dressed like she’d stepped off a runway in Milan. I found her intimidating because I couldn’t put together an outfit to save my life. Lucia put pants and the proper tops close to each other in my closet so I couldn’t screw up. In the past, I would have simply picked out whichever black T-shirt smelled like it was the cleanest and called it a day. Today I was fairly presentable in straight-legged jeans, a cashmere sweater, and fashionable boots that I could kick a little ass in.