TWELVE

Another Visitor

The banging on the door was just what Lolita needed to bring her back to her senses. For a minute there, she had even considered surrendering herself to her boyfriend’s brother. No, there was no consideration. She hadn’t even thought of it—she went right into it, ready for his consumption like she was his meal.

She watched him now, the heaving of his cheat, the sweat that appeared at his brows and the intense way he looked at her. Her legs turned jelly. She would have stood there for ages staring at him, if the banging at the door hadn’t interrupted the mood again.

Lolita moved, far away from him and far away from the mood that seemed to sizzle everywhere. She threw the floor open only to find Tessa on the porch with a little traveling bag and a full face of makeup. Her blond hair looked neat and straight, as though she’d just come out of a commercial video.

“Tessa?” her eyes roved over her again. “What are you doing here?”

Tessa peered closely at her but didn’t make a