The man isn’t discreet about it. With a slight smile, he leans on his arm, fixing his gaze on me as if nothing else in the room interests him.
The heat I feel on my cheeks forms too quickly, spreading to my ears.
It’s because he’s good-looking. Closer to Paulie’s age. A little stubble on his cheeks and a curve on his lips that probably wins over women’s hearts with ease. Heck, mine beats a little faster because of it.
Quickly, I learn it’s not just his looks that are in his favor.
“Haven’t seen you around here.” His voice is a deep, silken tone, a low hum that twists something deep in my gut. Not exactly unsettling, but foreign enough to make me squirm. “Got a name, sweetheart?”
The answer almost comes easily, down to the point that my lips already part. I don’t know if it’s his tone, or his smile, orwhat.Maybe I just want to hear whatHavensounds like coming from his lips.
Before I can answer, the woman returns. She’s cradling a red drink that’s fizzing with carbonation. Sliding it toward me, she doesn’t ask for anything in return. Instead, her eyes narrow on the man currently wearing blinders.
“Ripper.” She clicks her tongue at him with a frown, rolling her eyes when he turns his smile at her. Seems he likes any woman’s attention on him, even the bartender’s. “Leave the girl alone. Does she look like she wants you in her space?”
The question is rhetorical, but his gaze moves between us. I feel every inch of my body as his eyes ghost over me, drinking in my appearance. Not even being subtle about his curiosity, he leans in and smells thickly of spice. Close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off of him.
When I flinch, he sighs and pulls back. His smile momentarily fades, revealing a hint of annoyance so quick thatit makes me question my eyes. “Suppose not. Can’t help myself. I’m attracted to beautiful women.”
This guy thinksI’mthe good-looking one? He must’ve already had too much to drink.
Hiding the tremble of my fingers behind gripping my glass, my throat bobs with my next swallow. The fizz tingles my tongue, and if I weren’t feeling nervous, I could’ve really enjoyed this drink. It tastes like soda, and the cherry is a little bonus.
While he turns his attention away from me, he remains still, calling the woman Raven and sweetly asking her for a drink.
“I get you’re bored just hanging out here, but there’s probably something better you could do than trying to pick up another woman,” she says, clicking her tongue as she fills a glass with dark liquid. “Find a new hobby or something. I honestly thought you were doing pretty well lately.”
He swats his hand, hardly disproving her claim. I guess it makes it easier knowing he’s a ladies’ man. It’ll lessen the chance of him lingering in the back of my mind. I already have enough haunting me as it is.
As they chat, I sip the drink down as fast as I can so I don’t have an excuse to linger. Needing some distance so I can feel safe again, the cost is a sore stomach, as the carbonation brings discomfort.
Watching people come and go from the bar around us, I figure it’s okay just to leave my empty glass. As soon as the chance arises, I’m gone. Running away with my tail between my legs, I find a quiet corner to hide in and rethink my plan.
I’m having a tough time believing that some rich guy’s daughter is hanging out casually here. Are they sure this is the place she’s staying in? Could she be somewhere deeper in?
As my stomach twists and turns into tighter knots, I groan softly as I scan the faces of the bikers, hoping one will stand out.
They all look the same. Scarred or tattooed, all wearing leather, and the same creepy skull against their back. They resemble the same kind of men who kept my brother captive. It’s hard not to confuse the two.
I… don’t even know if Paulie is still breathing. That’s the scariest part of all this. The last time I saw him, his eye was swollen shut, and there was blood.
So much blood.
At this rate, it seems inevitable that the outcome will be the same. I’m going to lose the only family I’ve got left.
Doubt whispers in my mind. What if this is for nothing? A wild goose chase as Paulie’s time bleeds out unseen. Nausea grips me, my hand trembles, and I clench it into a fist, nails biting into my palm.
Lifting away from my hiding spot, I’m on the move, determined to find what I’m looking for before these thoughts consume me.
I pass a grimy, unmarked door—a storage closet, maybe—and then another that clearly leads to a foul-smelling restroom. I need something more. A private space. Somewhere, a privileged daughter could be stashed away from the filth and noise.
Against the back wall, two doors show more promise. With my eyes set, my steps grow faster. Breathing in deep to calm myself, it’s the familiar scent of spice that makes my skin prickle up with goosebumps.
“You need help finding something?” Directly behind me, a voice rings out.
My heart pounds wildly inside my chest, as if trying to escape. Despite this, I gather the courage to tilt my head back and meet the intense brown eyes of the guy at the bar.
Ripper.The Vice President.
