I dragged my knuckles down her arm, leaning in even closer. “What happened to taking things slow?”
“You’re the one who wanted to do that, not me.” She tilted her head onto her shoulder and crinkled her nose adorably.
“Oh, you are so very mistaken, pretty girl. That is the exact opposite of what Iwantto do, but it is what I think weshoulddo.”
“Good luck with that.” She said sweetly and grabbed my drink off the bar, throwing it back with a long sip that made her sputter endearingly. “Yelck.”
“Yeah, that was whiskey. Your favorite.” I chuckled and leaned in, deciding I could steal a quick kiss.
Sara pushed off the bar top just before my lips hit hers, and I got a mouthful of ponytail as it swished, smacking me in the face.
Jules and Douglass broke through the crowd a moment later. Fucking hell. Thankfully, neither of them saw.
“Hey you made it,” Sara said tensely, giving Douglass an awkward side hug.
“Of course.” He nodded at me. “What’s up, Kensington?”
“Nothing much.” I watched Sara run her finger around the inside of the necklace I’d given her last night, eyes still honed in on my mouth. This was pure torture.
Just then, the music changed. “This is my song!” Jules squealed, dragging Sara out onto the dance floor, and Sara threw her head back and laughed, shooting me one last wide smile before she disappeared into the crowd.
I shook my head with a grin and turned back to the bar to order another whiskey. Goddamn, she was an angel. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her again, couldn’t wait to just talk to her even. I missed her. She was in the same room as me, and I missed her.
So so fucked.
Douglass was dressed in a full suit, like he usually was, and he leaned on the bar top next to me, neither of us saying anything to break the awkward silence between us. Instead, he made conversation with the girl on the other side of him, chatting her up as if Jules hadn’t been standing here a mere second ago. I shook my head, waiting for my drink to be made, watching him smile a little too big, and lean in a little too close, flashing a little too much of his cash when he went to pay.
When my drink was ready, I didn’t bother sticking around to watch. I’d never really cared for Douglass. We were cordial, but what Jules saw in him, I had no idea. Frankly, I thought she deserved better, she was a sweet girl, and how he had bagged her, I honestly hadno idea. Truthfully, he was a bit of a jackass, even when he wasn’t flirting with random women that weren’t his girlfriend. It was an odd match, to say the least.
I took my double whiskey and headed back towards the booth, but I caught Liam’s gaze over the sea of heads and headed across the club towards him.
When I came out on the other side of the crowd, I immediately surveilled the men standing next to Liam. They were just as tall as us, and each of them was covered in tattoos, necks, hands, everything.
“Carter, this is Dante and Luca Leone.” Liam nodded between the two men. They looked nearly identical. They had to be brothers, or at the very least, closely related. “Dante owns the club.” Liam explained rather tensely.
“And I’m just along for the ride.” Luca said, smiling like a Cheshire Cat.
I felt like I was being sized up as prey when I shook Dante’s hand. “Hey, what’s up, man? Nice to meet you.”
“You all having a good time tonight?” Dante asked, and something in me immediately went on defense. This guy was dangerous. They both were, but so was I—we shared a glance that established exactly that.
“Yeah, this is a great place you’ve got.” I nodded. “Liam tells me he’s doing the menu for you.”
Dante smiled wide. “He’s a visionary when it comes to flavors.”
“He’s in high demand these days. You’re lucky to have him.” I agreed, watching this strange interaction unfold.
“Indeed, I am,” Dante said, while Luca stood, toothpick hanging out of his mouth, looking bored and uninterested—I knew he was anything but. “Even luckier that we have an ongoing agreement.” Dante mused, and I looked at Liam. What an odd thing that was to say, but Liam shot me a look like, don’t ask.
I felt Luca quietly watching me, and when I finally met his gaze, there was something behind his eyes that I couldn’t quite figure out,like he knew something I didn’t.
“If you’ll excuse us, gentlemen, we have matters to attend to.” Dante said. “Enjoy the evening.”
“Happy Halloween.” Luca winked as he trailed off in the opposite direction. “Stay safe out there, kids, and be sure to watch out for the monsters under the floorboards.”
When each of them strolled off through the crowd, it parted around them like butter on a hot knife. I watched as Dante disappeared into a backroom, and that’s when I noticed Cade inside, just before the door closed.
“What’s their deal?” I asked, watching Liam closely.
