If she ever went missing, her mom would have the whole town flipped upside down in forty-eight hours.
“Fuck it—we’ll go,” I say, shrugging like it’s nothing, even though my pulse is absolutely snitching on me. My smile curves sly. “But y’all better try not to kidnap us or anything.”
Arina laughs, lifting her chin like she’s signing a contract. “Exactly what she said. I know jujutsu—don’t make me have to show some of my moves.”
She doesnotknow jujutsu.
But hopefully it makes them aware enough to not try anything stupid.
Starlight beam’s at us, pouting dramatically until we hand them the bills fanned between our fingers. But before I can slide mine across the table, the men move first—each pulling out thick stacks of cash like it’s nothing. One by one, they drop them onto the table, the pile growing higher and higher until it a glittering mountain of temptation.
Star gasps, palm pressed to her chest, fanning her flushed face before sending me a kiss through the neon haze. Light leans into Arina’s space, whispering something in her ear that paints her already pale rosy cheeks even pinker.
King rises instantly, his hand finding Arina’s, guiding her out of the booth with a quiet authority she doesn’t question. Cairo and Saint flank me, each taking a hand as they lead me out, their massive palms almost swallowing my entire hand.
A nervous giggle slips out of me, but it feels good—alive. I don’t know how I ended up with both of them, but their grip is impressively overwhelming. Their towering frames curve in close until I feel caged—not trapped, butprotected. Both have to be well over six foot, and the thought alone sends a pulse searing through me.
Tonight might be more than I bargained for.
I’ve been with two guys in one day before—just never side by side.
Still… these men aren’t like anyone I’ve ever had. They’re built different. The way power rolls off them like aferal current pulsing under their skin. They look like they could wreck me without breaking a sweat—and God help me, I’m not sure if that should terrify me… or if it’s the very thing turning me on like a fucking heater.
With every step toward the door, the nerves drain out of me, replaced by a reckless rush I haven’t tasted in forever.
The night air chills the heat on my skin as we make our way across the lot toward a blacked-out Ford F-150—sleek and spotless, built to be noticed without asking for too much attention. Saint opens the passenger door and lifts me up, while Cairo slides into the backseat directly behind me.
The rich leather interior wraps around me, the faint scent of smoke and cologne lingering in the air—masculine, grounding, and yet so intoxicating. Saint settles in behind the wheel, one hand steady on it, while Cairo’s massive fingers rest on my shoulders, kneading in slow, circles that send heat spiraling straight between my legs.
I grab my phone, adrenaline humming through me as I text Arina.You good, girl?Last I saw, she and King were heading toward her car like they had their own plans.
“Take your time,” he murmurs. His caramel-candy eyes melt into something warm and dreamy, enough to make my breath stutter like he’s reading things in my head he shouldn’t even know yet.
My screen lights up.Ready when you are. We’re right behind you.
I let out a slow breath. “Okay. We can go.”
Saint’s grin deepens, his fingers resting lazily against the wheel as he pulls off.
A shiver runs through me—because whatever happens next, I know I won’t be walking away the same.
Chapter Thirty Four
Reckless
T
he ride is quiet, the faint buzz of the streetlights drifting past the windows. Cairo’s hands never stop working my shoulder muscles the entire drive. His touch keeps me grounded, tethered to something warm I’m absolutely not naming yet.
When the truck finally eases to a halt, I forget how to breathe.
The house in front of us glows like a palace dropped in the middle of the suburbs—gold light pouring from every window, music thundering loud enough to shake the driveway.
It feels like stepping into someone else’s world. A world I never wanted to be apart of so badly—until now.
The moment we walk in, the night swallows us whole. Heat, bodies, perfume, breath—everything tangling at once. Loud voices crack through the air, bass shaking the floorboards, voices blending into the rhythm until it. The entire house is alive and pulsing.
Over my shoulder, I spot Arina tucked into King’s arms. His grip on her is possessive, his head bent low as he kisses the side of her forehead. She looks up at me, and the smile she gives is small but breathless—giddy in a way she can’t hide.
