In this bar.
In my space.
His smile is the same sour tilt of his lips he used to wear when he tried to exercise ownership over me or when he thought I owed him something.
My jaw locks at his possessive expression, anger crawling under my skin like an army of ants marching to a bloodbath.
Roo sees my face, follows my line of sight, and snaps, “Oh, absolutely fucking not.”
Daniel is eight feet away, cutting around the table separating us, like this place belongs to him. I don’t break eye contact, keeping my focus on him as Roo touches my elbow, letting me know she’s ready to fight.
“Anna,” he groans, as if my name tastes sweet in his mouth. “You look incredible.”
“Don’t,” I warn.
Roo presses closer to my side. “Back up, Dollar Store Patrick Bateman.”
Daniel ignores her. Of course he does. He hasn’t ever spared her a moment of interest, which shows his clear lack of self-preservation. Roo is certifiably insane most days.
“Why are you here?” I ask, voice sharp enough to cut through all the bullshit Roo is ready to stir.
“Following a trail.” He shifts closer, reaching out to touch my hair.
My pulse spikes as I dodge his fingers. That army of ants marches under my skin with frenzied rage.
“You can’t keep avoiding me,” he insists, tucking his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “We were good together. You just needed space to realize that.”
“I needed space all right,” I respond with a laugh. “To realize you’re a liar and a cheater and a piss-poor narcissist.”
His smile doesn’t waver. “I’ve missed you and your smart mouth.”
“I don’t care,” I reply, exasperated with this entire charade.
I hate the version of me he calls Anna. She’s so much weaker than I am… But I can’t drop this act until I can kill him. And sadly, I can’t kill him here.
Daniel reaches for me again, the delusional gleam in his eyes causing my lip to curl in disgust. His fingers stretch out like he thinks he can still touch me.
He barely grazes my forearm.
And another hand shoots out from my side, clamping around his wrist hard enough to draw his attention away from me.
Daniel turns just as I do.
Jace hovers over me like a shadow.
Not the charming, teasing version of him I once met, the one who kissed me like he was memorizing me. Or the cold version of him who tried to avoid contact while he was in my apartment.
This Jace is quiet, like the whispering of a well-used blade whirling through the air.
“I think you should leave,” Jace says in a rumble. His voice is low and loud, somehow carrying over the music.
Daniel huffs a laugh. “Who the fuck are you?”
Jace doesn’t shrink back. “I’m the man who won’t ask twice.”
I twist to keep both men in my line of vision, pushing Roo slightly behind me so she’s closer to the table, closer to an empty beer bottle she will absolutely use as a weapon.
Daniel tries to yank his arm free, though he doesn’t have the strength to pull loose from Jace’s grip. Annoyance blooms on Daniel’s face, the frown morphing into pinched lips and flared nostrils.
