Broke his father’s spine with his bare hands.
I shiver. From fear, I tell myself. Definitely fear.
His head turns, just slightly, and our eyes meet again.
This time, the breath leaves my lungs. Heat floods my cheeks. I look away first, heart pounding, feeling caught. Feelingseenin a way I haven’t felt since this nightmare began.
Which is ridiculous, right? He’s a stranger. A criminal. Just happens to be one with excellent bone structure…
A blast of strong aftershave cuts through my spiralling thoughts as a man crowds me, standing far too close. I edge sideways along the polished bar, trying to create distance without drawing attention.
He’s in his mid-forties, face ruddy and his eyes glassy from the expensive red wine staining his lips.
“Magnificent creature,” he murmurs, not bothering to lower his voice.
I glance toward Dimitri, but he’s still distracted, laughing with the bartender, oblivious to what’s happening a few feet away. Around us, other men watch with detached interest, waiting to see how this plays out.
No one moves to help me.
“I’ll double the reserve,” the man offers. “Triple it. Tonight.”
My stomach drops.
His hand closes around my arm, grabby fingers soft but insistent. I try to pull back without making a scene, but his grip tightens, guiding me closer as though I’ve already agreed.
“I think I’m just the man to teach you,” he adds quietly, his breath heavy and unpleasant in my ear.
Panic claws up my throat. In a normal club, I’d shove him away. I’d cause a scene. Here, I know better. I keep my face neutral, my movements careful, even as his fingers dig in.
Then a voice cuts in behind me.
“I don’t think that’s how Mr. Kozlov conducts his business.”
The hand on my arm stills.
A shadow falls over us, solid and unmoving. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is. I can feel him there, his heat at my back, a presence that makes something in me loosen for the first time all night.
“Let go,” the voice says. Calm. Certain. Compelling.
The man looks up, his irritation shifting to unease as his eyes track higher, higher still. His grip eases, and he releases me.
I stumble back, straight into the wall of muscle behind me.
“She is not to be touched,” Bodhi says, his gaze sweeping the room, daring anyone to argue.
No one does.
“Thank you,” I breathe, rubbing my flesh where the German had grabbed me. Red marks form rings around my arm, but they should go away without bruising.
Bodhi glances down at my pink skin, jaw clenched, but says nothing. His hands find my elbows, and he carefully eases me away from his body. He waits until I’m steady on my feet before letting go completely and stepping back, taking his warmth and his musky scent with him.
My arms burn pleasantly where his skin touched mine, sending tingles skittering all the way to my fingertips. I flex myfingers, staring up at Bodhi, who’s looking right back at me, eyes swirling with something more intoxicating than anger.
“Well handled.” Kozlov appears then, his expression stormy, though he hides it well as he smiles at a passing guest. “But you’ll need to perfect your poker face, Emma, and at least pretend you don’t loathe speaking with prospective customers.”
He rests his hand on my hip and pinches hard, making sure I know he means business.
Keeping my expression neutral despite the pain, I swallow hard, fighting the urge to pull away.
