Her warmth catches me off guard. "Exactly what I need to hear right now."
"That black dress would look incredible on you." Emma gestures to the dressing rooms. "Want to try it on? I have a feeling it's going to be perfect."
"Yes, absolutely." I pluck the dress from the rack, following her past displays of silk scarves and delicate jewelry.
Emma moves with ease through the narrow space, chatting over her shoulder. "There's this amazing new cocktail bar that opened in Tribeca, Alchemy. They make these molecular drinks that literally smoke when they serve them. Total power move for a solo night out."
The dressing room is near the front of the store. Emma pulls a tiny key from her pocket as we approach the closed fitting room.
"Alchemy sounds perfect for tonight." I glance toward the entrance where Cillian stands by the door, doing his best to look casual. There's nothing casual about a six-foot-four guy with tattoos snaking up his forearms browsing silk scarves and jewelry.
Emma catches my glance and her eyebrows raise slightly, but she doesn't comment. Instead, she pushes open the dressing room door with a flourish.
"Thanks." I step inside the spacious room, hung with mirrors on three sides.
"First time shopping with us?" Emma asks, lingering just outside the door in case I need anything.
"Yeah, actually." I hang the dress carefully on the hook. "I was waiting in the car while my...well, my dad's assistant was picking up some tailored suits across the street. Spotted your window display and couldn't resist sneaking in while he finished up."
Emma leans against the doorframe, her posture relaxing into genuine conversation. "Well, we're thrilled you did! We opened barely two weeks ago. We might not be the biggest boutique in the city, but the owner hand-selects everything. She has incredible taste."
"I can definitely tell." I run my fingers over another dress hanging in the room. "The quality's amazing. And honestly, I'm loving the girl chat too. I usually shop with my cousin, but she just got married yesterday."
Emma's face lights up. "Oh, how romantic, a spring wedding!"
"Yeah, it was beautiful." My chest tightens thinking about Sage, off on her honeymoon with the love of her life. Meanwhile, I hadhopes to at least go on a date, but I'm left picking up the pieces of whatever Anton did to my head.
I'm about to close the dressing room door when I see Cillian rushing toward me. He has his phone pressed to his ear. Something's wrong.
Cillian's voice drops to a murmur as he reaches me. "We have a situation. We need to leave right now."
His hand hovers near his jacket, where I know he keeps his gun.
"I'm sorry," I tell Emma. "I have to bail on that fitting."
Her eyes are wide, taking in Cillian's obvious anxiety and my sudden change in demeanor. "Of course."
I give the dress back to Emma as Cillian ends his call, his knuckles white against the black phone case. His eyes dart around the boutique like a cornered animal looking for escape.
"Where's your back exit?" he asks Emma.
Emma points to the back. "Through the stockroom, past the employee bathroom—"
Glass explodes inward, shards flying past my face.
No time to process what's happening. Cillian's already moving, shoving me past Emma as he draws his weapon. Broken glass crunches under our feet.
"Move!"
Emma runs with us through the door marked "Employees Only," her face pale with terror. She ducks behind stacked boxes as we head for the exit.
I see her fumbling for her phone. "Call 911!" I shout as Cillian pulls me toward the heavy metal door.
We slam through into blinding daylight and our possible slaughter.
Chapter 2
Dark Angel
