“Great view, huh?”
He turns to glare at me over his shoulder, and I hug myself against the sudden chill that ripples through me as I step out onto the empty terrace.
“Well well well,” Carson murmurs. “What do we have here?”
I smile weakly. “I’m not sure we met at the last party.” I stick out my hand as I walk over. “I’m Evelina. Nikitin.”
He snorts. “I know who you are. Just like you know who I am. Let’s skip the polite banter, shall we?” he growls.
Okay, obviously he’s in a foul mood. But maybe that means I can pry more out of him if I’m delicate about it.
“So—”
“Where’d your little friend go,” Carson interrupts, his voice sharp.
I frown. “Little friend?”
“Gabriella.”
“Oh!” I turn to glance back at the party through the floor to ceiling windows. “I…don’t actually know?”
“Join the club,” he grunts, standing up from where he’s been leaning on the railing. “Anyway,great talk, distraction.”
My brow furrows. “Distraction?”
He smirks. “It would seem you’ve captured Bancroft's attention,” he grunts.
I start to smile as my face heats.
Carson laughs mirthlessly. “Notnecessarily a good thing, FYI.” He starts to walk past me back to the party. “So good luck with that.”
Shoot shoot shoot.
I need more information.
“Hey…” I clear my throat. “I heard that jerk Anderson talking about your mom.”
Carson's broad shoulders tighten, and I shiver when he turns to look at me.
“Thefuckdid you just say?”
I gasp quietly, edging away from him as he advances on me. My back hits the terrace railing, and I shiver when an electric zap flies over my skin.
What the heck wasthat?
I can't dwell on it. Carson’s looming right in front of me, caging me in as he grips the railing.
“Something you’d care to add about her?” he hisses.
“No!” I blurt. “Not at all! God, I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I just meant screw him. Anderson, that is. Not God.” I laugh weakly.
Carson presses a little closer to me, and that same electric sensation flickers over my skin, taking my breath away.
“My own mother…” I frown. “She died when I was young. People used to tease me about it sometimes in school, and it hurt. A lot.” I smile wryly at him. “I'm just saying, I get moms being a hot button.”
“Unfortunately,” he growls, “mymom is still alive.” He smiles at the shocked look on my face. “Anda giant cunt.” His gaze stabs into me, and for a second, I remember his conversation with Gideon about throwing someone off a roof.
And here I am, alone with him on the terrace, what feels like a mile above the city below.
