“I’m sorry,” she mockingly pouts. “Is that not what you do for a living? Strangle people?”
“I do a lot of things,” I growl, crossing the cramped room and relishing the way her eyes widen as I step into her space. “Strangling, floor removal…” I let my gaze drink in the smooth plains of her defiant and pretty face. “Carrying weak girls down mountains,” I murmur.
“It was hardly a mountain.” Her voice is steadier than I expect, but I see the crack in her armor, the way her fingers flex at her sides.
“You’re right.” I smirk, leaning in, letting the scent of her tease me. “And yet, you still couldn’t get down on your own.” I grab the corner of her jacket before she can shove me away and pull her closer. “So maybe you should let someone drive you, and stop drinking these.”
“What are you—” She presses her hands against my chest, the air between us thickening.
Her breath is warm, lips parted just enough to make my mind wander. I dip lower, close enough to feel the ghost of thatbreath against my own lips, but I don’t close the space. I let the tension build before I reach into her pocket.
She freezes, confused, and a wicked satisfaction courses through me as I pull out the can of Red Bull.
The spell breaks as I push her away and hold the can above my head. I don’t know what the fuck she’s thinking. She can’t have an energy drink if there’s something wrong with her heart.
“Give me that!” she snaps.
“Kira!” Nix scolds behind me, clearly seeing what I nabbed.
“I need it!” Kira growls, spinning toward her sister, eyes flashing with frustration.
“What you need is to take a fucking break,” I say.
“Easy for the rich guy to say.” She spins back at me, lunging on her toes.
I raise a brow, holding the can higher. “Well, if you won’t take a ride, will you take my money? How much would you make tonight?”
Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone here.
“Not a chance,” she wheezes in offense.
Jesus, she’s stubborn.
“Oh yeah? What if I double it?”
She doesn’t look swayed.
“Triple it?” I ask.
For some reason this makes her even angrier, her face pinching.
“Fine.” I smirk, liking the way her nose crinkles. “Name your own price, buttercup.”
“I don’t want your blood money!” she screeches. “I want my Red Bull!” she snarls, and then rushes me.
I stumble back as she all but climbs me, but I twist and toss the can to Nix. She catches it without missing a beat, hiding it behind her back.
“Nix,” Kira warns, dropping down onto her heels. “Give it to me.”
“No.”
“This is ridiculous. I have one before every shift.”
“Maybe that’s why you had a heart attack.” Nix shrugs.
“It was atear! And I’m fine. I already feel better. Come on, give it.”
I snort. Not only is she pale, she’s winded from the minor act of reaching up on her toes. And is she even aware she’s clutching her chest right now?
