There was still another member of Cruz’s gang he needed to win over.
Back at Asylum, the brunette called Brinks had eyed him with suspicion from across the tavern even before he’d healed Fish. Afterward, her animosity toward him only seemed to increase. He was used to raising a few hackles in people on the wrong side of the law as a member of the Order, but this woman seemed to hate him on sight.
Apparently, ditching him in the parking lot was only the start of her avoidance of him. Since he’d arrived at the penthouse party, Rafe hadn’t been able to catch more than a fleeting glimpse of her.
He could have sworn he saw her slip outside not more than two minutes ago.
Weaving through the clusters of men and women chattering over their drinks near the illuminated pool and surrounding seating areas, Rafe spotted the briefest hint of black leather and glossy sable hair retreating into the darkness. He wouldn’t mistake that tall, knockout body for anyone else. She disappeared into the shadows at the far end of the long terrace.
He homed in on her with single-minded purpose.
He found her seated on a stone bench tucked into a gloomy corner. With her arms wrapped around her bent knees and her combat boots planted before her on the bench, she glanced up as Rafe approached. “You just don’t take a bloody hint, do you,vampire?”
She leaned a bit heavily on the word, as if to remind him of their difference. Not to mention her disdain.
Rafe smiled and lifted his shoulder. “Just trying to be friendly. In case no one told you, the whole point of a party is to socialize.”
“So, go socialize. In case no one toldyou, the whole point of doing that is to find someone who’s actually interested in talking to you.”
“Ah. And you’re not.”
One slender brow arched, she touched her finger to the tip of her nose. “Look at you, learning to take a hint after all.”
He chuckled. “Why aren’t you inside with everyone else?”
“I came out here to be alone,” she said, slanting him a flat look when he made no move to leave. “Besides, I’m just waiting for Cruz to wrap up so we can get out of here.”
Rafe grunted. “Where’d he go, anyway? Looked like he had serious business to take care of with someone.”
“Did it?”
When she didn’t respond any more than that, he decided to take a different tack. Exhaling a sigh, he turned his head to look out at the city lights competing with the stars and moon overhead. “This view must cost some bank, eh? What’d Fish say the guy’s name was who owns the place?”
No one had mentioned the penthouse owner’s name to him, and unfortunately the cagey brunette staring holes in his skull wasn’t even tempted to take the bait. He glanced at her and was met with a narrowed stare.
“You ask a lot of questions.”
“What can I say? I’m naturally curious.”
And if he had to use his Breed powers to trance the woman in order to get those answers, he wasn’t above stooping to do that right here and now.
Earlier tonight at the tavern, he’d considered her attractive. Now, with only a few feet to separate them in the secluded corner of the moonlit terrace, he realized just how inadequate the term was in describing her.
Her face was lovely, creamy skin accentuating a delicate bone structure and lips the color of a dark, dusky rose. Her warm bourbon-hued eyes were too large for her face and infinitely expressive—even when Rafe was certain she was doing her best to shut him out.
All of that beauty was framed by a mane of thick, rich brown waves that tumbled over her shoulders and down her rigid spine. The glossy strands gleamed like silk under the starlight, a mesmerizing contrast against the studded black leather of her biker’s jacket.
The woman herself was a study in contrasts, right down to her voice, which was measured and sophisticated, a sexy purr that stroked over his senses more than he cared to admit.
When she let the silence lengthen between them, he stepped closer and took a seat on the bench. “I’m Rafe, by the way.”
“I know who you are.” She tilted her head and studied him. “I heard one of the Order warriors call you that back at Asylum.”
He gave her a grim nod. “What about you? Is Brinks your last name or something?”
“Just a name.”
It wasn’t exactly an answer, and she obviously wasn’t in the mood for sharing.
