He resembles those sexy assassins I see in movies—the ones who’ll cut off someone’s fingers for touching his woman and smile the entire time while doing it.
My core throbs, and I curse myself. Completely inappropriate.
“Occupational hazard,” he murmurs.
Elias Kent’s eyes—the brilliant emerald green reminding me of a boy in my past—lighten a smidge.
That’s it. I need to find a man and get laid. This is what I get for saving my first time for someone special—perpetual horniness. But conflating my sweet Kian with this murderer? I’m definitely losing it.
“You were absolutely a cat in another life,” I mutter.
“But you like cats.” His lips curve into a ghost of a smile.
I frown. I never told him that before.
“Come.” He pivots.
My feet move automatically before I can yell at myself for obeying another one of his brusque commands.
That’s when I notice he has a small entourage with him.
Four hulking men wearing earpieces, tattoos peeking above the collars of their dress shirts. But the last one, a blond with pale skin and thin lips, sneers at me, his gaze crawling down the length of my sweater dress.
Like he’s undressing me with his eyes.
Disgust roils inside me. Alarm bells ring in my head.
“Eyes off her,” Elias barks at the men, who stiffen and avert their gazes.
My chest constricts as I slow my strides, eyeing the small group. I don’t recognize these people, and I know most of the members here. They’re the rich and elite, not these…thugs.
“I’m waiting.” Elias pauses and turns, his gaze steady. “Don’t test my patience.Please, Ms. Anderson.”
I stop, my gut twisting with nervousness. Elias sometimes brings staff to assist with the Rose floors.
But this isn’t it.
“Who are these people?” The four men straighten. They reach for their waists. “What’s going on?”
“It’s for your family. That’s all you need to know.” Elias holds my gaze.
Then hesmiles.
Every hair on my body stands at attention.
I spot an anomaly, something I almost didn’t register.
The blinking red light of the security camera in the corner. It’s gone.Why are the cameras off?
Shaking my head, I unwittingly step back. “No. I’m not moving until you tell me. This feels off. Even for you.”
“Lana,” he warns, his tone still cajoling, but those piercing eyes harden. “They’re my bodyguards.”
What?I scan the menacing men again.No. Definitely not.
Elias’s hand curls into a fist, and his eyes flash with ire.
Danger.
