Lochlainn’s expression led me to believe he wasn’t actually surprised to see me here at all.Strange.
My body slightly swayed, balance momentarily leaving me. But I found my footing again and narrowed my eyes at him.
“Do I need your approval?” I sarcastically jabbed.
Stupid, I scolded myself. Not five minutes ago he had a gun to someone’s head, and here I was, poking the emotionally unstable leprechaun.
“Oh love, you’ve made it very clear you get what ya want, with or without my approval.” His eyes closed to slits as he grinned.
Hmmm, wait a minute. That almost sounded like a compliment. Had Iimpressedhim? Perhaps my threat the other week put me higher up on the food chain, no longer seen as a pawn.
I shot him a mocking smile.
“Bartender!” He snapped his fingers. “This gorgeous creature right here will be joining my round of Rainbow Roulette.”He shot a look over his shoulder to the figure who now stood off to the side. “Pogue, you’ll be playing too.”
“And me! I’m in for some fun!” The familiar voice swept through the air. A heart-throbbing smirk came into view as Finley appeared.
I felt a slight tinge of guilt knowing I’d been avoiding him. After our last heated moment and the chaos that followed, getting into anything serious right now was off the table.
Butdamn, he did look smoldering in his Luckman suit. The jacket was off, revealing a white button-down shirt and dark suspenders that made me wanna?—
“Wait!” Breena’s enthusiastic yelp cut off my scandalous thoughts and itching need. She pushed through the crowd.
Aine followed behind, groaning as she rubbed at her temples. “We want in too!”
A man grumbled behind me. “Please tell me I don’t have to get roped into this too . . .”
I spun, finding Keeffe looking irritated. It was clear he wanted to be anywhere but here. But his gaze found Aine’s face and instantly lightened.
“Sorry—with the two additional ladies, the round is officially maxed out!” the bartender declared.
“Thank the fecking fates for that!” Keeffe eased. “I’ll just watch you lot make arses of yourselves.”
Aine snorted, pointing a thumb. “I’m with him. Can you remove me from the roster?”
I swear I heard Keeffe gasp at the words,with him.
“No!” Breena protested, spearing a confident smile to the bartender. “She stays!”
Keeffe laughed, turning to Aine. “My condolences! If ya turn into something unnatural, I promise I’ll make sure they give ya a nice cage. Might even take ya in, make sure you’re well fed,” he added with a cheeky wink.
My face tightened giddily at the flirtation in his voice.
Poor guy, little did he know, Aine enjoyed trampling over men’s hearts, maniacally laughing as she set them ablaze to warm her claws. She didn’t talk about it, but Breena mentioned Aine had been engaged years ago. The douchebag broke it off, along with her heart. She’d been fangs and nails with men ever since. And if that’s what it took for her to heal, then I loved that fucking journey for her.
“Aw, how thoughtful,” she deadpanned. “Hopefully I’ll be something poisonous with fangs. Make sure to pet me—often.”
Her unhinged wink must’ve been a bullet to Keeffe’s heart. He barked out in mad laughter.
“Oh! A feisty one! I like that.”
I had a feeling that part of her did too as she feigned a look of disdain.
I cursed myself for being the weakling most affected by the Liplock potion, but perhaps it was eating away at her too. It was in that moment I saw a tiny crack in her mask. Perhaps, she was more experienced at hiding emotions away than I was.
“I’ll start the game off, then Carwynn, then Pogue”—Lochlainn pointed a finger around—“so on and so forth.”
Our group congregated in a semi-circle around the stone bar. Some patrons behind us watched in anticipation.
