Chapter 28
"Domino"
Ikept a three-step distance from Ajori all night. I made sure I was close enough to protect, but far enough not to breathe her in.
And damn… I wanted to breathe her in.
I hadn’t said a word to her in days… not after Alejandro warned me with his eyes. But Ajori? She played the game too well.
The slow smiles.
The fake “boyfriend” line.
The subtle glances that weren’t so subtle.
And her dress…
It was black silk, high cut on her thigh, and had her back exposed as if she didn’t believe in consequences. The thin straps appeared to be more for show than support, and my focus locked exactly where they failed.It felt intentional, like she put it on with me in mind. I kept my face neutral, as I always did, but inside, I was one wrong move away from reckless.
Then some pretty-boy cartel baby with no survival instincts walked up to her like he had options.
“Sorry. I have a boyfriend.”
I hated that she said it… hated more that the wordboyfrienddidn’t belong to me.
I stayed where I was when they walked off, but my eyes followed her anyway.
They always did.
An hour later, the gathering began to wind down. As people started to leave, I stepped outside for some fresh airandto find Ajori, who I had last seen going in that direction. When I stepped out on that balcony, I noticed her leaning over it, back to me, heels in her hand, and that dress still doing too much. For a second, I forgot how to breathe… then I remembered who I was.
I walked up on her quietly. “That wasn’t a smart lie to tell.”
Ajori turned quickly. Surprise flashed, then disappeared. “Excuse me?”
“About you having a boyfriend. Could’ve got that man killed if somebody believed you.”
Her eyebrow lifted. Instead of stepping back, she stepped closer. “Are you saying thatyouwould’ve been the one to pull the trigger?”
My eyes dropped to her mouth for a second before I dragged them back up.
“I don’t kill for jealousy.”
“But you were jealous?”
I looked away for a second, then back at her. “Does it matter?”
She stepped closer. “No… but you looked like it did.”
My jaw tightened because she was too close now.
“And how are you so sure that I don’t have a boyfriend?”
“I know enough about you.”
“Like what?”
My eyes moved over her, slower that time, no hiding it.
