Page 81 of Jude

‘You’re beautiful, Sofia,’ he rasped, and I shivered at the timbred sincerity.

‘Not so bad yourself,’ I breathed as I took his arm.

We arrived at the venue and stepped into the elevator, riding it up to the rooftop deck. The space boasted expansive views of the glowing Nashville skyline.

‘The kitchen belongs to a Michelin-starred chef,’ Jude told me as the doors slid open. ‘He specializes in high-quality cuts of American and Kobe beef.’

‘I don’t care about the stars,’ I laughed as my stomach let out a loud growl. ‘I’m starving.’

Levi, Reign, Bishop, Angel, and Evangeline were already seated at a circular table near the glass railing.

I greeted the guys, then pivoted to meet Angel’s other half, flashing her a genuine smile.

Evangeline was a striking, classical beauty, no doubt.

Her platinum blonde hair hung in sleek waves, framing an immaculate face with porcelain skin and vivid blue eyes.

It seemed the Six Sinners had a type.

An expensive designer silk jumpsuit draped her slight frame, and she balanced on sky-high stilettos.

She offered me a terse nod, her expression dismissive as she turned her shoulder away.

I recognized her type at once, a woman accustomed to weaponizing her appearance to get her way.

She viewed my presence as either competition or an unwanted intrusion into her exclusive social playground.

Angel sat right beside her, oblivious to her coldness.

It seemed tragic.

Throughout the first course, Evangeline ignored me, directing her conversation to the men.

Jude took note of the slight, his jaw tightening as he cut his prime rib.

‘Nice of you to include us, Evangeline,’ Jude muttered, his voice laced with dry sarcasm. ‘We wouldn’t want Sofia to monopolize your precious attention.’

Angel snapped his head up, his eyes narrowing at his bandmate. ‘Lay off, Jude. She’s just tired tonight.’

‘She’s rude, Angel,’ Deacon spoke up from the end of the table, his blunt tone slicing through the tension. ‘There’s a major difference.’

‘Hey,’ Angel protested, but it came with zero fire.

He appeared to be far too in love to see his woman for what she truly was, blinded by her polished, expensive exterior and unaware of how high-maintenance she was.

Evangeline let out a dramatic huff, throwing her linen napkin onto the tablecloth.

She stood up and shot me a glare, as if I had anything to do with her bad diva behavior.

Tossing her hair, she marched toward the crowded marble bar.

I tracked her progress as Angel followed her into the lounge.

I arched a brow as she straight-up punched Angel in his shoulder.

He shook it off, grabbing her hand and holding it in a tight grip as he spoke to her, trying to calm her down.

‘There she blows again, and there he goes babying her,’ Jude muttered into my ear as his hand slid behind my chair. ‘Probably promising her diamonds and more shopping trips to keep her calm.’