Page 58 of Violent Pawn

She leans back, smirking, but the faint blush around her collar tells me she’s lying to herself. “My, aren’t we full of ourselves.”

“Simply stating facts, cara mia.”

She turns, winding her arms around my neck, and her fingers sink into my hair. She’s soft against me. Thank you, liquor. It never does me wrong.

“Maybe you shouldn’t assume. Men who assume never win.”

“Is that why you’re in my arms and not theirs? Are they the ones you kissed the other day? The ones you moaned for. The ones who⁠—”

“I did not!” Her screech yanks her from my hold and calls attention to a few nearby people.

I grab her hand before she starts making a bigger fool of us and drag her to the opposite side of the floor, arm sliding around her waist to ensure she doesn’t bolt. “Deny it all you want, but I know the truth, and that’s all that matters.”

“Wait.” She digs her heels into the sticky floor as we near the door. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“But it’s New Year’s—we can’t go. Van…”

I glance over the many bodies, finding Vanessa in Zeno’s arms close to the bar where I left them. “Vanessa is perfectly fine. This is no different than your Friday night adventures when you two would separate anyway. Allow me to make it a better experience. Do you trust me?”

On bated breath, she finally murmurs, “Don’t know why I do, but da.”

“Then”—I grasp her hand—“come with me.”

We pass the Bratva guards, and when one steps forward to intercept, she waves them down. Despite being an easy ticket to get away from me, her arguments continue right out the doors. “Us being alone is a bad idea. Besides, you want to leave behind alcohol?”

For once, yes. I want her more than liquor. It’s New Year’s Eve, and my emotions can fuck off for the remaining few hours of this year in order to spend them with her. She’s more potent than any drink.

“Why’s it a bad idea for us to be alone?”

“Because we kissed.” She hiccups, her gaze as glassy as Vanessa’s was. For once, I have someone to take care of. Someone I want to take care of. I’ll be the sober one between us and prove I can be—for her. “The more time we spend together, the more I like you. But I hate you because that can’t happen. Nero, I can’t like you.” She grips the base of my shirt, her fingers silk against my waist. “You understand? I won’t survive.”

Ah, the sweet truth-telling serum of liquor.

“I don’t understand.” Yeah, I’m digging, but this might be the most honesty I’ll ever get from her.

“You remind me of them.” She brings both hands up to my face and squishes my cheeks together in a manner quite painful. My cheeks jam into my teeth from the inside. “Your pretty-boy looks and cocky attitude remind me of who I hate, so I can’t hang out with you any longer.”

If only I understood what that actually meant. Someone’s clearly hurt her before. She said as much in my bedroom. Hearing there are multiple someones sends a fire through my veins with the need to know everything.

Asking while she’s openly talking is so. Fucking. Tempting. But the words don’t leave my tongue, the emotions I’m drowning in for the past eleven years becoming thicker, muddier—tainted with her. Her secrets are hers…and I can’t trick her this way.

I lift my face from her hands and lead the way down the road, while maintaining my hold on her. “Maybe the more time you spend with me, you’ll see I’m not them.”

29

ANASTASIA

The town is partially blurred, lights from stoplights and store signs blending into streaks of colour that confuse my mind while also sobering me.

Nero’s arm is around my waist, keeping me upright, and I trust him.

Between the two of us, he’s more sober, which seems to be huge for Nero. He had a single shot when speaking to Zeno.

I know because I watched.

At the end of the block and away from the club, he hails a passing cab and helps me inside. He shows the driver an address on his phone and settles in beside me.