Page 125 of The Heart You Kept

“Says the woman trying to piss off the most powerful man in Europe, have you gone completely fucking mad?”

“I’m in the middle of it right now,” I whisper angrily.

“What will it be?” the bartender asks.

“Umm….” I open the menu.

“Do tell what this great thing that we have to order is?” Thomas raises an eyebrow.

“Dead in a ditch looks good.” I smile through gritted teeth.

“Be careful what you wish for, Alora.” He smiles sweetly. “I’m pretty sure his bodyguards kill people for less.”

I look over at them. “You think?”

“I know.” He widens his eyes. “You do not fuck with this man.”

“Oh.” I frown. “Maybe just⁠—”

“Order some goddamn drinks.” He cuts me off.

My eyes scan the choices on the menu. “If you only listened to me, I did tell you not to come.”

“Oh, so this is my fault.”

“Absolutely.”

“For the record.” He continues reading the menu. “If we do happen to survive tonight, we are one hundred percent having sex.”

“Oh my god. Stop talking,” I whisper angrily. “Just get me the fuck out of here.”

EDWARD

I watch Alora and Thomas at the bar, furious.

“Excuse me for a moment, I’m just going to the bathroom,” I tell Colette.

“Sure.”

I walk past my men and give them a subtle nod; they follow me out to the foyer.

“Yes, boss?”

“Who is that man with Alora?”

They exchange glances. “No idea.”

“I want a name and address, you have ten minutes.” I turn and walk back to Colette.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I dig it out.

Philippe

To use facial recognition we need a close photo.

Fucking idiots. I run my tongue over my teeth in annoyance.

This is a first.