Page 79 of Lady Killer

My stomach turned.

It very much was something for me to worry about. It was the whole reason I was here.

Wasn’t it?

“She’s late.” Lucian distinctive baritone cut throughthe air.

Technically, I had been early and had been hovering just beyond the entrance to the dining room for the last couple of minutes, but I wasn’t about to admit that.

“I believe she’s standing outside the room right now, Lucian.”

Perceptive psychopath.

Quashing down any feelings that might resemble fear, I strode in with my head held high, tossing my waves over my one exposed shoulder.

“You’re late,” the eldest Blackwell snapped, even as his eyes roamed my body.

My plan had been to sit as far away as possible from the man who currently held my life in his hands.

In theory, it shouldn’t have been a problem. The polished mahogany table could double as a runway.

In reality, the table had been made up for six, and five of the spots were occupied. The only one that was open . . .

“That’s my spot, Starbright. I wanted you to have it.”

Did I say perceptive?

I took my seat next to Lucian at the head of the table, which positioned me directly across from Locke, who eyed me as if I were a carcass someone had scraped off the side of the road. Everest was on my other side, across from Alister who sat between Locke and his twin.

“Thank you, Everest,” I said through clenched teeth.

A door swung open, and a pair of neatly dressed staff came out carrying trays.

“The first course is a creamy shrimp and crab bisque.”

Lucian dismissed them with a wave of his hand, and the staff disappeared from sight, leaving me alone with the Blackwell men.

Five pairs of eyes stared me down.

“You start with the outer cutlery and work your way in.”

From anyone else, the advice might have been offered in good faith, but from Locke, it was clearly a snub.

I didn’t rise to the bait.

Instead, I picked up my soup spoon and gracefully dipped it into the broth, lowering the bowl of the spoon into the center of the soup and scooping away from me, as was the proper etiquette. I arched a brow at him. “Amazing what one can learn from the internet these days.”

“And yet you still haven’t—‍”

“Enough,” Lucian cut Locke off. “I didn’t bring her here for the two of you to bicker.”

His choice of words set off alarm bells, but I didn’t want to give him a reaction.

Taking another sip, I forced myself to savor the creamy soup first. “Why am I here?” I said, giving him a cursory glance before returning my attention to the soup.

“Yes, big brother, why is Everest and Ali’s latest toy here?” Nixon drawled.

“She is here because I commanded it.”

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