Page 32 of Saving Saul

I can’t have that,

“Don’t touch me,” I bite out, my voice sharper than I feel, and I rip my hand away. The pearls throw a bite of heat at my neck, but I ignore them. I didn’t realize how angry I was until I saw him, and honestly, my ancestors and him can go to hell for the night.

Deep and rich, his laughter follows me as I stomp down the stage, sending another wave of anger straight through me. I whirl around, scowling, only to find his gaze still on me, drinking me in like I’m the only thing in this room worth looking at.

“I’ll see you soon, sweetheart,” he calls, his voice dripping with amusement.

I hate him. I hate how my body reacts to him. I hate that he still has the power to make my thighs clench just by existing.

And yet… I can't believe he's been here, in my city, all this time.

Selene’s voice cuts through my swirling thoughts. “Yes, I cannot believe you won! Drinks are on you tonight.”

I scoff, waving the check in her face at the bottom of the stairs. “You have to be kidding me. Aren’t you the one who said this wasn’t even a real costume? That I was just using it as an excuse to be a thot?”

Selene rolls her eyes, clearly unbothered. “Yeah, yeah. Meanwhile, you got eye-fucked by the finest man I have ever seen, and I don’t even think you blinked.”

I glare at her. “Never mind all that. Let’s go. We came, we saw, and”—I shake the check in her face again—“I conquered.”

Selene giggles, then nudges me toward the VIP lounge. “Nope, we just got here. And I have a surprise for you.”

I pause mid-step, side-eyeing her. “I hate your surprises.”

She grins, ignoring me. “Remember Antoine Dupree?”

Oh. Hell. No.

I spin to face her. “Of course, I remember that arrogant, pushy asshole. He spent most of our senior year trying to get in my pants and never took no for an answer.”

Selene waves a dismissive hand. “He’s the new Chief of Police now. He’s matured. Besides, I may have told him you’d stop by the VIP lounge to say hi.”

I snap my head back so fast I almost give myself whiplash. “Youwhat?”

She groans, grabbing my wrist. “Comeon, Tessa. Live a little. He’s fine as hell, and he’s been asking about you. Plus, that fine-ass man I was talking to is his frat brother. I need you with me.”

I dig my heels in, planting myself like a tree. “No. Absolutely not. I don’t need to entertain any man tonight.”

I need to go back to Saul and demand some goddamn answers.

But Selene is relentless. “You’re not seriously still holding out forMr. Behind-the-Wall.”

My jaw clenches. “Do not talk about things you don’t understand just because you want your way.”

Selene sighs dramatically, but I don’t budge.

Then she pouts.

And against my better judgment, I cave.

“Fine. One hour.One.”

She claps like a damn child. “It’ll be fun. You’ll see.”

I doubt it.

I glance over my shoulder as we climb the steps to the VIP lounge, my gut twisting. Saul is nowhere in sight, but I canfeelhim watching me. And something tells me that his being here tonight is no coincidence.

“Well, well, well,” a deep, overly familiar voice booms. “If it isn’t Tessa Baptiste.”

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