Page 56 of A Broken Promise

“Oh, go suck one, Florian,” Priya shouted back and dramatically rolled her eyes.

“Priya!” the tall slender man with long auburn hair behind the bar cheerfully called out. “Long time no see.” Florian smiled wide. He put a towel on his sharp shoulder and pulled out two shot glasses. “Always good to see my favorite partner looking alive and well.” He grinned with satisfaction seeing the irritation on Priya’s face. His teeth were perfectly white against his slightly tanned skin. His long, straight hair was neatly tied in a low half ponytail in the back.

“So nice of you to bring me a gift.” He mischievously smirked at me, taking my hand and landing a soft kiss on it. Priya impatiently growled near me, and he held my hand a second longer. Whoever he was, he got under her skin like nobody else could and he enjoyed that. “So, who is the new eye candy with you today?” He pointed with his sharp chin towards me and winked with his bright hazel eyes. “New girlfriend of yours?”

Priya smirked as if remembering last night.

“No, but she really wishes.”

Baffled, I opened my mouth to object, but Florian continued.

“So, sheison the market then. Interesting.” He now stared at me, his eyes intriguingly poking and probing me already. I bit on my lip, just slightly fighting the urge to smile back yet the corners of my lips still curved up as he ran his thumb down his chin, those eyes teasing me.

“Did you run out of whores here that you’re getting so desperate, Florian?” Priya shot back a snarky smile and took a quick shot of whatever drink he poured into her glass.

“What can I say, whores are fun, but I am a sucker for a diamond in the rough.” He winked and I stifled a small, girly laugh. Though, by the look of his eyes, he knew that.

He poured another shot.

“My new creation. We call it the Devouring Destroyer. Becoming quite popular these days,” he said as he lit up the clear liquid and a bright silver flame sparked in the cup. Priya rolled her eyes hard and quickly drank hers. I froze. My eyes pinned on the flames.

He must have noticed my unmoving body and the dread stirring up in my eyes.

“It won’t burn, I promise,” he said, his voice comforting as he ran his hand through the flames quickly.

“Hmm.” Priya's eyes were now on me, as I fought the utter panic crawling up from within.

“It’s okay, beautiful,” Florian said as he took the shot and drank it whole. I finally exhaled, shoving down memories that those silver flames called back in. “Not your cup of tea and that’s okay. Just wait until you try this. And this time, no fire needed.” He gently smiled as he turned to the bar and poured in a few cocktails in a tall cup.

“How is the business?” Priya asked, getting up from the chair.

“It’s been doing great, especially since people are still so tense after that Rebel bust a few weeks back. It has been quieter here, but demand on deliveries has been through the roof,” Florian said, squeezing a small piece of lemon. “Pesky little pests or not, those Rebels are good for business.”

“Rebels my ass, I told you that new stuff is good shit.” Priya smiled like a cat, content with whatever Florian reported.

“What can I say, you are never wrong.” He winked at her.

Priya smiled but flipped him off with both hands. Though she was completely and utterly annoyed, I had never seen her as relaxed and comfortable with any man as she was with Florian.

“I am off to see the old man and convince him to chop your head off.” Priya took a few steps down the hall. Florian chuckled but nodded.

I stood up, unsure if I were to follow.

“Try to keep your panties on while I am gone.” Priya looked at me and waved goodbye with her hand before I could say a thing.

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Florian shouted at Priya’s back.

“You know I am not mute, right?” I rolled my eyes at him, smiling. Florian was charming and he very well knew what his presence and his flirtatious looks could do to a woman. He truly enjoyed seeing the lightblush on my cheeks. I sat on the barstool, tucking in my hands under my thighs.

“So, she does speak after all.” He grinned.

Florian leaned towards me on the counter. His long sleeve, white, button up shirt was crisp, top buttons completely unbuttoned showing just a peek of the large floral tattoo across his smooth chest. “What are we going to do with you today?” he purred.

I eyed the bright pink drink in a fancy glass he now set in front of me, pretending to ignore his not so stealthy stare.

“So, what is this place? What do you do here?” I finally dared up to look at his seductive smile. His thick brows raised in amusement.

“She is a player after all... and here I thought we were just merely exchanging smiles.” He smirked even wider. “Good move, gorgeous, good move.”

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