Page 17 of Lone Wolf

I see a flash of irritation cross Ariadne’s face, and I know how she feels. I’m not done yet. I want to keep going, keep fighting, take on the fuckingworld?—

But she retreats, stepping backward to rejoin the circle of recruits, and I follow her lead, just like I have the whole time we’ve been fighting. I just hope we’ve done enough to prove ourselves to Hadria Imperioli. But when I glance over toward where she was sitting, my heart drops.

The chair is empty and Hadria is nowhere to be seen.

Ariadne and I are the last ones in the changing rooms again, and I feel like we’re both doing it on purpose, hanging around as an excuse to spend a little more time around each other, both of us trying to figure out why it was we were so damngoodtogether as a team.

I’m on a high. The air is humid and fragrant after all the recruits have been running hot showers, using various shampoos and body washes. Ariadne and I are both still damp in the changing area, each wearing only a towel. Water droplets are clinging to her collarbone and her short blonde hair has soaked darker from the shower, smooth against her head in a sleek cap.

“Girl, we wereincredibleout there,” I say at last. “The way you anticipated that?—”

“Don’t,” Ariadne says, still messing around with her toiletries. She’s been packing and unpacking them in a small toiletries bag, almost as if she doesn’t realize what she’s doing.

“Don’t what?” I ask, genuinely confused. How can she not want to talk about what just happened? The chemistry between us—everyonesaw it.

She zips up her toiletries bag so hard I think she might have broken off the tab. “Don’t pretend we’re friends. We fought well together. That’s all.”

Fuck this girl, seriously. No matter how much heat generates between us, she always finds a way to freeze me out again. “Oh, yeah?” I say. “I bet we’d do a whole lot of things well together, if you gave it a chance. But whatever you say, Frostbite.”

Her head swivels like she’s in thatExorcistmovie and she glares at me. The look should intimidate me, but instead, it sends a thrill down my spine. Getting a reaction from her—any reaction—feels like victory.

And to counter, I just pull off my towel and let it drop on the bench seat, stretching, giving her my cheekiest smile. I don’t care about nudity. I lost any shame I had about my body a long time ago.

And then the weirdest thing happens.

Ariadne’s hands creep up to where she’s tucked her towel firmly over her breasts. Her blue eyes never leave mine, something like defiance flashing in their depths. She loosens it…

And lets it fall.

It drops to her feet, leaving her gloriously naked. My eyes drink in the map of silver traces across her skin, the faded scars…and the few newer ones, too, pink and still raised. She has fewer than I expected, but more than I’d like. They speak to a brutal past. But under them, her skin is smooth and tan over strong, lean muscle. Her breasts are small and perky where mine are larger, softer. She’s staring at mine, her gaze almost hungry, and my nipples tighten up in response. She keeps her thatch trimmed and under control, just like every other aspect of her life, but the soft, light brown curls look so inviting, I?—

“Hope I’m not interrupting.” Lyssa’s voice is as dry as a desert, and for the first time I get to see Ariadne jump. But since I did too, I can’t enjoy the moment as much as I’d like. I scrabble around for my clothes, just like she is, but Lyssa’s already moving on, completely unfazed by our state of undress. “You two—you’re coming out on a mission tonight for the Syndicate. Eat light at dinner and come to the war room at ten.”

Both of us nod, but Lyssa has already turned to leave. I pack up my things with a fast-beating heart, hands a little shaky as the reality of what just happened—both the nudity and the mission assignment—sinks in. I’m pretty sure I feel the same energy from Ariadne—but when I turn to her with a conspiratorial and congratulatory grin, she’s already pulled on her clothes and won’t look at me.

Well, if she refuses to be happy about this, I’m not going to let it stop me. “See you tonight, Frostbite,” I call after her.

“Call me that again and I will eviscerate you,” she tosses over her shoulder.

But there’s no real heat in the threat, and I just laugh, because I’m pretty sure I’m figuring her out now.

Death threats are her way of flirting.

CHAPTER 7

Ariadne

The Styx Syndicate’swar room was a legendary part of the old house. And according to stories I’ve heard, the new war room is the only room in the new mansion that has been recreated exactly like the old. The large, heavy double doors with the brass model of a three-headed Cerberus. The long table inside where full Syndicate members are allowed to sit, while recruits and those still proving themselves stand behind.

And Hadria Imperioli’s throne at the head—a huge wooden beast of a thing that somehow still seems less intimidating than the occupant herself.

She’s in it now as Sunny and I are ushered in by Lyssa and Scarlett. Hadria rises from her chair and comes down the few steps to look us over critically, walking around the two of us in a circle. Mario and Ricky, two other senior members, are at the table, watching on.

“You’re sure about this, Boss?” Lyssa asks.

“I believe so. Yes. They have to learn sooner or later.” She stops in front of us. “You two work together well. And I need a coupleof unknown faces to take on a mission tonight. I’ll take your presence here as confirmation that you want to take this mission on.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Sunny says, nearly bouncing on her toes with enthusiasm.

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