Page 31 of Inferno

To loosen up as Misha said.

Then Vlad pops into my head. It not only risks me, it risks Jimmy.

I’m Vlad’s property. If my life were different, I’d jump at the chance.

It feels so right. Sparks crackle around us. He is the first guy I’ve crushed on since I was a teenager.

“I won’t bite. Just a drink,” he says with a soft smile.

But his eyes dart down to where I’m rubbing my arm, and he frowns.

“I can’t. Thank you for the offer, though.”

I swear he’s disappointed as he chews the inside of his mouth.

Well, so am I.

He seems cool. I bet he has good banter. And he makes my stomach flutter.

He simply nods and steps to the side and I rush past him in a hurry.

I clutch my purse tighter against me and perch up on a stool.

I look back and steal another glance. The other guy looks similar to Jimmy.

They have the same slimmer face with a chiseled jaw. Except he has tattoos all the way up to his jawline and up around to his ears.

As he turns, I see the ink spanning on his head where his hair is shaved at the sides.

As his gray eyes meet mine, I look away.

“What can I get you, Miss?” The petite bartender asks.

“What cocktail do you recommend?” I ask, grabbing the menu and scanning the words.

“Sex on the beach?”

I find the details on the page and it sounds sickly sweet.

“Okay. I’ll take one of those. Thank you,” I tell her.

Rubbing my hands along my thighs, I feel safe with my blade under my dress.

I’ve learned to trust no one. That’s why I instinctively picked the barstool with the view of the room and my back to the wall.

No one can get to me without me noticing.

I can’t resist stealing a glance over at Jimmy and his, I assume, brothers.

I expected them to be downing beers and laughing, but instead, they’re staring at their drinks in complete silence.

A burning fire heats my core as his eyes lock with mine.

I’ve been caught ogling him. But it’s hard not to.

He’s, by far, the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.

He has an aura about him, commanding his space.

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