Page 58 of King of Envy

Just because Vuk had money and power didn’t mean he was made of stone. He had feelings. And sure, he was probably the last person on earth who needed someone to defend him in his absence, but?—

“You know who’snotput off by Vuk’s scars? Polina. She’s been trying to get her claws into him for forever.” Indira fell into step beside me, either oblivious or indifferent to my anger. “She’s been attending every event in the hope that he’ll be there. That girl is determined.”

Polina was a fellow model who was notorious for her string of high-profile relationships, including a brief fling with British soccer star Asher Donovan a few years ago.

My stride faltered. The prospect of Vuk dating Polina edged out my irritation toward Indira. “That’s an awful strategy. He hates public events.”

Plus, he and Polina wouldn’t mesh at all. Her “see and be seen” mentality would drive him up the wall.

That being said, shewasstunning. Vuk didn’t strike me as the shallow type, but most men wouldn’t turn down a gorgeous blonde supermodel if she were throwing herself at them.

My dinner threatened to surge back up my throat. I shouldn’t have drunk so many margaritas.

“He doesn’t hate events as much as he used to.” Indira winked at a passing group of finance bros who ogled us with unabashed desire. “I’ve seen him out and about way more than I used to. He was even at that fashion party in London last year.”

I remembered that party. I was supposed to attend, but I ended up bailing for a last-minute brand dinner with Versace.

“Whatever,” I said. “I don’t really care.” I sped up so I wouldn’t have to talk to Indira anymore.

The escape room was only a few blocks from the restaurant, so we’d opted to walk instead of taking a cab. It seemed as if all of downtown Manhattan was out tonight; we could barely make it past the throngs of people crowding the sidewalks.

Kim squinted at a nearby group of men standing outside one of the bars. “I’m not wearing my glasses so I could be wrong, but…isn’t that your fiancé?”

I paused and focused on the group in question. Several of the men sported cuts and bruises. One of them held an ice pack to his cheek while another argued with an exasperated-looking cop. Silent police lights bathed the group in flashes of red and blue.

I blinked, my brain too overstimulated to focus on any one person in particular.

Sloane beat me to a reaction by half a second. She stopped next to the group and gasped. “Xavier?”

Her boyfriend turned. His dimples winked into view even as a sheepish expression crossed his face. “Hey, Luna. This, uh, isn’t what it looks like.”

She crossed her arms. “It looks like you and the rest of the bachelor party got into a fight and got kicked out of the bar.”

Xavier paused. “Okay, then it’s exactly what it looks like.”

“I swear, I—” Sloane zeroed in on the bruise marring his jaw. “You’re hurt. Where’s your ice pack? You!” She pointed at a random guy loitering nearby. “Get me an ice pack.”

“Lady, I don’t know who you?—”

“Ice pack. Now.”

The guy withered beneath her glare. He gulped and rushed into the bar like the hounds of hell were at his heels.

I never would’ve pegged Sloane for the fussy type, but the sight of her boyfriend’s injury must’ve triggered some latent protective instinct.

“It does hurt,” Xavier said solemnly as she brushed her fingers over his jaw. “Can you kiss it right…there.” He sighed when she pressed a soft kiss to the bruise. “Much better.”

I should’ve taken a cue from Sloane and gone straight to Jordan, but I found myself searching for a dark buzz cut and pale blue eyes instead.

Nothing.

My stomach sank, but I shook it off and quickly found Jordan. He was standing near the edge of the group with his cousin Topher, whom I’d met at our engagement party.

Topher had a gash on his forehead, and Jordan didn’t look much better with his black eye. A weak smile carved through his surprise when he saw me. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Oh my God. What happened? Are you okay?” I rushed to his side and gently touched his face. I winced at the mottle of black and blue skin; his shiner was brutal.

“Yeah. Topher bumped into some drunken idiot who tried to pick a fight with himandKai,” Jordan said. “Then Dante got involved, the other guy’s friends got involved, and, well, things escalated.”

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