Page 99 of Wicked Savage

I roll my eyes. “Exactly. What I’m trying to attract is caffeine.”

I grab the menu, searching for a latte option, but I catch a look between the girls. A look that doesn’t sit right with me.

“What was that?” I narrow my eyes at Natalia, already knowing that if there’s trouble, she’s at the center of it.

Before she can answer, the waitress arrives. I order a vanilla latte and a chocolate croissant, my eyes still fixed on the girls, sensing something's up. When she leaves, I lean in closer.

“So, what’s really going on here?”

Alisa bites her lip, while Natalia's smile turns devious.

“Remember, I only do things because I love you,” Natalia says.

“What the hell does that mean?—”

Before I can finish, a guy’s voice cuts through. “Nat!”

Two others follow behind, pulling up chairs and sitting with us.

My blood freezes.

“What the hell is this, Nat?” I whisper, my voice sharp with disbelief.

She meets my glare with a tight one of her own. “Boys, this is my hot cousin, Dinara. The one I told you about. Just got out of a breakup, so be gentle with her.” Her gaze locks on to the guy who’s about to sit next to me.

I can’t believe she did this. The last thing I want right now is small talk with someone I’ll never see again. What a waste of time.

“I’m Ace. Nice to meet you.” He smirks, a little too confidently.

He’s tall, lean—attractive, I guess—but there’s no spark. Not the way Cillian has always made my heart beat faster.

And there it is. That rush of thoughts about him.

Where is he? What’s he doing? Who’s he with?

A pang of jealousy stabs at me, sharp and bitter. I don’t want to think about him moving on, falling in love with someone else. Not that he ever loved me.

“I’m not dating,” I say quickly.

“She’s not datingyet,” Natalia adds, grinning.

Ace laughs, but it’s too cocky. “That’s fine. We don’t have to date. We can get to know each other in other ways.”

His hand brushes my knee, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I shove his hand away, glaring.

“Don’t touch me.”

He raises both palms in mock surrender. “Sorry. You’re just so pretty.”

“That doesn’t give you permission to touch me.”

His eyes slide over me, and I feel exposed. It’s like his gaze strips me bare, and I want to crawl out of my skin.

“I need to use the restroom.”

“Do you want us to come with?” Natalia calls after me.

“Nope. You've done enough.” I narrow my eyes as I start walking toward the restroom.

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