Page 19 of Act of Passion

She and Edee had a relationship like that. It transcended friendship boundaries. Brooke glanced out at the dance floor to see Edee and Boomer hamming it up together, taking turns doing ’80s dance moves to clubmusic.

Duke and Rurik were at the end of the booth, leaning on one another as they polished off what she was sure was their sixth bottle of vodka. Though, she didn’t understand how that could be. No one could drink that much and live to tell the tale. They raised their glasses and then slammed theshots.

Brooke smiled. “Who knew it would just take vodka to bond the eagle and thebear?”

Malik laughed. “Glad we finally got Rurik to understand the meaning of that. You know, Russian versusAmerican.”

Brooke touched Malik’s hand as she began to people watch. Malik, Corbin, and Garth talked about medical equipment and from the way they kept sharing looks, she knew they were trying to speak in code around her. She didn’t mind. She was still having a nice time even if she didn’t understand what they were going onabout.

She noticed Mr. Rings across the club, seated at a large booth, surrounded by the men in suits. Women were draped all over the men. The resort clearly had a very liberal view on public displays of affection for the Middle East. That, or everyone involved was worth so much money that new rules were made forthem.

That was probably more thecase.

Mr. Rings locked gazes with her and smiled in a way that made her shiver. Instinctively, she pressed her side to Malik, who lifted his arm, putting it around her as he continued to talk to the other men. He rubbed her upper arm and she put her palm to hischest.

Mr. Rings whispered something to the man sitting closest to him, and Brooke’s inner alarms went off again. Something deep inside said they weren’t talking about her, they were talking about Malik. They intended to do him harm. She was sure of it. She’d never thought of herself as a violent person, but the very notion that Malik might be hurt by Mr. Rings and his hired muscle made Brooke want to gouge the man’s eyesout.

Boldly, she sat up straight and glared at Mr. Rings. Cowering and shrinking away from violence faded from her mind. It took her a second to realize Malik was talking toher.

“What? Sorry.” She glanced athim.

He looked in the direction she’d been glaring in and his nostrils flared. “What the fuck is he doing here? Does he want to dietonight?”

Corbin glanced over his shoulder. “Let me guess, asshat is the guy in the whitesuit.”

“Yes,” said Garth. “Hmm, I would have thought he’d have major bruising and a broken nose with as hard as Malik laid himout.”

“If he keeps looking over here, a broken nose will be the least of his concerns,” said Corbin, shaking his head. “Because I’m not sure I can stop Malik should he go at himfully.”

Garth sighed. “Trust me when I say, you do not want to step in the path ofthat.”

Malik took a deep breath and then looked upwards. “Think with my heart, not my fists. Hell, now I just want to think about ripping his heart out with myfists.”

Brooke couldn’t help but laugh as she realized he was repeating what she’d said to him in an attempt to calm his temper. She touched his cheek and turned his head to face her. Channeling her inner Edee, Brooke pressed her mouth to his, kissing him in a way that left no room for interpretation. She wanted him, and they would be togethertonight.

Malik moaned into her mouth and ran his hand into her hair, upping the level of thekiss.

Brooke smiled against his lips. “Did thathelp?”

Malik kept his lips close to hers. “Helpwhat?”

Corbinlaughed.

“Help you with your temper,” shesaid.

“I’m guessing he doesn’t even remember what he was mad about,” said Garth with achuckle.

“I was mad?” asked Malik, his gaze on Brooke’slips.

The menlaughed.

“Take her upstairs and show her what an ancient Egyptian can do,” said Duke, slurring his words slightly. “Question, if a mummy has sex, do pieces of it falloff?”

Corbingroaned.

Garthlaughed.

Brooke just looked at Duke, confused. “Aren’t you two the sameage?”

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