Page 47 of Marked By Alphas 2: Claimed

I stared at her. She stared back innocently while somehow radiating ‘trust me’ energy in a way that always meant trouble.

The brothers didn’t hesitate. Ice Eyes pulled out the chair across from me while the fighter and the tech mogul grabbed seats on either side of our table. The café’s small four-person table suddenly felt crowded, warmer, filled with their presence in a way that made it hard to breathe.

“Our family has diverse interests,” Ice Eyes said smoothly, his arm nearly brushing mine as he signaled the waitress. His heat seemed to seep across the small space between us. “Real estate, primarily, but we’re always exploring new… opportunities.”

“Opportunities,” I repeated flatly, very aware of how the fighter had positioned himself at my right elbow while his tech-savvy brother sat uncomfortably close to Eomma’s prayer beads. “Is that what we are? The morning’s entertainment opportunity?”

James shifted beside me, and I caught a flash of something hungry in his expression. “You’re certainly entertaining.”

“Funny,” I said sweetly. “I was just thinking how boring this all is.”

Eomma kicked me under the table again, but I caught all three brothers grinning. Even Ice Eyes’ carefully controlled expression had cracked into something more genuine, more dangerous.

“Boring?” Liam leaned forward. “We could make things more interesting.”

“Pretty sure that’s what every serial killer in history has said right before?—”

“Right before what?” Ice Eyes’ voice dropped lower, sending an unwanted shiver down my spine. “Do finish that thought.”

“Right before the bodies are never found,” I said brightly. “But I’m sure you three are totally normal, non-murderous businessmen who regularly harass random tourists. Nothing suspicious about that at all.”

“Suspicious?” The fighter’s laugh was rough velvet. “You wound us.”

“I’m sure you’ll survive the trauma.”

“Such a sharp tongue,” Ice Eyes murmured, close enough that I could feel his breath on my ear. “I wonder what else that mouth of yours can do.”

I nearly choked on my fresh coffee. Eomma’s prayer beads clacked sharply.

“Xander,” she said, her voice carrying that same tone she used on handsy customers in her shop, “perhaps is too early for such talk?”

But I caught her studying the brothers with renewed interest, like she was seeing something beyond their perfect surfaces. Her fingers moved over the beads in a pattern I recognized—not warning now, but seeking.

“My apologies,” Ice Eyes said smoothly, though his gaze still burned into mine. “We’re not usually so… forward with visitors.”

“No?” I raised an eyebrow. “Do you usually wait until at least lunch before the serial killer vibes kick in?”

The tech mogul’s delighted laugh drew looks from other patrons. “Oh, I like him.”

“You like anyone who gives Xander trouble,” the fighter pointed out, but his golden eyes were warm with amusement.

“True,” Liam admitted shamelessly. “But this one’s special.”

“There’s that word again,” I said. “You guys really need to expand your vocabulary.”

Eomma’s beads clicked three times in quick succession. Her sharp intake of breath made all three brothers turn to her.

“Everything alright, Mrs. Kim?” Ice Eyes asked, too casually.

“Oh, yes,” she said, but her smile had turned sharp. “Just remembering important appointment. We must go soon.”

“So soon?” The tech mogul’s disappointment seemed genuine. “But we haven’t even gotten to know each other properly.”

“I think we know exactly what kind of men you are,” I said, matching Ice Eyes’ earlier tone.

His eyes flashed. Actually flashed, like a camera catching light, except there was no camera and the morning sun was still barely touching our table.

“And what kind of men are we?” His voice had dropped to a dangerous purr.

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