Page 56 of One of Them

Maxim reached into his jeans pocket, lighting up a cigarette. After the first hit, he answered, “A lot.”

“Not tattoos.”

A puff of smoke accompanied his laugh. “I know.”

We seriously had to stop meeting at night. I wanted to observe his expressions closely. I wished to stare into his eyes when the sun brought out their color. To see more than just flashes of who he was through the shadows the world wrapped us in.

I’d already seen the darkness. Now, I strangely craved the light.

“Turn them off,” he ordered.

“What?”

Maxim pointed to my head, circling his finger. “The wheels turning in your head.”

His body entered my personal space, flooding every sense with its overwhelming presence.

He looked down, deep into my eyes. “We both sense it,” he hinted, running his fingers up my arm. “You and I are the biggest danger out there.”

Goosebumps covered my skin in anticipation, but I held his gaze.

“Wouldn’t that mean I should be alert around you?”

Maxim chuckled. “You sure were alert last night,” he rubbed the memory in.

The darkness hid the evil side-eye I threw his way, or maybe he just ignored it. Either way, I resorted to action. I lifted my knee, but he blocked the attempt, pushing my leg back down.

“You’re safe with me.”

A snicker slipped out of me. “I’m not looking for a dark knight.” I tapped my index finger against the middle of my chest. “I’m my own weapon.”

His gaze traveled the length of my body, assessing. “You look like you’re capable of handling two.”

Safe.I laughed internally. The word had nothing to do with capability.

There was never a time in my life when I was truly safe. No one was. Not even with numbers.

“Promises don’t mean much to me,” I confessed.

“I don’t give those,” he shot back, standing firm. “I’m giving you my word.”

I let out a puff of laughter, the sound floating between us. “I’ve yet to meet a gangster who keeps it.”

“Another generalization.” Maxim shook his head in disapproval, his tone one of disappointment. “Baby, we’ve got so much to work on.”

He slid his warm hand around my neck, rotating me to face the opposite direction. Together, we took a step toward the entrance, the sun-warmed pavement crunching beneath our sneakers.

His stubble grazed my ear when he whispered, “I’ll prove you right for every wrong they’ve convinced you of.”

A light kiss brushed my neck where his hands had just been, before he returned to his spot.

Without a glance back, I made my way to Alisa at the bar. Sweat beaded on my neck as I tried to ignore the heat, lowering myself onto the stool.

Alisa sat straight, her maxi dress trailing to the floor.

“They’re here,” I murmured, my voice low.

She remained still, her rosy cheeks matching the color of her shoes.

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