Page 74 of Goldsin

A chuckle leaves his lips. “Isn’t it obvious?”

He bought me a dress ...

He bought me a dress.

Why?

“Fine.” I sigh, trying my best not to let his attentive stare catch the gratitude spreading into a blush over mycheeks. “But don’t think I’m wearing this for your benefit.”

He grins. “Of course not.”

He doesn’t make a show of turning the other way while I change into his dress. I know what thoughts invade his mind while he trails my movements, but it’s the subtle change in his gaze that makes me wonder what really lies behind his mask of lust.

Am I just another body to him?

What does he really think about when I’m on his mind?

His childhood best friend? A killer? A body to check off the list?

How different is he from his father? From the Inferno Consortium?

I adjust the straps of the dress as Julian checks his watch. His expression turns stony.

“I need to head out. There’s some business I have to take care of with the Inferno Consortium. You’re sure Eleanora is joining you tonight?”

Right. Whatever he needs to take care of is too much of a burden for me to know. I spilled my guts to him, but he can’t even tell me one thing about tonight.

Classic.

I nod at his question. Eleanora has something to take care of with her family before the dinner, so I’ll meet her there.

“How am I supposed to kill Marcus without her noticing?” My fingers automatically land on my lips as I remember the pale pink lip gloss adorning them.

“Don’t worry about it,” he reassures me as he shootsoff a quick text. “I told Emeric about his ‘little toy’ being at the restaurant tonight. He’ll make sure to keep her busy.”

“Did you tell him about me?”

About me killing people.

“No.” He puts his phone back in his pocket, blue eyes clashing with mine. “He doesn’t need to know.”

“Thank you.” I give him a small smile, relieved no one knows about me.

Yet.

Julian takes a step closer to me, and just when I thought things couldn’t get any weirder, he presses a soft kiss to my forehead, freezing me with the action.

“Knock ’em dead.” He grins sheepishly. Then he leaves.

Only he can find humor in the most unusual of situations.

I watch him turn the corner and disappear, unable to suppress the smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

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“Have you tried their Rendang before?” Eleanora asks. Her tongue peeks out to lick at her lips as her eyes roam the faux-leather menu. “I heard it’s absolutely divine!” Her eyes twinkle with excitement as she peeks up at me.

Soft lights glow from above us, adding a hazy vibe to the biomorphic restaurant. Plants crawl over every wall, and sets of booming flowers sit on each circular wooden table. Red chairs hold the customers as they chatteraway, matching the ceiling-height red curtains at the entrance.

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