Page 61 of BounBound By Scars

I didn’t answer.

His arm slid around my waist, pulling me subtly closer. “Wow,” he drawled under his breath, gaze flicking over my shoulder. “That man is about ready to bawl his eyes out.”

“What the—”

He turned me gently, angling my body toward his. His voice dropped to a low, rumbling murmur, the heat of it ghosting over my cheek. “You’ve properly enticed him, sweetheart.”

And I didn’t dare look.

Because I didn’t need to.

I alreadyknew.

But what I didn’t know was how many drinks had Sebastian had for him to be pulling this shit.

SIXTEEN

Amelia

Sebastian’s body suddenly stiffened. I followed his gaze just as he leaned close and muttered under his breath, low and sharp, “Don’t say a fucking word.”

The fuck?

I turned to him, one brow raised. “Excuse me?”

But before he could respond, two people walked up—approaching like they had all the time in the world and none of the courtesy to match. Detective Inez Grayson looked stunning. Tall, confident, her strides sharp and deliberate in sleek black trousers and a tailored jacket that screamed authority. She’d let her thick dark curls down, and her signature smirk? Devil incarnate levels of smug.

The man beside her was broad-shouldered and handsome, his tan skin dusted with stubble, brown eyes alert and flicking across the room like he’d already mapped out every exit. Sharp cheekbones, subtle scar down his jaw. There was something quiet and dangerous about him. But no Damien in sight.

Seb’s jaw ticked.

I straightened as they reached us and offered a polite, “Good evening, Inez.”

“So good to see you again, Amelia,” she said smoothly, offering her hand to me, her grin widening like she already knew every thought I’d ever had.

I didn’t get a chance to respond before Seb ground out, “Officer Grayson.”

Inez didn’t even blink. She just smiled, slow and lethal. “It’s Detective Inez Grayson, Ranger.”

My brows shot up.

Ranger?

Oh, this just got interesting.

“This is my partner,” Inez continued, gesturing casually toward the man beside her. “Detective Mateo Cuesta.”

Mateo gave me a polite nod. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he cocked his head. “What happened to the other one? Ran him away, did you?” He said, low and harsh.

Mateo blinked, confused. “Wow! Inez, you don’t have to—”

But Inez just let out a soft strained chuckle, eyes glinting. “Still salty aboutthat?That was years ago, Sebastian.”

I glanced between them, their animosity growing. Mateo was looking at Inez like she was a time bomb ready to blow any second. But she seemed fine to me.

Inez turned to me, then, finally giving me her full attention—and holy hell, it was intense. Her eyes dragged over me from head to toe, slow and deliberate, and the smile that followed?

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