Page 96 of Dark Wolf Soul
Like I’m not even here.
Like I never even existed.
Will anyone miss me when I’m dead?
Mia? Violet? Grey?
His name makes my eyes burn with hot tears, but I refuse to give in to them. Blinking away the moisture, I note the bartender from the other day back at his post. Bobby something or other. He looks over at me, and I flash him my middle finger. He chuckles and goes back to polishing glasses.
“Classy,” Dom says.
I recover and glare at him. “Fuck you.”
He stalks up to me so quickly that I shrink away from him. But he only leans in closer until I can smell his stale breath as he says, “You play your cards right, princess, you might just get your wish someday.”
He flashes me a parting wink, and it takes every ounce of my self-control not to chase him down and claw his eyes out with my freshly painted nails. Then again, if I’m about to die anyway, why hold myself back?
The back door swings open, and Franco steps out. Three more men enter behind him and fan out into the space. They all wear the same slacks and button-downs as the guards at the front door. I’m starting to realize “business killer casual” is a specific look in Indigo Hills. Like every bodyguard in the city shops at the same store or something.
“Boss, she’s here,” Dom says.
“No shit, Sherlock. I can see her standing there.” Franco frowns as he pauses in front of Dom. “What the hell happened to you?”
Dom dabs at his cheek, and I feel a sense of satisfaction at the blood that stains his fingers when he pulls his hand away. He looks over, glaring at me as he realizes I actually injured him.
“Classy,” I toss back at him.
His eyes narrow, and he starts toward me, but Franco stops him. Instead, the old man himself strides over to where I stand, disheveled and terrified, though I’m hoping he doesn’t notice the latter.
“You wanted to see me so badly the other day,” he taunts. “Now, you’ve suddenly changed your mind?”
“I’ve re-evaluated.”
He smiles smugly. “So have I.”
At the back, another guard pushes through the doorway from the kitchen. He glances around the room then settles on Franco.
“Found him in the alley outside,” he says.
Then he moves aside to reveal a familiar face.
Ramsey.
“Dismissed,” Franco tells the guard.
The man retreats into the kitchen, leaving Ramsey standing before us. Rage builds inside me all over again at seeing him in the same room with Franco and Dom. He’s the enemy now, and I want nothing more to do with him except to pay him back for his betrayal.
“You’re not worried your people will see you here?” Franco asks him.
“Of course I am. But your guy did a snatch-and-grab on the street before I even pulled away. I can’t be seen driving off and leaving her ass here.”
“Take a seat and shut your mouth then.” Franco waves him off toward the bar, and I’m surprised to watch as Ramsey does as he’s ordered.
Franco turns back to me. “Now, about that re-evaluation.”
“Whatever you’re going to do to me, it won’t matter.” I muster all the bravery I can as he cocks his head, studying me with an expression that says he knows I’m full of shit.
“And why is that?”
