Page 104 of Heroes & Hitmen
She snorts a laugh. “Youareon display, babe. That’s literally the entire point of this evening.”
“Don’t remind me,” I groan, tossing back the last of my champagne and resting my empty flute on the windowsill. “If I die of boredom tonight, I’m coming back to haunt the shit out of you.”
“Promise?” she asks, dark eyes sparking with mischief. “Having my own personal ghost would be a pretty cool flex.”
“Rude.”
“But true,” she says with a wicked grin, flipping her dark hair over a shoulder.
When we’re sniping at each other like this, it’s easy to forget the real reason we’re here– the lie, the looming full moon, the spectacle of the upcoming ceremony. Which is probably why I let myself get distracted enough to drop my guard and don’t see Elias Burke coming until he’s practically on top of us.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the one that got away,” he drawls, zeroing in on me like a heat-seeking missile. The smug grin on his face is enough to turn my stomach, the cloying scent of his cologne making my eyes water.
My hackles go up immediately, but I keep my expression neutral, giving him a single, polite nod. “Nice to see you again, Elias,” I lie through my teeth.
He shouldn’t even be here. The full moon’stomorrow night, and most Alphas would be home with their pack to lead them on their run, not tromping around on another pack’s turf. Something about his presence here doesn’t sit right with me, but no doubt that’s why he was invited in the first place. Alpha loves his power games, and this is just another reminder of how far his extends.
Elias gives me a slow once-over, lewdly licking his lips. “Yourmateshould know better than to let you out of his sight while you’re looking this tempting.”
I can’t stand the way he’s looking at me or the way he says ‘mate’ like it’s a dirty word. I don’t like a single thing about this interaction, but before I can make some excuse to walk away, Jordan opens her mouth and makes everything even worse.
“Andyoushould know better than to say something like that to a woman who’s obviously taken,” she scoffs, glaring daggers at my former suitor.
He swings his attention her way, and for a split second, I see something shift in his gaze. Anger, then calculation, then a quiet sort of amusement as he lifts a brow. “But you’re not, are you?” he asks, smirking. “Jordan, right?”
She plants her hands on her hips, steam practically rolling from her ears. Alarm bells clang in my brain as I glance between the two of them. Elias’ smile turns razor sharp, Jordan looks ready to pop off, and my instincts kick in just in time.
“We were actually just headed to get more champagne,” I announce, flashing my fakest smile yet as I grab for Jordan’s hand. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”
I sidestep before he even has a chance to reply, dragging Jordan with me as I make a beeline across the room. But it looks like I just dodged one bullet to find myself staring down the barrel of something even worse, because Ares is storming our way with murder in his eyes, cutting through the crowd with all the subtlety of a damn wrecking ball. His jaw’s clenched tight, gaze locked on Elias like he’s prey. I can practically feel the ripple of heat from Ares’ glare as he closes the distance, fists balled at his sides.
I plant myself right in his path, throwing up an arm so my palm lands square against his chest. “Don’t,” I hiss under my breath. “Not here, not now.”
He grinds his molars, gaze still trained on Elias. If looks could kill, Burke would be a goner.
Pity they can’t.
“What the hell did he say to you?” Ares grits out, a growl rumbling in his chest.
“Nothing,” I whisper sharply.
He drops his chin, pinning me with a hard look. “Don’t bullshit me, I saw the way he had you cornered. What’d that fucker say?”
“Some sleazy remark about how good she looks tonight,” Jordan pipes up, ever the instigator.
Ares’ nostrils flare with fury as he shifts his gaze to her. I do, too, and she just looks between the two of us with a shrug, completely unrepentant.
“He’s a creep,” she scoffs.
I feel this whole scene teetering on the edge of disaster, so I step toward Ares and yank Jordan with me, raising my voice just enough for them to hear. “Both of you,stop,” I bite out, giving each a pointed look. “We’resoclose to pulling this off, we just need to get through tonight. Don’t do something that could jeopardize everything we’ve worked for, least of all for the sake of that jerk.”
For a moment, neither speaks. The three of us just stand there breathing hard, the tension crackling like static. I see the metallic gleam of their wolves in their irises, dangerously close to the surface and barely suppressed.
Ares finally relents, dragging a hand through his copper hair and exhaling through his teeth. “Fine. But if he so much as looks at you wrong again, I’m–”
“Letting it slide,” I finish for him, lowering my hand to rest on his forearm. “Because we’re all about conflict avoidance tonight, right?”
He grunts his discontentment but thankfully doesn’t argue. Instead, he gives me a sidelong glance, his brow creasing in concern. “You okay?” he asks quietly.
