Page 43 of Explode
“So?” Rafe said, quirking a brow at me. “He won’t be able to doanything about it. Besides, I thought you were angry at him?”
“I am. But-”
“Then dance with me. Fuck Kai,” Rafe said, pulling my hand towardthe dance floor before I really had a chance to think about it.
He was right though. Fuck Kai. If me dancing with another man hurtKai half as much as I was hurting, then so be it.
When we reached the middle of the dance floor, Rafe grabbed myhips and pulled me close to his body. He rested one hand on my lower back, much like he’d done throughout the night, but held my hand in his other. I placed a hand on his shoulder and took a subtle step back, not wanting to be pressed too close to him.
As he twirled me around the dancefloor, I felt Miles’ angry gaze onme the entire time, and I knew damn well he’d report back to Kai, but I didn’t have it in me to care. The more I thought about it, the more I hoped Kai would be pissed at another man putting his hands on me.
Served him fucking right.
As the next song started playing, a throat clearing had me lookingover my shoulder.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to borrow my son for a minute,”Georgio said, his brows pulled into a frown.
“Can’t it wait?” Rafe huffed.
“No, it can’t. Now, Rafe,” Georgio replied, leaving no room for Rafe toargue, before he disappeared as quickly as he arrived.
“I best go see what he wants,” Rafe said, running a frustrated handdown his face. “Will you be okay for a few minutes?”
“I’m sure I’ll survive,” I replied, secretly glad to be having a break fromhim.
Rafe took my hand and led me off the dance floor, giving it areassuring squeeze before he disappeared into the crowd.
Figuring now was an opportunity for a bathroom break, I turned tohead in the direction, only to spin straight into a hard body.
“Can we talk?” Miles said, angry eyes meeting mine. Why he had theaudacity to be angry was beyond me.
“Not a fucking chance,” I hissed, my temper sparking to life.
“Come on, Riley, you can’t be mad at us forever,” he replied, doinghis best to keep his voice low and not draw attention to the inevitable argument we would have if he didn’t leave me the fuck alone.
“Wanna bet?” With that, I shoved past him, heading in the direction ofthe restroom. He didn’t stop me from going, but I heard him curse under his breath as I stormed past.
Doing my best to remember where the bathroom was, Ieventually found it. The entire Bianchi mansion was grand, and the restroom was no exception. Locking the door, I rolled my eyes as I passed the fucking sofa that dominated the area, as well as the three sinks, before locking myself in a separate cubicle.
Despite living in some darn pretty places since the minute I agreed tothe deal with Kai, it still amazed me just how much people could spend on their houses when just down the road, families were living in poverty. I mean, why on earth did they need three sinks?
Lost in thought about how ridiculous this house was, I took care ofbusiness and stepped back into the main bathroom area to wash my hands, only to freeze at the man leaning casually against the row of sinks.
The second my eyes landed on him, my heart jumped into my throatand my mouth dried up. Kai had shaved off his beard, and he’d had a haircut. He was back to how I remembered him, andfuck, was he gorgeous. For a minute, I forgot why I was mad at him, and my entire being wanted to run to him and climb him like a tree.
“Hello, wife,” he said. His voice snapped me out of the stupor I’d beenlost in, and I shook my head, reminding myself that this man was the root cause of all my pain.
“Hello, liar,” I said, stomping towards him.
I stopped at the sink next to where he stood and started washing myhands, ignoring him and refusing to meet his eye. Guilt washed through me when I wondered how long he’d been here. Fuck, had he seen me dancing with Rafe?
He moved to stand behind me, close enough for me to feel hispresence, but not close enough for him to touch me.
“You looked like you were having fun with Rafe,” he said, answeringmy unspoken question. His eyes blazed with fury, and the hint of venom in his voice was unmissable.
“What are you doing here, Kai?” I asked, ignoring his statement.Nothing good would come of discussing Rafe and me dancing.
“I told you earlier, Star. We’re not done. I gave you time, and nowyou’re coming with me.”
