Page 29 of Betrayed in the Dark
“I…” I blink a few times and clear my throat, taking a step away from his touch as I internally shake my head. “I’m fine. Alina”—I point a glare in her direction—“was just teasing.”
His eyes don’t leave me, and I feel a honeyed warmth course through my veins under his attention. I scratch my arm, dropping his gaze as I look off into the distance.
“I’m surprised you’re not still sleeping,” Scarlett says to Eli, causing his eyes to travel to her. “You and Leo got home pretty late last night. Or should I say early this morning?” She laughs.
Excuse me?
“I’m used to having to stay up for long hours. Part of the perks of military life,” he jokes with a slight grin.
I turn my attention to him. “I didn’t know you were out last night.”
He nods. “Just taking care of some business.”
“Anything I should know about?”
“Nothing for you to be concerned with.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You’re my bodyguard. You are my business.”
He arches an eyebrow, challenging me to continue. “Is that so?”
“Yes.” I uncross my arms, placing a hand on my hip. “The first night you’re on duty, and you leave me alone, unprotected. This is going as poorly as I imagined it would.”
His eyes darken as he steps closer, lowering his head to my level. “You think I would ever leave you unprotected?”
“Well, clearly you—”
“Mauro was standing post until I got back.”
My lips part in surprise. “Oh.”
He leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear as he speaks soft enough so only I can hear him. “Your safety is my toppriority. Always has been and always will be. So, you will do well not to question my methods.” He stands straight, towering over me as he glares down at me. “Your brothers asked me to keep you safe, and I promised them I would. Some of us know what it means to keep a promise.”
My hands clench into fists at my sides, my blood pressure on the precipice of boiling over. “How dare—”
“Hey!” Alina squeezes herself between us. “Let’s go visit that chocolate fountain. I think I saw chunks of brownies we can dip in it!”
I lock my gaze on Eli, waiting for him to look away first. Surprisingly, he does. I smile in victory until I notice who has caught his attention—Cressida.
Looking back at him, I see that he can’t tear his eyes away from her, and suddenly, my chest tightens.
“Who’s that?” Eli asks.
Scarlett looks across the room. “Oh, that’s Cressida. Alastor’s twin sister.”
“Huh.”
Seriously?
Taking a step toward him, I give him a playful pat on the chest. “Be careful, Eli. You have drool running down your chin.” I toss my hair over my shoulder and turn to walk away, giving him something to really stare at when a voice suddenly stops me in my tracks.
“There you are, darling.” A sudden chill slithers over my skin, every muscle in my body locking up. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I take a deep breath and turn, facing the man who haunts my nightmares almost every night.
“Alastor.” I feign a smile as he approaches. His blond hair is slicked back, and he’s wearing a soft blue three-piece suit that appears straight off the runway, perfectly fitting his lean frame.He unbuttons his jacket, positioning himself in front of Eli. “I thought you were in Milan for business.”
“I was. But I decided to surprise my fiancée.” His sinister smile grows, revealing everything I need to know.
