Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
His knuckles come up, pressing at the underside of my jaw, but then he holds.
Freezes.
He waits.
Gaze bold and sure, he places a bet in his mind, one I hear.
One I am going to win, as stupid as the move may prove to be.
I lift my mouth to his, feathering it across his bottom lip, and the corner of his mouth hitches the slightest bit as he applies pressure, sealing our kiss airtight, but he doesn’t take it further.
Doesn’t force my lips to part or choke me with his tongue like I expected.
Like I hoped?
Slowly, Bastian pulls back, eyes on mine, satisfaction swimming in his own, but when he blinks, it’s gone, nothing but a harsh, wicked glare in its place.
And then they flick over my shoulder, his chin lowering at the same time as he stares into the mirrored glass at my back, the glass the others are standing behind. Watching. Waiting.
Rough, long fingers thread into my hair, tugging harshly but not yanking, just a solid, firm grip that teases and tingles the scalp. Tipping my head, he leans forward, the warmth of his breath fanning along my neck as he moves toward my ear.
He holds there, eyes strong on the mirror, grip tight and possessive, and then he whispers, for only me to hear, “Behave, Little Thief.”
He pulls back, his teeth sinking into his lower lip as he tugs mine down with his thumb, eyes narrowing. “Do not test me.”
All at once, I’m released. He steps back to adjust his jacket and saunters toward the door, patting Carson on the shoulder on his way as if he owns the fucking place.
Carson laughs at something he says and bows.
Bastian’s brows betray him, lifting, but only by a fraction at the show of respect, of superiority, and then he walks out the door.
It’s not until I realize the world keeps spinning, as if he were never here, that I snap out of my shock and press the button on the bottom of the bar so someone knows to swap me out.
The second I get to the side door, it opens, and Valley slides in as I move out.
Bronx, Delta, and the rest of our tight-knit group are waiting by the exit and say not a word as we rush into the hall, scurry down it and into the Greyson Suite as I tug my dress back over my head, my skin itching to be covered once more.
I no sooner slap my palm on the side door to lock us inside the private space when Dom starts speaking into his wired microphone.
“What do you mean you don’t have eyes on him?” he snaps. “It’s been two fucking minutes, max!”
I whip around, dread drawing led to my limbs like a heavy weight.
No.
Did they snag him?
Did someone break contract and call my dad?
Holy shit! Does my dad have him?
Does Sai?
Before I can ask, Damiano looks to Kenex, and I realize then there’s one person missing.
But wait.
Two minutes. Eyes on him …
I whip around as Damiano charges for the door he’s already reopened, and I swiftly tear a dagger from the center of a bundle of pink roses closest to me, throwing it in the same second.
“Fuck!” Damiano jolts, torso twisting as he digs the one-inch blade from his ass. His features harden as he points them my way.
I rush him. “You sent Kylo to follow him without talking to me first?!”
His jaw clenches. “You were kind of busy.”
My head rears back and he has the brains to cool his tone.
“It was necessary, Rocklin,” he pleads his case. “It’s my job to help keep everyone, including you, safe. I only asked Kylo to shadow him and make sure he left the property without issue since we have no idea how he got inside.”
Bronx had the feeds tapped in, watching for him so we could intervene if he showed and erase him from the log, but she never saw him coming. I cut a quick glance at her, and when she holds my stare, I know she saw nothing. “Was he not on the footage?”
Dom’s nostrils flare. Answer enough. “Nothing.”
Interesting …
My features pull as I try to process everything all at once. “Kylo? Where is he now?”
“Not answering his call, not wearing his cuff, not on any of the surveillance screens.” Dom narrows his eyes. “How does he know about the cuff?”
He didn’t. I used it to open the gate, but I didn’t think he paid attention, and I sure as hell didn’t mention we could track each other with it.
He’s a smart criminal.
“Not the time to smirk.” This comes from Alto, who half shields Delta with his body.
He gets a pass for his attitude since he belongs to her, and his aggression only stems from his worry.
Looking around the room, I say, “No one is at risk when it comes to him.”