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Yet I’ve spent my whole life judging Helen and Paris, which paints me as a hypocrite, but then again…it’s one thing to cheat on your husband and another to fall for your brother’s best friend.
“Love is our greatest privilege. Not everyone gets a chance to fall in love or find their special someone. And sometimes that special someone is forbidden, and our love is never meant to be.” He gives me a piercing stare, and I swallow hard. Hearing this statement only intensifies the guilt within me, and suddenly, all of this becomes too much.
I can’t play this game and have these conversations with him because, at the end of the day, he’s Florian Price, and I’m Jimena Cortez.
Our love story would have been deadly to our families’ history.
We will never be together, no matter how much my stupid heart wishes for it.
“I have to—” Before I can finish my sentence, someone bumps me from behind, sending me flying forward. Florian catches me quickly, his brawny arm wrapped around me. “Oh.” I gasp, my fingers curling in his shirt when he grabs the guy who pushed me by the throat, stilling his movements.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
His voice is absolutely lethal and on instinct I press closer to him, his muscles molding into my curves because the ruthlessness and cruelty dancing on the edges of his tone scares even me.
“Sorry, man. Hadn’t seen her,” the man replies, raising his hands up while shooting me panicked stares. “Won’t happen again.” He pants, his face turning red when Florian’s wrist flexes, cutting his oxygen supply it seems. “Florian, come on,” he barely manages to say.
“Watch where you’re walking, Steven.” His fingers curl tighter into the guy’s throat who to my astonishment doesn’t try to do anything to push him physically away.
I’ve always known about the four’s power but had never seen it so clearly like right now.
“I’m sorry.” He glances briefly at me. “Didn’t mean to hurt you.”
I wasn’t even hurt, just surprised, so I say, “It’s all right—”
But Florian interrupts me right away and judging by Steven’s loud groan, his grip gets worse. “Don’t look at her. If it ever happens again, consider yourself banned for life. Now, get out.” He shoves him away, making the guy stumble several steps as he gulps for breath while rubbing his throat and shaking his head.
“Since when do they care about women?” he mutters and then glares at several people who watch us. “The show is over.”
Everyone quickly goes back to dancing and he disappears in the crowd, hightailing his ass while I’m left standing stunned.
No one around us cares, carrying on as if they haven’t just seen one of the owners assault their customer.
“I can get used to that,” he whispers over my forehead and I tilt my head back, the warmth rocking between us registering in my brain while heat envelops me, goose bumps zipping down my spine in continuous waves. “Would you like to dance with me?” he asks as the music changes to a slowly melodic tune, and for a second the whole world ceases to exist around us. My fingers curl into his chest, the warning bells going off in my head that I’m playing with fire and should step away before it burns me.
No.
Before it extinguishes me, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake.
“I have to go,” I say, forcing all my willpower and taking a huge step back from him, instantly missing his warmth, and that’s such a disaster. My heart might be bruised but it still cries for him all the same. “I have to go,” I repeat, not sure who I’m trying to convince.
Ben chooses this moment to come back and places a purple drink on the counter, grinning at me but quickly turning it into a scowl after he looks at Florian. “A cocktail just for you. Tried something new and added some blueberries into it. I hope you enjoy it.”
The prim and proper me who’s used to people catering to our every wish rears its head and I smile at him, picking up the drink. It would be very rude to leave before trying it, considering he spent time preparing it. “Thank you. I’m sure it’s delicious.” Wrapping my lips around the straw, I prepare to fake my reaction and already dread the alcohol hitting my tongue. That’s what I get for playing a mysterious woman with my brother’s best friend! “Oh,” I mutter when I drink it, welcoming the sweet and fresh flavor in my mouth, and the cold liquid brings much-needed relief to my parched throat. “It’s really good.”
Ben salutes me. “If you want more, just tell me.” He dashes off to the next customer as I wonder how many of these I can drink before I do something stupid with alcohol in my system.
I must have voiced it out loud because Florian says, “It’s a virgin cocktail.” My eyes widen. “You didn’t strike me as someone who likes to drink alcohol.”
“So you just decided something for me?” I ask, annoyed and grateful at the same time while still having an internal battle with myself.
“Yes.” He takes a sip from his glass and adds after my loud huff. “I’m just doing what’s best for you, princess.”
“Stop calling me princess.” I hate knowing he uses my endearment so freely with others and while it’s moronic to be jealous of myself…I still am. I guess I have more in common with my dad than I thought. His face darkens, but I shake my head. Focus. I need to focus. “So please—” That’s when I spot Santiago emerging from out of nowhere, the crowd parting for him as he listens to Remi and heads into our direction.
Oh my God.
If my brother sees me here right now, I’m dead meat.
