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Alex.
Fuck.
His dark, slicked-back hair caught the sunlight, making him look even more infuriatingly handsome than usual.
“Fee”—he smiled, his voice smooth as silk—“you’re looking lovely today.”
I blinked, unnerved by his sudden charm. This wasn’t the terse, brooding Alex I knew. My gut clenched in suspicion.
“Cut the crap.”
Why would he suddenly be charming when he clearly didn’t like me any better than I did him?
Just yesterday, he’d been glaring daggers at me; now, he was pouring compliments like syrup over pancakes?
“What do you want?” I asked bluntly.
“Can’t a guy give you a compliment?” He raised an eyebrow, the picture of feigned innocence. “So, what are you up to today?”
I narrowed my eyes, waited a few seconds—but his poker face was good. Too good. “None of your business,” I finally said. I had no intention of letting him in on my plans.
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I wanted to see if you needed recommendations on how to spend your day.”
I cocked my head. He was on his way to see me? What the hell? “I’m sure I can manage.”
His thumb caressed my shoulder—a shoulder he was still holding.
I stiffened, hyperaware of his touch.
He wasn’t squeezing, wasn’t holding me too firmly, but I could feel a low-level anxiety pooling in my stomach, rising slowly into my chest.
He leaned in, lips grazing my ear. “You should be careful exploring alone. The island can be dangerous.”
A shiver danced down my spine, and it all became too much. I jerked back, which gave me enough room to take a deep breath and calm myself down—despite him still holding onto my shoulder.
Then I narrowed my eyes. “Is that a threat? And also, can you please not touch me?”
“A threat?” His voice sounded taken aback, but he released my shoulders and took a step back—even more space to breathe. “More like a warning. And considering the situation, you wandering off alone is off the table.”
I searched his face, now more intrigued than frightened by his intensity. Didn’t we agree not to talk to each other, only yesterday?
Was this him not talking to me?
He returned my gaze head-on. He didn’t look at me with the same annoyance as yesterday.
But he didn’t look friendly either.
He was a mystery I itched to unravel; also, what had happened that made Alex not attend his brother’s wedding? Why had he fled to Malta? And what kind of danger was he talking about?
I narrowed my eyes. Or was he just talking about the fact that being in the Mafia and all, the Falcone family had enemies everywhere?
Was he just trying to intimidate me?
I wouldn’t put that past him, either.
“I don’t scare easily,” I said, “and I can take care of myself. Have been doing so since I was eleven. But thanks for the heads-up.”
His eyes darkened.
