I hum in response, taking a small sip.
He smirks when he turns to look at the small crowd I’ve drawn to the table. “Go easy on them.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” I quip back.
With one lingering smile, the floor manager goes back to his duties, and my gaze slips to the now-occupied chair next to me.
Where I look straight into the midnight eyes of the man who has been haunting me all day.
“A pleasure to see you again,belle.”
11
TEO
The shock on her face almost makes the endeavor worth it.
I shouldn’t be here. I absolutely should not be here, right in the heart of enemy territory, putting far too much weight on the fact it’s a public space and that Leon is still reportedly out of town. The Prince’s Guild may very well gun me down anyway.
Dante tried to warn me. Now he waits outside with a dozen other men, waiting for me to fuck this up completely.
“You seem surprised to see me,” I muse as casually as I can, placing my chips in front of me if only to do something with my hands.
If only to stop the rest of them from wondering if she’s wearing any underwear today.
To her credit, Isabella only takes a second to collect herself. “The only thing that surprises me is your lack of self-preservation. I thought dons were supposed to be smarter than that.”
Her eyes dart to my left hand pointedly. I glance down at the bandage of cleanly wrapped gauze and flex my fingers a little.
It had been a miracle that she hadn’t broken anything, really. However, the stitches had hurt badly. Stretching my fingers probably doesn’t make it any better, but I can’t really help it when she’s around.
It’s like a kind of tic or an itch. Something inside of me just wants to reach out and grab, take,claim.
The same sensation has had me following her around all day.
“You think I’d walk in here without backup?” I ask.
She purses her lips. They are maroon today to match that sinful red dress of hers. It’s as if she wore it just to mess with my head.
“I think you’re presumptuous,” she retorts.
“How so?”
“You think you can walk around with free reign just because my brother isn’t in the city?”
I throw her an easy smirk. “Are you offering me a collar?”
Her eyes narrow as if to see through my bravado. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Before I can respond, the croupier is knocking on the table briskly. “Buy-in is a grand.”
Lazily, I throw in my chip, along with everyone else, noting my competitors with calculated indifference. Old money patriarchs, foreign businessmen, and a kid who looks like he has more money than sense.
I don’t miss the way they all glance over to our side of the table. I’m not conceited enough to think they’re looking atme.
It’s enough to put me right back on edge.
Good,the voice of reason shouts at me.You need to be more cautious.
