Though not originally a fan, she now liked Evangeline. A down-to-earth woman, she was filled with a quiet confidence. She was a total team player, committed to her husband’s company and to their charitable organization, The Develin Center for Runaway Children. Though she and Sin had no biological children, Evangeline loved the children at the center as if they were her own.
To Halston’s surprise, Gabriel Santini had been escorted in by the owner. Then, the entire club had made such a fuss over him, she couldn’t believe it. Yes, the man was dope handsome with a killer body. And yes, he could screw, but she’d done most of the work.
C’mon, give him a break. He got shot… or stabbed. Probably by some angry girlfriend.
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but she pursed her lips to kill it.
Unlike the harem lurking behind him, shedidwant to make her presence known. Her only issue? Instead of wearing yesterday’s short, light-brown wig, she had on a curly, blonde one. Her sexy pirate costume—with the low-cut white shirt and long skirt that was cut short in the front to show off her legs—was topped off with a pirate hat and knee-high boots. Though she was displaying way more skin than she had in forever, Sydney had insisted she rocked the costume. Even Caroline had given her blessing… but with another stern warning.
“Text me as soon as you get home.”
“Or when the clock strikes midnight,” Sydney had added.
Despite last night’s decision to stay away from Gabriel, Halston ponied up to the bar, slid onto a stool two away. She had to admit… Mr. Santini had it going on.
Hawk set a napkin in front of her. “Another sparkling water?”
“Please.”
“What happened to Evangeline?” he murmured.
“Her husband,” Halston whispered in her Russian accent.
Hawk set down her sparkling water before moving on to Gabriel.
With Santini’s attention focused on Hawk, the blonde sitting between them dropped powder into Gabriel’s whiskey, then slithered away. Halston whipped her head around, but the woman had vanished into the crowd.
What the hell?
Halston moved to the just-vacated stool next to Santini.
Gabriel regarded her, then shot her a smile.
Energy streaked through her.
He’s so damn handsome.
“Lookie who’s here. How you doin’, No Name?”
He lifted the glass with the now-dissolved powdery substance. “Here’s to you.”
She wrapped her hand around his forearm, pressed his arm down. “Don’t drink that,” she said in her thick Russian accent.
“What are you talking about?”
She leaned close, brushing her lips to his ear. “That woman—the blonde who was sitting here—she poisoned it.”
He laughed.
She did not.
“You’re joking, right?” Then, his smile fell away. “How do you know?”
“I saw her.”
“She wanted to seduce me, not drug me.”
A shot of anger pounded through her. She didn’t need to help him out. She’d seen something. She’d acted on it. If he wanted to risk his own damn life and drink that poison, that was on him. Still… she couldn’t knowingly let him drink it.
