Page 49 of Power of Shadow

Despite all this surface charm, I feel that there’s much more to him than what he shows the world.

And there’s also him, Ryker Elliot. A man of mystery, the leader of the pack, the alpha male.

The first thing I noticed is his face, which is impossible to forget. I’m sure of that. Maybe it’s just me who finds it so distinctive, maybe not. His black hair is cropped shorter on the sides and longer on top. It looks like frequent brushing with his fingers has messed it up, or just a hell of a night out. His square jaw is covered with trimmed and well-groomed stubble.

Sun-kissed brown skin contrasts with his steely eyes. Looking at his full lips, I want to sink my teeth into them, to see how much he can take. How far his limits of tolerance extend.

He has vertical Roman numerals tattooed on his neck, and it's intriguing.

There were more, many more, I was sure. When he reached out his hand to greet me, I noticed graphics extending to his palm, which was adorned with a skull entwined with ivy. Roses and thorns formed a crown on his other hand.

What’s underneath his clothes? What is he not showing the world?

As I crossed the pub and approached Alex, I felt a strange energy around me, a current running through my body. I was sure it had nothing to do with him. On the contrary. I think it was Ryker. It was his doing.

I’ve felt it before...

Ryker has something magnetic about him that attracts more than just women’s attention. It calls to my soul. Like his friends, he sends out signals saying, I’m dangerous, so don’t piss me off. Except he’s on a whole other level of dangerous.

“Ash!” Alex’s voice reaches me, and I snap out of my daze.

I turn to him, my gaze inquisitive.

He's not thrilled. Does he suspect what’s on my mind? Can he see something on my face?

“I’ve called you three times. Where did you go?”

I shake my head and clear my throat. Back to the game. I need to focus.

“I was lost in thought. What was that about?” I point my thumb over my shoulder. “I know... I should have checked my surroundings first, and I shouldn’t have interrupted you, but—”

“You should have. You let your emotions get the better of you, and that makes you vulnerable. It’s not like you to make this kind of mistake. You’re not a rookie, for God’s sake.”

“I know.” I groan and cover my face with hands, and try to control myself. Only it’s not that easy. The Zoe situation is throwing me off balance, and meeting these guys is the nail in the coffin. “I lost my cool for a moment. You’re right, it was reckless.”

Alex sighs, and after a moment, his hands move mine away from my face. “Come on, Princess, no harm done. It’ll be fine.”

“Called you several times. You didn’t answer, and I panicked.”

“What’s going on?”

“It’s about Zoe,” I admit, my voice trembling. I’m always so calm, but when it comes to my little sister, everything can fall apart in a second. “She did something really stupid, and now we’re all screwed.”

“What did she do?” Alex’s eyes shine with concern.

“Zoe got interested in something she found online. You know how inquisitive she can be, so it shouldn’t surprise you she started digging. Damn it, she didn’t say a word about it until it was too late. She dug until she found a skeleton in the closet.”

Out the corner of my eye, I see Alex raise his hand and snap his fingers. Confused, I frown, but a moment later, the bartender places a glass of my favorite gin and lime in front of me.

With gratitude I turn to Alex and take a small sip.

“She hacked into James Elliot’s computer,” I continue in a hushed voice.

“What the fuck?” Alex loses composure. The glass clatters against the counter, gin sloshing. “How the hell—”

“I have no idea, Alex.”

“Does she know who he is? What he is?”