AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Kat, you showed.” The guy turned, his tanned skin gorgeous under his open shirt. She released my hand as he handed her a glass with what I was betting was vodka. “And who’s this?” He eyed me up and down.
Fear plunged deep and my breath caught.
“Family,” she replied with a wink. “Who is damn thirsty for champagne.”
Isaac turned and grabbed a glass as Kat gave me a careful wink. I exhaled, trying to dampen the panic inside me.
“Thanks.” I grabbed the glass as he handed it over, and smiled.
His gaze lingered, scanning my face. “You don’t look like family.”
“No, we don’t,” Kat muttered, and scanned the crowd, not bothering to elaborate on the obvious lie.
I just sipped the drink. Awkward. The background chatter grew an octave as more people spilled into the apartment.
“How many share your apartment?” I asked, trying for polite conversation.
“Three on this floor, four on the others,” he answered. “You?”
I just shrugged and glanced toward Kat. I hadn’t seen anyone else in our building. There were no lights on the other floors, nonothing. “I think it’s just the two of us.”
“On your floor?”
“No,” I sipped my drink. “In the entire building.”
He didn’t speak, just scowled and looked toward Kat, who'd been scanning the room, but now stopped on one face in particular.
“Well, help yourself to anything you want,” Isaac offered, and strode away.
“Oh, we will,” Kat murmured.
The slow, seductive beat of the music invaded. I looked around, finding some of the others somewhat familiar.
“You good for a minute?” Kat asked as she drained her glass and placed it on the counter.
“Sure,” I answered, and gripped my glass a little tighter.
“I’ll be right back.”
She left me, striding across the floor. I thought I caught a glimpse of the bitch who'd shoved me into the door earlier, but then she was gone…and so was Kat, sliding amongst the sea of criminals like a damn daydream.
And all of a sudden, under the glare of the kitchen lights, I felt far too exposed.
I glanced along the counter, then grabbed the bottle of champagne and filled my glass until it lapped the edge. The buzz was starting to ease, and in its place was fear. That nagging voice came with it.What the fuck are you doing, Anna? This isn’t you…you don’t belong here.
I swallowed hard and took a sip before making my way out of the kitchen, edging into darkened shadows. Pale skin drew my gaze to a couple sitting in the corner. He pushed her dress aside, exposing her breast. One glance my way, and he went back to her, lowering his head to lick her nipple.
Heat moved through me in a rush.Jesus.
I glanced at a group of guys sitting around a table. Cash was piled high in the middle and each held a hand of cards. But this was no friendly wager. These guys protected their hands like a kilo of cocaine and they were playing for keeps. Silver glinted in the dimness as the nearest guy leaned forward to toss a card onto the table.
He was carrying, the gun tucked into the back waistband of his low riser jeans. I swallowed hard and looked away.
“Kneel for me.” The command came from behind me.
I spun, champagne sloshing against the sides of my glass as I stared into a tattooed face of a guy I hadn't seen before. “I’m sorry?” I spluttered.
He met my gaze with a savage scowl, his gaze lowering to my neckline as he rubbed his chin. “In a dress like that, you want to be owned, pretty girl.”
