Chapter 32 #2
Zayn freezes, glancing from Neo to me. “She said I was cute.”
“So?” Neo grumbles, clearly not following the logic.
He looks back at me for help, but I just tilt my head, waiting. “I thought that meant she was finally giving in and wanted to fuck me.”
“Jesus fucking Christ. I compliment you one time and you’re ready to strip?”
“Do you need a ring first? I’m not the type to commit, but for you, I can make an exception,” Zayn murmurs as he slides closer.
Pressing my hand to his chest, I trail my fingers up before fisting his tie and using it to drag him closer. “I told you that you couldn’t handle me.”
“What about all three of us?” I turn my head to see Neo smirking as he looks me over. “I think between the three of us, we could.”
“You’ve been spending too much time with your brother.”
“Don’t blame me,” Kane says as Dodge walks away. “It’s your fault for making us obsessed with you.”
“Oh yeah, blame me. All I did was threaten and beat all of you continually. Who knew you three sickos would find that attractive?”
“You should take responsibility,” Neo retorts.
“For what?” I ask, swinging my gaze to him. All their focus is entirely on me. It’s almost too much.
“For the way you made us fall for you. It’s all your fault, and now we are ruined men.” He nods. “You should take responsibility and make us yours so we don’t go insane.”
“You’re already insane,” I reply. “No wonder everyone is afraid of you. It’s because you’re sexual deviants.”
“And you aren’t?” Zayn teases, his face becoming my entire focus.
I don’t like the way my stomach twists or how my heartbeat speeds up at his nearness.
I don’t want him. I don’t. “You’re at fault for our ways now.
We never even looked at women more than once before, and now we are all thinking about you all the time, going out of our way to impress you. ”
“You call this impressing me?” I retort.
“What do you want then? A city? A country? Millions? How about every enemy of yours dead at your feet?” Zayn asks.
“They already are,” I reply sweetly. “I’ll accept money, but it doesn’t mean I’ll accept you.”
“Cruel,” he purrs, trailing his fingers up my arm to my neck, which he grips to tug me closer until our noses touch. “Name it. It’s yours as long as you are ours as well.”
The intensity in his eyes is nearly my undoing.
For a moment, I almost believe that men like them could be serious about someone like me, but a sweet voice pulls my attention from him, and I lean away, turning to find a young woman at our table.
She watches us with big doe eyes before focusing on Kane.
She’s young, probably in her early twenties, wearing a butter-yellow silk dress.
Her stunning face is made up to perfection, and her nails and jewelry indicate she comes from money, as does the air about her.
“Hi, Mr. Sai. Do you remember me? I’m Rebecca Tinns. We met at an event before,” she says sweetly, leaning into the booth and Kane while placing her hand on his sleeve. Long, perfect, French tip nails press into the material, and she flutters her lashes in nervousness.
Kane looks at the hand on his arm, appearing annoyed for a moment before he meets my eyes and grins, leaning into the woman so her breasts press against his side.
I drink my wine as I look at her, knowing exactly what he’s doing.
I’ll admit, a twinge of something I don’t want to name flows through me, but I also know if I snapped my fingers, he would be on his knees, begging for me.
“I like your dress,” I murmur, and her eyes flutter to mine as I stare at her chest purposely, eyeing her cleavage. “Are you here alone?”
Her eyes widen as she glances between Kane and me. “I’m with my older brother.”
“He must be very handsome, since his sister is so beautiful,” I purr, and her cheeks flame red, her nails digging into Kane’s arm, but interest flashes in her eyes, especially as I lean over and finger a stray curl of her perfect blonde hair.
“Oh shit, I bet the Bugatti she wins,” Zayn whispers.
“You’re on,” Neo responds.
I ignore them as I smile at her softly, pressing my chin onto my other hand as I continue to play with her hair as she sways forward. “You should play with me instead of him. I’m a lot more fun.”
“I-I . . .”
I drop my hand and take hers, turning it over softly and running my nails across her racing pulse. I lower my head to kiss the same area when a hand comes between my lips and her skin, and I end up kissing the back of it.
“Enough,” Kane barks, and he cruelly pushes the woman away. “Leave now before I kill you.”
She drags her eyes from me to Kane, nodding jerkily before glancing at me as I wave my fingers at her.
“Fuck,” he grumbles, pinching his nose. “I tried to make you jealous, but in the end, it backfired.”
“Never play games with me, Kane. You’ll always lose.”
“How far would you have taken it to win that?” he asks, looking irritated.
“As far as it took. I never lose.” I shrug.
The music seems to grow louder, and I turn and watch as couples take to the floor. Zayn slides from the booth, buttoning his jacket, then he holds out his hand. “Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”
“No,” I rebuff as I sip my wine.
His eyes turn sad for a moment before his smile becomes mean. “Is it because you don’t know how?”
I know he’s goading me on purpose, and dammit, it works. Downing my wine, I slide from the booth, grab his hand, and drag him to the dance floor as he chuckles, and when we turn, I clutch his arm. “I lead.”
“Whatever you want.” He shrugs, sliding one hand down my back, but I drag it up, and he grins mischievously as it settles on my waist. His other hand is in mine as I turn and start to dance with the music, leading him. His feet move effortlessly, like he’s floating across the dance floor.
“Let me guess, you were forced to take lessons?” I ask, my voice low since we are so close.
“Since I was young,” Zayn replies. “Our dad wanted to give us the best opportunities in life, but you surprise me. You dance well.”
“One of my neighbors used to teach ballroom,” I admit. “He was this sassy, old jerk that no one else could stand. He taught me when I was bored. When I realized it made him happy and he was just miserable and alone, I always came back.”
“And now?” he asks curiously.
“He died from an illness. I miss his lessons,” I reply, and Zayn sighs, but it turns into a burst of laughter when I dip him back like the others do to their women. The sound is so bright and loud, it seems to startle him. When I lift him, his eyes are sparkling.
“You’re a constant surprise, Bexy.”
I can’t help but return his smile. It’s so addictive, happy, and carefree.
Despite the world Zayn lives in, he still retains his almost childlike innocence and happiness that I haven’t seen in forever.
It reminds me of the person I was before everything happened, and part of me craves the sunshine that seems to follow him around.
“Can I join?” a dark, seductive voice murmurs, and I glance over to see Neo. I frown, not understanding as we stop and he steps behind me. His hands find my hips, and then we’re moving again. This time, both of them lead as they guide me around the dance floor. They spin and whirl me effortlessly.
Being trapped between them makes my hackles rise, but I force my fear and memories away, refusing to let them ruin this moment.
I relax into their hold, letting their warmth and strength surround me as I experience how it would feel to simply be normal and enjoy the touch of men without wondering how quickly I could slit their throats.
I lose myself in it and the music as it turns to a slow song.
Neo’s hands tighten on my hips, gripping them tighter, and we slow until we sway in the middle of the dance floor.
My arms are draped around Zayn’s neck, his eyes darkened with lust and happiness as he watches me lean back into his brother.
“You’re going to cause a scandal,” I warn as I dance between them.
“Do you think we care?” Zayn whispers in my ear before biting my neck. Gasping, I elbow him, an automatic response, and he chuckles breathlessly. “Worth it.”
“Why the fuck are you biting me? Are you a dog?” I hiss, turning to see him as Neo’s hands grip my hips and keep me moving.
“If you want me to be. I’m just marking my territory. Besides, your skin is so soft and creamy, I couldn’t resist,” he confesses as I feel Neo’s nose run down the other side of my neck.
“And you smell so good,” he growls before his teeth dig in too.
Splitting from them, I point my finger in warning. “I’ll bite the next person who bites me.”
“You think we wouldn’t like that?” Zayn teases as Neo turns, both of them facing me.
“If you bite us, baby, you’ll be getting fucked right here in front of all the richest men and women in the world. That would definitely cause a scandal, but I have a feeling you would like it.”
“You two are insatiable,” I snap before I spin on my heel and stride off the dance floor to the bathroom, needing a minute. Pretending to be annoyed, I push inside, pressing my back to the door and closing my eyes.
My heart is pounding so hard it hurts, and I press my hand to my sternum, encouraging it to calm down. It’s not like I haven’t been flirted with before, and this is just a game, so why am I reacting like this? Heat flashes through me, making my knees weak and my skin clammy.
I’m so distracted by my inner issues, I almost miss it—almost. I duck at the very last second as I feel the air change above me, and when I open my eyes, I find three men standing there. Embedded in the door where my neck just was is a sharp blade.
“Dude, what the fuck? Do you know how long it took to do my hair!” I complain as the three big men exchange looks. Sighing, I glance down at my suit. “This is designer. If you get blood on it when you die, I’m going to be really annoyed,” I threaten, then I reach behind me and lock the door.
I notice the guns at their hips and the hard glints in their eyes. They are mercs, and it’s clear I’m their target. They must have been waiting here for me. I was so distracted by those damn Sai brothers, I didn’t even notice.
Ducking under the first’s arm, I slide to my knees and punch the second man in the dick, then I spin behind the third, grab his arm, and throw him over my shoulder.
He lands in a stall, the door splintering under his weight and the toilet bursting when he hits it.
Spinning, I bring my arm up and knock away the gun aimed at me.
The pistol hits the floor with a clack and spins away as I duck under his punch, grabbing his arm once more.
I yank him forward and slam my knee into his balls before crushing his head into the wall.
He stumbles, disoriented, so I step around him to the third man, who has two blades in his hands.
“Nice, I’ll take those when I’m done,” I predict as he comes at me.
I move fast, but I feel the side of my suit split, and it pisses me off so much that I dive at him.
Grabbing a hand, I bite it until I taste blood, and he drops one knife before trying to gut me with the second.
I block him with my arm, the resounding hit making my bones vibrate and ache, but then I punch him, and he stumbles back.
His nose gushes blood as he blinks in shock, and I advance on him again.
Slamming him into the door with a kick, I watch in satisfaction as he impales himself on the blade he left there, meant for my neck, just as arms grab me from behind.
I lift my legs as I struggle, but a meaty arm wraps around my neck, dragging me backward and cutting off my oxygen supply as I lean forward.
There’s a knock at the door as I struggle in the man’s headlock.
“Ocupado!” I call as I heave us back into the wall, hearing the tiles crack, and his grip loosens.
Whirling, I grab his head and crush it into the dryer next to us until it falls from the wall, then I pick it up and smash him with it as the knocking comes again.
I look up to find the last man climbing to his feet from the stall.
Reaching down, I pull one of my blades free, not wanting to risk a gun. The noise might draw trouble, and I don’t need that. My heart thumps with adrenaline, and I take all my mixed, confused feelings out on them. I watch him eye my blade before he reaches for his gun on the floor.
“Nuh-uh.” I wag the dagger before throwing it. It embeds in his forehead, and he falls to his knees, blinking as blood drips around the blade. Whistling, I stroll closer, press my hand to his shoulder, and ram my knee into the blade until it splits his head open.
The knocking gets louder. Huffing, I step over the bodies to the door and rip it open.
I breathe heavily as I blow the hair from my face and smile at three worried Sai brothers.
Their concerned expressions turn into looks of shock as they glance behind me.
“Sorry, line was huge,” I say as I step over an arm that flops out into the hallway.
“Has the food been served yet? I’m starving. ”
“Dodge,” Kane calls, and he appears. “Clean this up.”
Kane offers me his arm, shaking his head with this amused glint in his eyes. I let him lead me away and leave his men to deal with the bodies.
Maybe tonight won’t be as boring as I thought.