The Belladonna Game

ah's

e we even stepped inside, the sound vibr

perfume wrapped around me. Colored lights swept across the roo

ter of attention the

ckline doing the rest. My heels clicked in sync with the beat as if I'd been bo

feed egos. I was he

the crowd. Her eyes flicked left and right, cataloging exits and threats. "He always sits her

other slowly, deliberately, aware of the gazes still fixed on me. My mind was already run

fort obvious. "I feel like I'm we

, scanning the room. "U

xpensive perfume and trouble. I ordered a drink without reall

ing toward the entrance. "When he doe

ol clawing down my throat, a

wn Marino arrived, the

suits. No flashy grand entrance, no need for it. The crowd seemed to shif

o far away, speaking briefly to one of his m

every step until I reached the edge of the dance floor. The bass hit harder here, pulsing thro

d feel that heavy, unbli

lance. Brown

guards, murmuring something. The bodyguard nodded once, his

. Familiar

ating they looked up close, dread beca

he man from t

turned to my seat, forc

m the other night,"

on't know him," she said smoothly. "If he remember

urled in a way that told me exactly wh

ng through the

to Eva, my fingers grippin

n, sharp, and maddeningly male. The smirk was still ther

simply, no mention of that night, no acknowle

ow, that

ispered, her voice low but firm. "And for

ed her chin toward Brown, who was lounging in his seat, the pict

i

d walked toward his booth. My heels clicked against the floor, my h

y head as if deciding whether or not to stay.

d. "Would you rat

into the seat across from hi

is eyes glinting in the dim light. "I don

k laziness. "And here I thought you liked a c

teeth showing through. "Careful, princess. Challenges ar

ching. "Then maybe you

ying me like I was both a puzzle and a dare

am

aid smoothly, keeping

My chest tightened. I didn't need to look to know

ah Santiago," he repeated, letting the syllables roll lazily off his tongue. "Tell

ng the lie roll off my tongue eff

rned, but it was s

n ugly little thing who fled home because no one could stand you." He let his eyes sweep over me, ling

r off glass. I tilted my head,

a package deal," I said. "Maybe th

nt or honest but the intrigue was there. Without looking away from m

e reached for Brown's tumbler of something dark, rich, and dan

n't just ha

g on mine like we were the only two people in the room. My puls

d. Cold liquid spilled over the bodice of my go

eath, my hand cu

snapped, low but filled with disapproval

id tightly, dabbing at my dre

is tone making it clear the

oment I realiz

nding me off

was his ch

intest ghost of a smirk playing at the edge

nally giving a name to the man whose gaze

about to be a