Page 59

I slid a glance at the Italian, who was close enough to hear Jordan’s explanation.

“The asshole had it coming,” Dante said without a hint of remorse.

“Vivian isnotgoing to be happy,” Sloane warned. She glared at Xavier, her expression morphing from concern to admonishment. The guy she’d recruited earlier had returned with an ice pack, which Xavier held to his jaw. “And you. You should’ve known better than to get involved.”

“All for one, one for all.” Her boyfriend appeared equally unrepentant. “I couldn’t leave my friends to fend for themselves.”

“This is what happens when testosterone and alcohol mix.” Liya shook her head. She and Kim were observing the scene with bemusement while Indira was busy flirting with Killian Katrakis. “What happened to a good ol’ fashioned private party with strippers?”

“Uh, that was next on our stop.” One of Jordan’s boarding school friends grinned. What was his name? Wyatt? Walker?Will. That was it. “Not that I mind chatting with beautiful ladies such as yourselves.” He ran his eyes over our group.

“I’m married,” Liya informed him.

“I’m also married, but I appreciate the compliment,” Kim said. “Keep ‘em coming.”

Will looked like he was about to do just that when his gaze shifted to someone behind me. “Yo, Markovic, we’re still hitting up Valhalla, right? I’ve always wanted to see what it’s like inside.”

I almost whirled around before I caught myself.

I refocused on Jordan, absentmindedly stroking his face while my entire body tensed in anticipation of Vuk’s approach.

A wisp of cool air brushed my back. Goosebumps popped up all over my arms, but I waited a full three seconds before I dropped my hand and turned.

I knew he was there before I saw him; his presence was impossible to miss. That didn’t stop my pulse from skipping when I looked up at him.

Unlike the rest of the party, Vuk was unscathed from the fight. Not a bruise or cut in sight.

He ignored Will’s question and stared down at me. A muscle jumped in his jaw.

He seemed pissed, but I hadn’t even said or done anything yet.

“We were passing by when we saw you guys,” I said, driven by the need to fill the silence with something other than the pounding of my heart. “How much trouble are you in?”

The cops were gone, but the bouncer looked like he wanted to haul everyone into a back alley and beat them up.

None. We sorted it out with the police.Vuk was definitely pissed. I could just tell by the way he moved.

His gaze dropped. He dragged his eyes up my legs and over my bare shoulders before focusing on my face again.

Warmth tingled in the aftermath of his scrutiny. It was like stepping into a hot shower after a snowstorm—my entire body reacted whether I wanted it to or not.

“Let me guess.” I hid my shiver with a flippant smile. “You intimidated them until they agreed to drop the issue?”

‘Intimidated’ is a strong word. I persuaded him.

“Mm-hmm. No wonder you refused to tell me your plans for the bachelor party. I didn’t have a bar brawl on my bingo card, especially not at a place called…” I squinted at the neon green letters buzzing over the entrance. “The Soggy Bottom.”

The Fighting Pit was already packed.Vuk delivered his response with such a deadpan expression I almost believed he was serious until I caught the tiny smirk playing around his mouth.

I forced the curve of my own lips into a straight line. “Was that a joke?”

He stared back at me, his eyes giving nothing away, but his face had finally softened. Whatever pissed him off earlier was no longer an issue.

“Ayana.” Indira sidled up to me. Killian was gone, and she’d turned her attention to Vuk like a missile homing in on its target. “Why don’t you introduce me to your friend?”

She didn’t wait for my response before she inched closer to Vuk and held out her hand. “I’m Indira, one of Ayana’s friends from modeling.” She paused, as if to give him time to process the fact that she was a model. “You may have seen me on the latest cover ofMode de Vie.”

Vuk eyed her outstretched hand. He didn’t take it, and I felt a pinch of satisfaction at his utter disinterest.