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Her glare seared the side of my face. Ignoring it, I drank instead, drawn to the gambling room where drugs and alcohol were freely flowing. A jump of excitement leaped to the back of my tongue, instantly craving the dust they were all passing around to each other.

“Of course.” A derisive snort came beside me, bringing me back to my travel companion. She scooped in a spoonful of broth, her head shaking.

“What?”

“Nothing. I don’t want to get between you and your true love.” She gracefully sipped in more soup.

“What the hell does that mean?” I turned fully to her, my forehead creasing.

She glanced back at the gambling tables, picking up exactly what had caught my attention.

“As if you aren’t sitting there thinking of getting high.” She placed her spoon in the bowl. “I’m surprised, though. I’ve heard it makes men limp.”

I leaned my elbow on the counter, my voice low. “Not me.” Her jab seemed to do the opposite of what she suggested.

Her gaze swung to mine, her throat swallowing. Our eyes met, and the room seemed to haze around us, blurring every line I had put in place.

“And it wasn’t the only thing I was thinking about.”

“Oh?” She twisted to fully face me, leaning on her arm as well, her face not even a foot from mine, her eyes smoky from drink. “What?”

My focus dropped to her mouth. Her full, wet lips suddenly felt like a taunt. A trial I might willingly fail.

Fuck.I wanted to kiss her.

Inhaling sharply, I pulled back, looking at the bar, my tone back to being impassive. “You should get some sleep.”

Something was wrong with me. I had never acted this way. Flirty, cheeky, touchy, yes, but my control had always been in check. I played up to the line, granted, but this felt different. And I didn’t like it. Kek and Lucas hadn’t even been gone a year. They deserved my full focus. My promise to them. To honor them.

I downed the soup in a few gulps, finishing off my drink, numbing the constant pain behind my ribs, the fatigue being drained from me.

“My darlings!” Maestro came up behind us. “I did not forget you. Like anyone could…” He bounced between us. “You two are impossible to forget. So pretty. Mmmm-mmm.” He wiggled, making a happy noise, his gaze once again sliding over me. “I got you a room upstairs. It’s a double bed.” His eyebrows went up and down. “Figured you could make it work.”

“Great.” I hopped off the stool. “I’m sure it will be fine.For her.” I felt my next sentence roll around on my tongue, aware of what I was doing. “I will be needing other accommodations.”

“Oh?” Maestro’s head snapped between us, looking confused and slightly upset, as though his favorite couple had broken up.

“I will be heading to the party room.” I was making my point clear. To her or myself, I wasn’t sure.

“Oh…” He peered at her, almost asking if she was okay with this. She folded her arms, staring off, appearing bored. “Okay. Just you? Because I can take off the room if you both want to go.”

“No.” It practically came out a growl, my teeth grinding together. “Just me.”

I was not sexist in any way. Women could enjoy those things with no judgment from me, but Scarlet was not the type. She had loved that idiot boyfriend her whole life. She was a one guy kinda girl. Someone you loved, married, had a kid with. She needed a man who only craved her. Whatever shit I was into, she should not be lured in or made to feel priggish because she didn’t.

“Of course.” Maestro nodded, waving his arm, forcing a smile back on his painted lips. “Follow me.”

Sensing her eyes on me, feeling her burning anger, I could not look at her.

I didn’t want to see what kind of guy I was in her eyes.

Chapter 14

Scarlet

Pacing back and forth in the room, the wood floor squeaking with my heavy stomps, I twirled my ring around my finger, a scream building up in my throat.

How fucking dare he…