Page 165 of Dance of Defiance

Brooklyn’s brow knits, but she nods. “Okay.” Her mouth twists as she puts her hand on my arm. “You okay? I mean, you usuallylovemy obnoxious yet playfully adorable banter.”

I smile wryly as I lean in to kiss the top of her head.

“I’m fine.”

“Fine enough that you called the toxic vampire.”

“Touché.”

Brooklyn sighs. “Okay, I’m done torturing you.”

“Yeah, for now.”

She giggles. “Consider it a pause.” Her phone dings on the table in front of us. She picks it up and grins. “Whoo! Evie and Dove are here.”

She glances around, then smiles, half-stands and waves. I follow her line of sight and nod my chin at Evie, who points to the VIP section and gives a thumbs up before she and Dove head that way.

Brooklyn turns to me. “Wanna go join them?”

“Nah, you go ahead.”

She turns to arch a brow at me. “Is this you moping, or something else?”

I shrug. “I get the sense Dove isn’t my biggest fan.”

Her face scrunches up as she shakes her head. “It’s not you. She’s a little frosty with guys in general. But seriously, she’s the fuckingcoolest. I mean, you know how good a dancer she is, but have you ever seen her art? Oh my God, Val, she’s incredible...”

She trails off when she sees the grin spreading over my face.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I smirk. “Does Kir know about your girl crush?”

Brooklyn rolls her eyes and flips me off. “She just takes a second to warm up to men. Seriously, come over. She’s amazing.”

“You go ahead. I’m going to head outside for a cigarette.”

She blinks. “Now Iknowthere’s something you’re not telling me.”

“Huh?”

“First the vampire, now you’re smoking again.”

I frown. “I smoke all the time.”

“You smokea little. You literally just had one before you walked in here with cunt-face twenty minutes ago. I can smell it on you.”

I glare at her. She grins back.

“If you think I’m letting this go?—”

“Fine, fuck,” I grumble. “Come outside with me.”

“What about Ashley.”

When I just give her alook, she cackles and stands up with me. I scan the club as she goes over to the VIP area and talks to Evie and Dove for a second. My pulse skips when I see Nero De Luca by the bar with Laz and Bane. I whirl, my eyes darting around the place, wondering if I’ll see him.

…HopingI might.