Page 87 of Dance of Devils

“You sure?” Naomi smiles. “A little birdie told meLazis going to be there…”

I roll my eyes. Laz Kislev, a Bratva heir who tends to pal around with Roman, his friend Bane Antonov, and guys like Naomi’s boyfriend Nico Barone and his older brother Carmine, has met up with us when we’re out a few times in the past. He's also a co-owner of Doomsday, and makes sure we get a VIP table whenever we go.

He and I flirted likeonce, months ago, maybe danced a bit together. And Naomi’s been barking up that tree ever since, hoping to set Laz and I up.

Yeah,notgonna happen.

I mean he’s hot enough: tall, in crazy good shape, dark hair, ice-blue eyes, tattoos fordays. But he’s not really my type.

Too much of a party boy.

Too wild and crazy.

Too young…

My face heats as the thought slides into my brain. Laz is like twenty-seven, which is a few years older than me. But I know what that obnoxious little voice is talking about.

He’s not in his forties, with a razor-sharp jaw, dark hair just beginning to silver at the temples, and a rough, masculine edge to him that….does thingsto me.

He’s not Kir.

Yeah, I want to punch that little voice in the throat for even bringing it up.

“Well, tell Laz I said hi,” I grin. “But for real, Naomi—not my type.”

All three of them give me a look.

“Dude, ifthatisn’t your type, I’m not convinced you’re straight,” Val grunts. “That motherfucker issin. Bet he’s hung like a fucking ox, too.”

Poor Evelina’s face turns crimson as she spins to our friend.

“Val!” she squeaks, making Naomi and Val laugh before the former wraps an arm around her shoulder affectionately.

The three of them start to leave, but Evie hangs back. I smile as I stand.

“Thanks again for letting me crash last night.”

She shakes her head. “Oh, it was a real hardship finding space in my dad’s one-hundred-gajillion-square-foot house for you. You owe me,” she says dryly.

I grin. “Glad you could squeeze me in.”

She keeps smiling at me, but I see something behind her eyes as she sucks her lower lip between her teeth, her brows knitting.

“Evie?”

She sighs. “Are you okay?”

I shrug. “Me? Yeah, I’m fine.”

Her brow stays furrowed. “Look, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s cool. But I’m here, and I’m your friend?—”

“Evie… What are we talking about?”

Her lips purse. “I get that I’m the token innocent one, okay?” She shrugs. “A bit sheltered, never had a boyfriend, gets wasted off half a drink, blah blah blah.”

“Evie—”

“Don't get me wrong,” she shrugs. “Ilikemy role in our friend group. It really doesn’t bother me, you know, being ‘the sheltered one’.” She flashes a grin. “I mean,I am.” Then shesighs. “Just, don’t confuse me never having had sex with me being a clueless idiot, okay?”