Page 5 of Heartless (Scathing Hearts #1)

Sienna

After closing the bathroom door, I stepped into my bedroom. There, Gabby was perched on the loveseat with her legs crossed. She was gorgeous in her skintight red dress and matching very high-heeled sandals. Once I had her attention, I threw my arms wide at my sides.

“Does the dress say, ‘I’m on the path of becoming the next best-selling novelist?”

The corner of her mouth twisted, and she flicked invisible lint from the hem of her dress. “Yay for you. You’re a genius for graduating in Comparative Literature at nearly twenty-four.”

“Gabby,” I gently chided.

Swatting her fingers, she mumbled, “Yeah, I know. I know. Your mom. But all I’m saying is you didn’t need a degree in writing. You either have talent, or you don’t.”

While I breathed out a renewed wave of grief tightening my throat, she gave me a slow once-over before standing up and walking toward me.

Varik, the personal shopper Nigel had hired, had been passionate about style, and he had taught me about colors, textures, and shapes.

I was wearing one of my ‘playful’ choices. It was a high halter neck, short ochre dress with threads of gold that made it shimmer, and I’d done a heavy smoky eye make-up in browns that made my eyes pop while my hair fell into soft curls down my back.

I loved the look, and I felt sexy and comfortable.

Gabby shook her head, and her nose scrunched up. “The black dress would be more slimming, and the makeup is trying too hard, Nana.”

I sighed. “I love the dress, and we’re celebrating, remember? We’re gorgeous, so let’s go dance.”

She took my hands. “Nana, this is your second time in a nightclub, and the Silver Shell is the club where everyone goes, I just want you to be comfortable.”

Geez. It’s just an outfit.

She crossed her arms on her chest. “I know it’s just an outfit. It’s just the wrong one.”

Shoot. I’d blurted again. Mom had always found the missing filter between my brain and my mouth funny. She used to say it was because my heart was so big, it couldn’t help but speak its truth.

Gabby’s face clearly indicated she didn’t share my mother’s beliefs.

Then she confirmed it. “Stop being weird.” Twisting on her heels, she snagged her purse. “Let’s go, and don’t bitch when people stare at you.”

She spent the whole ride on her cell while I clutched my fingers around my purse. At the club, I followed her as she strolled past the long line of customers to give our names to the bouncer.

He unlatched the thick, red rope and stepped aside. “Ms. Ashford, Ms. Winslow, welcome to the Silver Shell.”

While Gabby pranced past him, I replied, “Thank you.”

He winked. “You’re welcome. Have fun.”

Fortunately, being in the club improved Gabby’s mood. She grabbed my hand as we descended the stairs. “Stay close, Nana.”

After we’d stopped on the main floor, Gabby expertly forged us a path through the dense wave of people until we reached the bar. While we waited, she scanned the room.

“You in that dress, I’ll get you a whole bottle of whatever you’re drinking,” a man said over my shoulder and very close to my ear.

Whirling around, I watched the young man as his cute face edged closer. “Wow. Those lenses hit.”

People had made a lot of comments about the color of my eyes, but this was one of the nicest ones, so I smiled back. “They’re not lenses.”

He slid a flirty gaze over me, and the corner of his mouth kicked up. “Golden goddess. I’m—”

The next second, I was staring at the back of Gabby’s head, who’d wedged herself between me and the nice man. “Blah, blah, she’s not interested, so you can go now.”

The stranger stepped back and upped both his palms. “Sorry sexy, I didn’t know your girlfriend was the jealous type.”

As he stalked away, I turned to my friend’s flushed face. “Gabby, that was rude.”

“You’ll thank me later. This guy’s always here.”

“But there’s no need to be rude about it, and he was cute.”

In response, she just pivoted toward the bar.

When the bartender leaned over, she ordered. “Jack and coke and a diet coke for—”

“A gin and tonic for me, please,” I said.

The bartender jerked his chin at me. “Brand?”

“BEG, please.”

His brow hitched. “Exotic.”

Gabby nudged my shoulder with hers. “Someone’s ready to partay. Good for you, Nana.”

I definitely was.

Once we both had a drink in hand, I drew through the straw and grinned at the bartender. “This is really good. Thank you.”

He wiped his hands on the towel hooked at his waist. “I put a touch of elderflower in it. My magic touch. Enjoy.”

As he went back to his crowd of customers, we moved farther into the club.

The dance floor was huge and surrounded by low seats set around tiny tables.

The music was loud, the strobing lights were dizzying, and the drinks were ridiculously expensive, but I was here with Gabby, and we were going to have fun.

My friend took a dainty sip, but her attention was affixed to the far side of the room.

Tracking her gaze, I slanted closer. “Did you see someone you know?”

“I think Sin Jake is here tonight.” Her eyes squinted before she grinned. “Yes, that’s him.”

“Who is he?”

Her arched brows wriggled. “Don’t you remember? He’s the guy everyone was talking about during my twenty-first birthday party.”

I didn’t remember because I had spent that night with Mom in hospital. “I wasn’t there, Gabby.”

She pursed her lips around her straw and returned her attention to the VIP lounge. “He’s super rich, and a friend of a friend said he’s a beast in bed who gave her so many orgasms, she fainted.”

“What about Noah? I thought you liked him.”

I hadn’t met Gabby’s latest boyfriend, and I didn’t mind. For some reason, my best friend preferred her boyfriends arrogant and obnoxious.

Keeping her attention on the darkened area, she jerked her shoulder dismissively. “We’re not that serious, and I want to pass out with orgasms. Rumor is, he made his money as a hitman for the mafia.”

Jesus. I didn’t like that. At all.

I stepped straight into her path, and since we were the same height, I saw her pupils dilate. “All the more reason not to approach him. And it’s my—”

“He likes his women blonde and model-type. Sorry, Nana.”

Seriously? I snatched her hand. “I don’t care about that guy. We came here to have fun. Together.”

She cocked her brow, and a sly grin pulled at the corner of her lips. “Let’s make it fun then. If you can get him, you can have him.”

A predatory gleam lit her face. After taking my drink from my hand and setting both our glasses on the bar, she tugged me across the dance floor to the other side of the club.

A few feet away from the cordoned off area, her mouth inched to my ear. “Watch and learn, Nana. May the sexiest bitch win.”

God, I loathed how she’d phrased that. “Gabby—” I started. Then I closed my mouth. There was no use when she was like that.

We stopped before a man who was the perfect personification of a cyborg.

Gabby could get any man she wanted with just a flick of her gorgeous hair, so maybe this would be quick, and we would be able to find some time to boogie on the dance floor for a little bit.

The area behind the very big man was quieter than the rest of the club.

From our standpoint, I could just make out two tall men seated around a half-moon shaped low table, on which a bottle of Champagne in a bucket was set.

Two beautiful women were lounging beside them.

The bouncer’s unperturbed gaze set on Gabby’s face. “Private party.”

Yes! I shifted back, but Gabby didn’t move. I curled my fingers around her wrist. “Gabby, let’s—”

“Let them through, Bo,” a man with a deep voice said.

In a weird, perfectly executed ballet, the cyborg unlatched the red rope, the stunning women crossed paths with Gabby and me, and the man who’d talked, unfurled from his seat.

Bo-the-cyborg jerked his chin toward me. “Miss?”

Teetering at the edge of the private area, I held my breath while a strong shiver seized my back. With my heart in my throat, I couldn’t help but stare at the tall, shadowy figure stalking toward me.

I was about to enter the lion’s den, and this man was clearly the king of the jungle.

****

Jake

Like a lamb to the slaughter, Morrison’s girl had walked straight to us. Her dress showcased her long legs and high tits. Her small waist emphasized her round ass. At least, it wouldn’t be too hard to tap that.

They’d gotten a lot of attention since they’d walked in, but the Morrison girl seemed genuinely oblivious to it. The same couldn’t have been said for her friend, who strutted in with a knowing smile.

I notched my chin down, and while Sile greeted her, I zeroed in on my target, who’d remained behind the rope.

Bo said, “Miss?”

When I stepped beside her, her hand stiffened around her purse, and she blinked slowly.

The back of my neck tightened. Fuck. Looking at her eyes was like looking into the motherfucker’s black soul.

I forced my body loose and tagged her hand. “Hi, pretty stranger.”

When I raised the back of her hand to my mouth, the pulse in her wrist fluttered under my fingertips.

“H-hi, I’m Sienna. Sienna Winslow, pleased to meet you.”

From her picture, I’d expected a high-pitched, girly voice, but her timbre was low and slightly raspy.

“Jake Rhodes.”

Her plump lips parted. “What a great name.”

“Thank you. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman, too.”

Her fingers flew to her agape mouth. “Oh my god, did I say that out loud?”

Christ. Full name, and now this. Was she on the fucking spectrum? “Have a drink with us, Sienna.”

After a quick glance at her friend, she nodded. “Thank you.”

I led her to the couch, sitting her beside me, which positioned the women across from each other around the table.

The blonde shifted closer to her friend, and her arm extended across the Morrison girl’s body. “I’m Gabby.”

I shook her hand. “Jake.” Turning to Sienna, I said, “Sienna, this is Silas.”

The little smile she threw at him was nervous. “Pleased to meet you, Silas.”

“Hey, Sienna.”