Page 56 of Prince of Control

Sweat gathers at the poor man’s hairline. A bruise blooms on his jaw where Leo must’ve punched him. “Yes. I asked if she wanted a shot of vodka, and she handed her cup to me and said she’d be right back.”

He produces a metal flask from his back pocket. “I brought my own supply since I’m not twenty-one.”

Leo snatches it from his hand, uncaps it and sniffs, then takes a swig and swishes it in his mouth. He passes it wordlessly to Baron, who does the same thing.

Baron puts a hand on Lili’s shoulder. “This is Lili Baranov, my little sister. There’s no member of this house who’s going to let you pour something in her drink without trying to kill you for it.”

The guy holds up his hands. “I-I get it. I was just–” he shakes his head. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Baron says. “It was a misunderstanding.”

Lili’s body relaxes like she’d been holding her breath.

Baron holds up the flask. “I’m gonna keep this because I don’t allow outside liquor at our events, but you can go back to the party if you want.”

The guy bolts for the door, ignoring Lili like he never wants to see her again in his life.

As soon as he’s gone, Lili gives Baron a shove. “Jesus, Baron.” She sends Leo an equally irate glare. “You guys are the worst.”

“He could have roofied you, Lili!” Leo explodes. “You actually handed your drink to a guy you just met and gave him permission to pour something in it? Are you out of your mind?”

Lili blushes a deep red, turns, and stomps out of the room without another word.

Leo stares after her with a deep frown, like she’s his problem, not Baron’s. “Fuck. I left the bar unattended.” He spins on his heel and follows Lili out the door.

Baron scrubs his face. He’s looking in my direction, but his gaze is far away. I slide both my arms around his waist and lay my cheek on his chest. “Are you okay?”

His hand lifts to the back of my head, and he strokes me like a kitten. He doesn’t answer.

“What happened to you?”

“What?” Baron sounds startled, like his mind was elsewhere, and now he can’t figure out what we’re talking about.

“What made you like this? Something happened.”

A small puff of air leaves Baron’s chest, and he steps back like I knocked him off balance.

I reach for his face, catching it between my hands. “Tell me,” I murmur.

Baron’s eyes cloud. For one heart-expanding moment, I think he’s going to open up and tell me something, but then a voice crackles in the comms in his ear.

“I’ll be right there,” he barks in reply.

Disappointment ricochets around my chest. I’m grateful that he doesn’t move yet. He brushes a lock of hair that’s fallen down from my face. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”

“I’ve been scared of you since I arrived,” I tell him.

That impenetrable mask slides over his expression.

I shrug. “It’s no worse now.”

“I have to go talk to campus security at the front door. You’re going upstairs to change your shoes?”

I nod.

“Meet me on the dance floor?”

I nod. Disappointment over him shutting me out wars with pleasure that he wants to dance with me. Of course, it might just be to raise the mystique of his reputation over having a new Russian mafiya wife.