Page 7 of Stockholm (Angel of Mercy #1)

The Kept

T he music is so loud.

Not only is it intensely dark in this bar, but there’s a speaker just a few feet from our table that has me vibrating to the beat of every song that plays.

I’ll go ahead and call the darkness a win for me.

It’s much easier to hide how out of place I am when nobody can see me.

Bo disappeared to grab us drinks from the crowded bar, opting to let me stay in the booth when he noted how uneasy I felt.

My eyes dart around the room in his absence, not sure where to land.

Embarrassment is sinking heavily inside me.

I shouldn’t be so uncomfortable going out for the night, or just sitting in this booth by myself.

I’d obviously let myself get too removed from any kind of social life, preferring instead to stay home, safe in the bubble that me and Eric had created.

It’s actually pitiful—I’m young, this should be natural to me.

Out with my friends, having a drink and dancing the night away.

The thought of dancing makes me break out in sweat.

Where has Bo gone? It feels like I’ve been by myself forever, waiting for him to return with the drinks. I hadn’t even known what to order, but he said he would choose something that tasted good.

Scanning the bar at the far end of the large room, I think I see Bo’s blood red shirt.

Instead of waiting for a drink, however, he’s deep in conversation with a tall, green-haired man in a jean jacket and thick chains around his neck.

He has sharp, almost elfish pointed features and is leaning over Bo to talk directly in his ear, his hand resting on his shoulder.

My eyes widen. Oh. His date had shown up. Even though I’d known that was the point of the night, my heart races at the thought of being the third wheel. I don’t know exactly how but I know I’ll manage to make things awkward for Bo if he brings this guy to our table.

This guy who is…familiar?

Green hair. It’s the guy from the bank, who’d been in the passenger seat of the stranger’s truck. The stranger who had invaded my dreams for the past week.

Oh no, is he here too? I peek around in what I hope is a subtle way.

Bo grabs the hand of Green Hair and turns back toward me with a shot glass in one hand and a giant grin on his boyish face. His wild, brown waves fall into his eyes, and with the dark lighting, I can’t help but admit that the pair of them look striking together.

“Emma! My cosplayer is the hot guy from work,” he whisper-hisses at me as they get closer to the table.

He turns back to his new friend. “Small world, huh? I saw you yesterday. Emma, meet Jesse. Jesse, this is my friend Emma.” He sets the shot glass down in front of me.

It smells fruity, but I’m distracted completely by the man in front of me.

Jesse is a lot to take in when he’s right in front of you.

Between the neon hair, the layered thick, chain necklaces and the tattoos that spiderweb out from the sleeves of his jacket, I’m fighting to meet his eye as he reaches out to shake my hand.

I can’t imagine ever being so confident in myself as he must be.

I take his hand softly, and shake it, smiling as my manners win out over my awkwardness. “Nice to meet you, Jesse. Is—um…are you here by yourself?”

His head tilts, his eyes assessing me. “I have a friend coming.”

There’s an intensity to his words that throws me off. Almost as if he doesn’t like answering my question, but maybe that’s just how he talks.

He looks happy enough talking to Bo .

Bo slides into the other side of the booth. Jesse follows him, relaxing into the seat and throwing his arms wide across the back of the cushion. He looks so effortlessly comfortable in his skin, and when he turns to look at Bo, he smiles.

I can feel Bo melting from across the table. I’m absolutely going to have to find my own way home.

“Emma and I work at the bank you came to the other day. Is that your friend that’s coming tonight? The one you were there with?” Bo asks.

My eyes snap to Jesse, eager to hear his response, when I find him already watching me. “Yep, that’s him.” His phone lights up, and he peers down at it. “Looks like he just pulled up.”

The noise of the room seems to fall away, and my heartbeat starts to pound in my ears. My body betrays me, the ghost of the dream man’s hands on my thighs tightening once more.

A bell above the front door sounds, and I swallow my nerves. Bo is whispering into Jesse’s ear, laughing softly, and I marvel at his ability to connect with people so easily while I’m left feeling so stilted.

Jesse turns, waving at someone I can’t see yet, but a moment later his figure appears in front of the dark booth. Staring at the table, I peek up for just a moment, and my stomach clenches.

It’s him. Dean .

He’s nodding at Jesse but then his gaze turns and his eyes are burning into me.

My mouth dries and I smile weakly up at him then go back to watching the people walking on the street outside the club. Maybe he and Jesse will go now that they’re both here, and I can get Bo to take me home. Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.

My hands itch to call Eric. He would talk me down, but he’s out with John for a big dinner. When I’d called him after work he’d let me know he would be unavailable, and said to call him in the morning.

It’s just one more thing plucking at my nerves. And now the man I’d been yearning for every night in my dreams has just manifested at the table .

Like a very unwelcome mirage.

And is sliding into the booth right next to me.

“Well, look who it is,” he says in a low voice, leaning toward me as I pointedly stare out the window.

But, I’m physically unable to be rude and unwelcoming, so an automatic smile takes over my face as I turn to face him.

“Small world. Nice to see you again.” My voice manages to sound somewhat normal despite the tornado in my chest.

“The pleasure is all mine, Emma .” He says, emphasizing my name in a way that makes my heart skip.

“You want to go pick out a song with me?” Bo asks Jesse, brushing back his dark curls. “We can grab another drink for everyone. Emma, don’t be scared of that shot. I’ll grab you another if you want.”

I pull it closer to me and smell it. Raspberries. “Yes, please.”

My eyes flick over and Dean’s eyes are darkening at my words, making me fidget in my seat. He’s just watching me, and I have no idea what to do.

So I grab the shot glass, and take a large gulp. It’s disgusting.

“Oh, if you’re not used to taking those you might want to pace yourself,” Bo adds, scooting out of the booth behind Jesse. “It’s a double raspberry vodka, do you like it?”

I shake my head quickly, eyes watering. “I thought you said something sweet?”

Jesse laughs, and I wonder if I imagined his earlier iciness toward me. “I’ve got you. We’ll get you something less strong. What about you?” he asks Dean.

“Nothing tonight.” Jesse and Bo turn and disappear into the crowd.

I cannot believe Bo left me here with this strange man.

A strange man who is not trying to hide at all how he watches me. At least I’m attempting to hide the way I’m taking in his clothing. The leather boots, the way his jeans are tight on his muscled thighs. I lick my lips and take another sip of the shot.

I hate the taste, but maybe it will make me more sure of myself.

“So, Emma, how’s your night going? ”

Small talk. I can do this.

“Good. It looks like Bo is hitting it off pretty well with your friend,” I say, watching a car park through the window.

“It does, doesn’t it? And you’re fine with that?”

My brow furrows, and I turn to look at him. Trying to ignore the way his broad figure makes me feel. “Of course.”

He nods. “Some people aren’t, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“Who Bo dates doesn’t bother me, as long as they treat him well,” I say, taking another sip.

I’ve never felt so out of my comfort zone in my life, and it must show on my face because a moment later there’s a deep voice close to my ear, making me jump.

“You don’t have to be so nervous. Do you want me to go? You look like you’re about to jump through the window.”

Biting my tongue, I berate myself for being so incredibly awkward. “Sorry.” I look up at him and shrug. “I don’t come out much. This is kind of like a test.”

A brow quirks. “A test? What kind of test?”

I blink at him. His oddly light eyes are certainly captivating. And they are trained so intensely on me. “Um, just to see if I can do it. Go out. Try to be normal.”

Dean tries to hold back a smile. It’s disarming, and I find myself wanting to see it. “No offense, but you look like you would rather eat glass than be sitting in this bar right now.”

I snort and choke on the last of my shot. Dean pats me on the back as I wipe a drip of vodka from my chin, my face burning. “Well, that didn’t help. Sorry, I know that was not attractive to watch.”

“I respectfully disagree,” he says, and I look up at him with heat rising in my cheeks.

What do I say to that? Behind him, I see Bo watching us from across the room. I snap back to reality.

“So, you’re meeting with my husband in a few days. I forgot to add it to his calendar, but I’ll do that tomorrow,” I say, spinning the leather bracelet Eric had bought me .

“Mm, yeah. I’m greatly looking forward to the meeting with your husband . I’ve got a lot of questions for him to answer.”

His words are dark, but before I can question it, Bo is back and shoving another drink in my face. “Here, Jesse thought you could try a long island. It tastes great.”

Jesse winks at me, and I thank him, taking a sip. It actually tastes amazing, and the smile I give them is the first real one of the night since the two men had joined us.

“You want to dance? I’ve got the next few songs on the Karaoke machine lined up,” Bo asks, no surprise showing on his face when I immediately shake my head no.

“Absolutely not, you go. Have fun.”