Page 38 of Stone: The Precursor

My knife is in my hand in seconds. I approach him, slowly so as not to startle him. I want his death to be unexpected. I position myself right up to his side and hold him steady while I sentence him to death. “She told you no, but you were too stupid to listen. No one touches her but me. In a few seconds, my knife is going to puncture your right lung.” I quickly jab my knife into his side. He doesn’t flinch the way I’d hoped. Oh well. He’s too drunk or high to feel it. I keep the angle up, pressing just beneath his ribs. I remove it just as quickly and tuck it in my back. His blood is cold against my skin. I smile in pleasure when I hear the distinct hiss. The beautiful bubbling sound from air escaping the wound. He doesn’t have long. The injury is life-threatening. The knowledge that soon he will be dead is enough to soothe the beast inside me.

Onyx approaches me. His trained eyes focus on the lobster guy. I nod. “Escort him outside.” He raises his eyebrows and holds onto the man, pulling him away. The red spot on his shirtfrom my knife wound blends in with the lobster all over his shirt. Perfect. Let him bleed out there.

No one is watching the tall Black man usher out a man who is weaving on his feet. Just the security guard removing another man who couldn’t hold his liquor.

I turn back to Camryn, and she’s exactly where I left her. The look she gives me makes me want to take her out of her and back to my cabin, but it’s not to be. Her nipples are hard under her polka dot shirt, and I know she’s naked under it, too. Christ. I move closer, leaving only inches between our bodies. The music makes it hard for her to hear me. I lean closer to her, brushing my mouth against the soft shell of her ear, drawing in a floral scent that I recognize. It is the same one she was wearing the night of Silas’s wedding.

“Don’t let him stop you.”

“What?” she whispers. “Who?”

“Dance.”

I walk away and blend back into the shadows to watch my Countess dance for me.

She turns and peers through the darkness, trying to find me. I don’t know how she knows my exact location, but she dances for me and I watch her, enjoying the show.

A commotiona few feet away has the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. Playtime is over. Something is happening, and I reach for the blood-stained knife behind my jacket. I move through the crowd to reach her; the need to ensure Camryn’s safety is paramount in my mind. My eyes find her red skirt, and I stand behind her. She doesn’t notice that most of the people surrounding us are too busy focused on the shouting matchbetween the tall blonde, named Tatum, if I remember correctly, and the beautiful woman with the purple glasses.

“Take her home and fuck her all night!”

“What woman!? Jesus Christ, you don’t get it!”He paces, rage radiating off him.

“Get what, Tate?! What is your problem?!”

“You want to know what my problem is?!”His hand snakes out, quick as a cobra, and wraps around her thin arm.

“Tatum, you’re hurting me!”

When he grabs her arm, I wonder if I’ll have to step in, but he looks horrified despite his fury and lets her go before cursing and mumbling. Storming through the crowd. Silas Kenzington ushers past us, his burly arm protectively around his pregnant wife, guiding her towards the door. Jace Park is not far behind with his arms wrapped around Sophia. Riggs is still watching Jacqueline. Onyx is long gone, most likely disposing of that asshole’s body.

Camryn turns around and bumps into me. I steady her, relishing the feel and smell of her. Before I can stop myself, I tell her. “I’ll give you a ride.”

Her eyes get bigger, and she blinks rapidly. “You want me to get on your bike?”

“You scared?”

She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. “No. Just not dressed for a bike ride.”

My eyes travel down to her bare legs and the red skirt. “Just keep your legs away from the muffler,” I say, waiting for her, my body tight with the need to have her touch me.

She lifts her chin as she turns to me, but Lara steps in, leaning down to whisper in her ear. The redhead looks at me, stance protective. I cross my arms, wondering if she’ll try to stop Camryn. She did the night of the wedding, and I let it go then. She belongs to Sloane, but I won’t tolerate her interfering.Camryn turns away from her friend and matches my stance. “Okay.”

Chapter 20

“I don’t have a helmet,” I murmur when Stone leads me out of the sweaty club.

Chilly wind blows, drying the perspiration on my skin. When Stone heads to a giant black bike with thick wheels and muted chrome exposed parts, I reevaluate my earlier bravado. It looks expensive and intimidating as fuck. From my calculations, there is no fucking way we’re both going to fit on that damn narrow seat. The man is already massive, towering over me. Where the hell is my ass supposed to go?

The bass from the club’s DJ pumps behind me, keeping in time with my heartbeat. He’s waiting for me to come closer, and I pull up my big girl panties, so to speak, and step forward. Remember, you told him you were okay with this. I’m going to do it. He unstraps a black helmet from the side of the bike and walks toward me. I take it, unsure of what I’m doing when I place it on my head. It’s way too big, falling backward. My breath lodges in my chest when he reaches under my chin and tightens the straps. Even in my heels, I feel dwarfed by his big, muscular body.

The straps are pulled tight, almost choking me, and I wince.“Too tight. It hurts.”

There is something in his eyes. Something that feels dangerous.

He loosens the strap, and I can breathe easier.

‘Tight enough?”