Page 15 of Flames of Ruin

I wonder what criminal he is hunting tonight.

Miranda realizes I’ve stopped following her and I can feel her walk up behind me.

“Go get ‘em, sis. He is looking at you like you are his prey and he is about to pounce.”

“Okay…enough smutty books for you, ma’am. Stay here,” I say, firmly grabbing her shoulder as if it will glue her into place.

I don’t want her learning Drake’s secret. He didn’t ask me not to tell anyone, but I am sure a criminal/vigilante doesn’t want everyone knowing his true self.

Taking a deep breath, I stride over to his booth, our gazes locked on each other. When I approach the table, his friend stops talking and looks between us, as if he can feel the electricity in the air cackling between us.

“I’m going to go grab a drink,” he announces to no one, because neither Drake nor I are listening.

We stay locked on each other, the sounds of the bar seeming far off in the distance, as if we’ve teleported to another world.

Finally, he says, “Why would you come back here?” His jaw is clenched and I notice the muscles flexing as he speaks, like he is aggravated that I would show my face back at the bar.

“Ummm…I need a job. Not all of us are billionaires like you.”

He shakes his head in disapproval.

“How are you feeling?”

“Don’t act like you actually give a fuck.” For a split second, I swear he winces at my words. He recovers quickly though as anger flashes across his face.

“Watch your fucking mouth when you talk to me.”

Feeling the agitation growing, I step toward him. Trying to act threatening, like I am any match for his huge body.

“Excuse me? You swoop in like Batman, save me, and then you play Houdini and disappear. Don’t get offended when I state the truth.”

After the words come out of my mouth, I realize I’m standing in between his legs, hyperaware of how close our bodies are.

Calm and undisturbed, he whispers just loud enough for me to hear, “You could have called me.”

“How? Through telepathy? It’s not like you gave me your number. What the hell, Drake?”

“It’s on the back of that paper I gave you, underneath the doctor’s. I take it you didn’t look.”

My cheeks flush as I feel the embarrassment take over.

I didn’t look.

Trying to shove the feeling down, I straighten my posture. “Well, if you wanted me to call so bad, you should have fucking said something.”

Turning on my heel, I walk away; leaving him in stunned silence, and head toward the break room.

Chapter seven

Drake

After CiCi storms off, Shado reappears around the back of the booth and sits down.

“Dude, how long have you been out of the dating game?”

Whipping my head in his direction, I can all but feel the daggers shooting out of my eyes.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

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