Page 11 of Lord of Vice

“Who is in your vehicle?” the sexy man asked, his expression turning puzzled.

“None of your business,” I barked.

Two other men were hovering around us after heading back in from rushing onto the sidewalk, obviously wary of who I was and my point for being in the restaurant in the first place.

“She’s tough,” another one of the men said.

“Yeah, and she almost got herself killed. Sit her down at my table.” Sexy man was obviously the one in charge. And he was exasperated I wasn’t obeying him like the rest of the grunts.

Without feedback from anyone, I was dragged to the table where they’d been seated, squirming and fighting the entire time. “No. No!”

Another blond dude got in my face as soon as he plopped me in my seat, leaning over so our faces were only inches away. “Relax, Penny. You’re safe now and the boss isn’t going to hurt you. You did a good thing, an admirable yet stupid deed but in saving that man’s life, you will be rewarded. Just don’t piss him off. It’s been a tough night.”

A tough night? Even if they were merely protective goons hired by the sexy guy, the cost of their suits could pay a mortgage on a house for a solid year. He had no clue what tough was.

His grin made me cringe for some reason. It was like the leader was God and the fact I’d almost sacrificed myself was something holy.

He talked to all three of the people I’d seen him with, then an older gentleman who’d been in the back. I couldn’t hear a word, but I could tell by their expressions they were angry.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him and when he planted his hands on his hips, pacing as he glanced in my direction not once but twice, I wanted nothing more than to get away from this horrible situation.

As he made his way toward me, he took a couple of seconds rubbing his chiseled jaw. “Penny. Who is inside your car?”

“What’s it matter to you?”

He sighed as if I was becoming an annoyance. “My name is Kraven Sokolov. Does that name mean anything to you?”

“Why should it other than it’s obvious you’re some bad guy? You part of the Morelli clan?”

“No, why?”

“You have that smarmy thing about you.” Great. I was itching to be killed, my body buried under concrete.

He smiled and in truth, the simple gesture seemed to light up the room. “Smarmy. That’s a new one. Give me your keys, Penny, and tell me what kind of vehicle you drive.”

When I hesitated, he concentrated his stare on me. My hands still shaking, I reached into my purse, yanking the small keychain into my hand. “It’s a piece of shit Toyota parked less than a block ahead on the same side of the road. But please, be careful. Just be careful. He’s all I have. Please don’t hurt him.” Tears rushed to my eyes and I did what I could to wipe them away. How had I gotten myself into this mess? By being a good Samaritan?

“Trust me, Penny,” Kraven said as he took the keys from my hand, immediately heading for the other blond.

What had I done? Would he hurt my baby?

When he returned, he motioned for one of the waiters. “Would you like a glass of wine?”

“No.”

“Don’t be tart with me, Penny. You’re shaking.”

In truth, I was. I’d never been so horrified in my life. “Yes. Okay. I guess.” Maybe that would distract him and I could get away.

He chuckled at my answer and ordered something while I noticed the other customers in the place hadn’t been fazed by the horrible incident. I was in some kind of crazy surreal nightmare. Who had a name like Kraven?

When he sat down close to me, he took a deep breath. “Who are you, Penny, and why did you come here?”

“I’m nobody.”

“Yet you felt compelled to save my life. Most people would cheer my death instead.”

“Why? Are you some kind of monster?”

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