Page 23 of Concerto of Crows and Cowards

The wind was hot and arid and slapped across her face as she made her way to the half wall that separated her and the three hundred feet to the pavement below. Jade watched the lights and traffic of the city, the movement and flashes of color dizzying at such extreme heights. Despite the heat, her skin was chilled and she wrapped her arms around her torso to ward off the cold.

She heard the patio door open behind her and felt Max’s stare.

“That was a messenger delivering an envelope from Martin Vassin. We’ve got tickets to the heavyweight championship tonight. Front row seats. We’re supposed to meet to discuss our options.”

“Do you think he’ll show?”

“Doubtful. He’s playing the watching game for now. He needs time to evaluate what he sees and determine the best way to manipulate us. It’s what he’s best at.” She felt him come up directly behind her, though he didn’t touch. She was waiting to see what he’d do with the anger she could still feel lashing at her skin.

“Wear the gold-sequined dress tonight. We don’t need to be subtle, and it’s best if he doesn’t take you seriously.”

“Maybe we’ll hear from Atticus that they’ve found the girl and we can take him down without having to jump through his hoops.”

“What’s the problem, baby? You’ve already scratched your itch and now you’re ready to run back home?” His hands touched her waist and scalded straight through the fabric to her skin.

“That’s not fair, Max,” she said.

He turned her to face him and she could see the anger banked in his eyes, though his touch was gentle. But then his lips were on hers and she forgot how to breathe. Her fingers dug into his arms and the world spun around her, as if she’d jumped from the balcony in a free fall. She always wanted him. That was her pain and her punishment. Even now, in his anger, she was ready to lie with him willingly.

He pulled away before she could get her senses back under control. And then she heard the patio door open. “We need to leave in twenty minutes. Be ready.”

And then he was gone and she wondered how things had gotten so complicated. Because the only time she’d ever hurt as badly as she did now was when her husband had died.

Chapter Nine

Jade kept her head held high and her expression serene as she and Max were shown to the seats in the VIP section. They hadn’t spoken since what had happened between them on the balcony, and Max was doing his best to ignore her, despite his eyes going dark with desire once he saw her in the excuse for a dress he’d asked her to wear.

Gold and sequined, the dress was strapless and fit like a bandage, complementing her skin tone so she looked like a bronzed statue. The dress stopped just above the middle of her thigh and gave the illusion of curves where she knew there were none. Matching stilettos made her legs look a mile long, and she’d actually bothered to put on makeup, so the green of her eyes was vibrant against the smoky shadow and thick eyeliner.

They were close enough to the ring to be spattered with sweat or blood, and she affected a slightly bored expression while she tried to catch sight of Martin Vassin. The arena was packed and the hairs on the back of her neck were standing up.

“I don’t have a good feeling,” she said, leaning into Max so she could be heard over the noise of the crowd.

“Because you’re not an idiot,” he said. “We’re being watched. I feel like I have a target on the back of my head.”

The announcer came on, his deep voice accelerating and growing louder and louder as he introduced the first boxer. The crowd went wild, jumping and screaming, and the whole arena vibrated from the stomps and shouts.

Max stiffened beside her and she looked over to see what was wrong.

“Hey, sugar.” Jade arched a brow as a scantily clad ring girl latched on to Max. She read the woman’s lips more than hearing the actual words, but the intent was plain as day.

“What do you say you and I get to know each other a little better?” She practically had to yell the words to be heard over the crowd, but Jade saw red as her hand trailed down Max’s chest toward his belt. He caught her hand before it could go too low and then quickly let go.

The woman’s skirt was white and short and her bikini top barely contained her generous breasts. Her body was tanned and slicked with oil and her dark hair hung in loose curls down her back. Red lips pouted seductively as she moved in closer to Max and slid something into his hand. It was the only thing that kept Jade from knocking her back on her well-padded ass.

There was no doubt she was a beautiful woman, and jealousy reared its ugly head as she wondered again what Max was doing with her. She’d seen some of the women he’d dated over the last few years and she didn’t come anywhere close. Jade grabbed the woman’s hand before she could rub Max’s chest again.

“Don’t touch—sugar,” Jade said, her smile sharp.

The woman’s dark brown eyes flashed once and then she ignored Jade, turning back to Max while he read the note she’d delivered to him.

“What do you say?” the woman asked, rubbing her breast against his arm. “I’ve been watching the two of you since you came in. You can’t tell me you’re together.” Her eyes cut to Jade and she smiled cruelly. “Why would you want her when you could have someone like me?”

The question so mirrored Jade’s own thoughts she could only stop and wait to see what happened. The woman’s fingers walked up Max’s chest, and it was Max who grabbed her wandering hand this time.

“She asked you not to touch,” he said, his voice dark and dangerous.

“But I promise it’ll be worth it,” she purred. “Lose the baggage and I’ll show you just how much.”

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