Page 32 of Salacious Park Avenue Prince

Archer gestured to an empty seat, and I quickly took it.

“You look about as comfortable as I did the first time I spent a night out with these guys.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t choose to be here. You did.”

Archer’s lips curved as he looked across the firepit to where Preston stood laughing with Gavin.“Well, can you blame me?”

It took everything I had not to roll my eyes, becauseof courseI was sitting next to a love-struck fool. Apparently it was contagious in this bunch, though why I was surprised they were infecting one another with anything was beyond me.

“Uh huh.”

Archer chuckled and took a sip of his drink. “You sound less than impressed.”

“Sorry, but you and Preston aren’t really high on my favorite people list.”

“I can understand that.”

When he didn’t elaborate, I turned to eye him. “Are you dying to say something like ‘it’s for my own good’?”

He laughed, and his eyes crinkled at the sides. “No. I was actually thinking it was more formyown good.”

“Ha, well, least you’re honest.”

“You want a drink?”

“I want about three, but…” I looked to the bar.

“Travis is over there.”

“Right.”

“Well, since I’m the one that got you in this mess, why don’t I do you a favor and go and get you one…or three. What’s your poison?”

After putting in my order, Archer got to his feet and made his way across the patio, making sure to stop and kiss Preston on the cheek. The sappy smile Preston aimed up at his man was enough to make my stomach twist.

So, I got to my feet and headed over to the balcony to take in the magnificent view of the Chrysler Building and city skyline twinkling in the distance. It was such a different perspective of the city to the loft, and it made me nostalgic for what I’d left behind. It also made me acutely aware of just how different my life was going to be after a mere address change.

I turned back to face the group laughing and drinking with one another and knew that if I wanted to survive the next year, I was either going to have to get a thicker skin or be eaten alive. There was no in between with these guys. If you were one of them, you were expected to be where they were and act a certain way, and unfortunately, they’d their sights set on me.

Many would kill to be in my position. I was just trying my best not to kill each and every one of them.

NINE

travis

“DO YOU SEE that?” I pointed with my shot glass at the group of traitors huddled around Caleb and narrowed my eyes. “It’s like the last few years meant shit.”

Wayne, rooftop bartender extraordinaire, followed my gaze and tossed the towel he’d been polishing glasses with over his shoulder. “Looks like a case of shiny new toy.”

“More like old toy made new again. Have they forgotten we hate him?” I leaned back with my elbow on the bar and threw back the rattlesnake shot—which I thought was an appropriate name, considering one had taken over this little party. Not to mention the drink was deceptively good, like shooting a chocolate cappuccino. Could I use something stronger? Possibly. Was I drinking my weight in these enough I’d feel it eventually? Definitely.

Wayne took the empty glass from me and cocked a brow. “Another?”

“Fuck yes, and keep ’em coming.”

The good thing about kicking everyone off the rooftop except for us was that I could commandeer the entire bar, since everyone else was busy making sure Caleb knew he was welcome here.

Were they kidding with this shit? Seriously. It was more than obvious Caleb didn’t want anything to do with us, and even if that weren’t the case,I’dmade it a point to mention at every opportunity that he wasn’t welcome.

---