Page 17 of Marked By Night

I gasp. “You’re the guys from the lake!” Then another thought clicks in my brain and I motion my hand toward Blondie. “And you’re the one who won the dance-off.”

Blondie’s smirk turns downright naughty. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to catch on, Angel. We could never forget a face like yours.”

“Yes, it’s quite a pleasant surprise finding you again,” Steel adds with a warm smile, making my insides all tingly again. “My name is Kaos King, and this is—”

“Dante,” Blondie cuts in before he can finish. “Dante King.” His eyelids are half-closed when he says it and I’m suddenly imagining what those would look like in the bedroom while I’m riding his… Jesus, my libido has skyrocketed in the past five minutes.

Ash coughs, snapping me back to reality.

“Oh, and I’m Sadie. Sadie Sinclair.”

Ash steps forward. “Hey there, boys. I hate to break up the lovefest but, I’m Ashley. Sadie’s best friend. Figured I’d get that out of the way while everyone is being introduced.” She looks between us with clear interest. “Although, you three already seem to know each other somehow.”

Kaos and Dante’s eyes dart toward her, seeming to notice her for the first time. They both give her a quick once over before their gazes settle back on me. I lap up their attention like the thirsty bitch I am.

“Yeah, I ran into them at the lake yesterday morning.”

Dante’s eyes twinkle and he opens his mouth to say something but doesn’t get the chance.

“Mercedes!”

I curse silently, turning my eyes skyward to question why the universe hates me so much. Because I’d recognize that voice anywhere. The question is, why is he here? And more importantly, what does he want from me?

“Mercedes!” The voice shouts, louder this time.

I keep my focus on Kaos, Dante, and Ash. Maybe he’s like a T-Rex and he can’t see me if I don’t move or acknowledge him. But that’s not how my luck works. Besides, I’m not one to cower from anyone, but I’m so not ready to deal with this right now.

My ex-boyfriend and my trainer make a beeline straight for me, shoving unsuspecting people out of their way. My ex smiles like the cat that killed the canary while he does. And it’s a vicious sort of smile. One that instantly puts me on edge. I discreetly pull my switchblade out of my pocket.

Kaos, ever the attentive one, narrows in on the action. He gives me a questioning look but doesn’t get a chance to ask because the two stooges are upon us, and they don’t look happy.

“It’s Sadie, but you already know that,” I say through clenched teeth before he can speak. The jackass knows I hate my given name and yet he still uses it. Probably to get this reaction out of me.

My ex-boyfriend, Tyler, shrugs. Then he leans in, smacking a kiss on my cheek that burns like acid. He slings an arm around my shoulder, but I shrug him off, scrubbing at my cheek furiously, trying to get rid of the feeling of his lips on my skin, but it’s no use. “What the fuck are you doing here, Tyler?”

“I came to keep an eye on my girl,” he responds with a devious glimmer in his eye. “Is that so bad?”

Yes, it is bad. Ugh, I should’ve known this twat would pull something tonight. I’ve only been talking about this night since they announced the tour a year ago and we only broke up six months ago. You know, when I came home after work one night to find him balls deep in Harley Addison.

Harley fucking Addison.

What kind of name is that?

Of course, Tyler tried to blame him screwing Harley on me and the fact that I wouldn’t have sex with him.“But Sadie, a man has needs,”he told me.

Yeah, well, fuck your needs, Tyler.

Although, I got the last laugh when I went all Carrie Underwood and took a Louisville Slugger to the headlights and body of his brand-spankin’ new Ford Raptor. Now that I think about it though, I really should’ve gone all Miranda Lambert in her music video for Kerosene and burned his house down while I was at it. With him in it. Am I a little psycho? Probably. But eh, semantics.

“If you put your hands on me again, you’ll lose one. You lost your privileges the moment I came home to find you with your dick in someone else. I am not your girl, Tyler.”

His fists clench by his side but he otherwise looks calm. “Sure, and the sky ain’t blue, darlin’.” He laughs, a caustic sort of laugh. “Besides, Harley meant nothing to me. Not like you do.”

Indignation flares through me. We haven’t been dating for six months and he thinks he can waltz back into my life the first time a guy—well guys—show interest in me? Who does he think he is?

The way he stares at me reminds me of a predator watching their prey. He even makes sure to keep Dante and Kaos in his line of sight while he does. In this case, Dante and Kaos are the bigger threat.

Ben folds his arms over his chest, and the movement reminds me that he’s still here. I’d totally forgotten. That’s the thing about him, he’s awfully good at blending in with his surroundings and although he doesn’t say anything, he watches me with those penetrating black eyes of his.

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