Page 60 of Sinful Wrath

“What?” she yells back, cupping her hand over her ear.

Her long, blond hair is stuck to her face and her mascara is starting to smudge under her eyes.

“Never mind!”

Macy shrugs and grins before going back to grinding on the guy behind her.

I don’t even know where Kara is, but knowing her, she’s in the bathroom doing god-knows what.

Once the next song ends, I quickly check my phone to see if Mikhail is still out. As much as I would love to dance until the sun comes up, I have to make sure to be back and in bed before six A.M. at the very latest.

The tracker is still saying he’s at the bar, so I have time for another drink or two.

I leave Macy with her newfriendand make my way through the crowd toward the bar.

My feet are already starting to hurt, and climbing back up the fire escape in this dress after drinking is not going to be an easy feat but one I have to conquer if I ever want to see the lights of Manhattan again. A problem for future Lucia.

I just have to hope that Mikhail decides to have a lie in for once.

“Another bottle of champagne, please!” I yell at the bartender over the pounding of the music.

I flash my best smile, flicking my slightly sweaty hair over my shoulder. I would normally have put it up in some fancy style, but I didn’t exactly have a lot of time to get ready.

I’m wearing the very dress that I worethe night I first met Mikhail, and the thought of what happened and almost happened between us that night sends a shiver of desire through my body.

As I wait for my champagne, I glance around and catch the eye of a man at the other end of the bar.

He’s wearing a dark shirt and pants, with a shaved head and a snake tattoo that curves up the side of his neck. He looks shady as hell, and his eyes are locked on me.

I force myself to offer him a small smile if only not to appear frightened. That’s what these guys want, someone to intimidate, and I’m not in the fucking mood to be stroking any man’s ego.

So, I take my champagne and make my way back onto the dance floor, the feeling of those eyes on my back never leaving me for one moment.

Once the champagne has run dry and my feet are screaming at me, I decide to call it a night.

Kara has still not appeared, and Macy is practically dry humping some guy in one of the booths, so I’m taking that as my cue to leave.

I head over to the cloakroom to collect my coat. After handing over my ticket, I glance over my shoulder and clock eyes with the shady man again.

I offer him a small smile as I do to most people, but his facial expression remains cold and unmoving.

Weirdo.

Turning back around, I take my coat from the cloakroom attendant and quickly slip it on.

The hairs on the back of my neck are prickling, and I’m willing to bet that when I turn around, I’ll come face to face with the man who has apparently taken a liking to me.

“I don’t suppose you have a back exit?” I whisper-shout to the attendant.

Her eyes widen for a moment but then she nods, signaling for me to follow her.

I keep the soft smile plastered on my face to try and keep myself calm more than anything else. If I can somehow trick my body into not panicking, it will help to keep my head clear despite the alcohol.

If this man is in fact as shady as he looks, then I can’t afford to make a single mistake.

It may just cost me my life.

The cloakroom attendant leads me down the corridor that leads to the bathrooms. At the very end is a door with astaff onlysign taped to the front, and she quickly bundles me inside.

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