Page 85 of Hearts Of Darkness

Lethal.

Anna works at one of the hottest clubs in Miami and the clientele reflects this, but the man I’m searching for is more brutally beautiful than any of them. He’s close by. I can feel it… He just hasn’t revealed himself to me yet.

We’re starting to attract a heap of unwanted attention. One A-Lister in particular seems stupid hot for Anna.

“Hey, sexy, come and sit with me for a while,” he croons, patting the empty space on the blue couch next to him.

Manuel stiffens, and she smiles vaguely in the guy’s direction. “Not tonight, thanks. I’m good.”

He shrugs and turns back to his friends as another movie star tries his luck.

“Ugh, I amdonebeing a sleaze magnet up here,” she hisses, dispensing with him too. “I need another drink. Give me a holler when you find him.” She turns to Manuel. “Fancy keeping me company while our girl chats business?”

“Maybe later.” He smiles, softening the blow as much as he can. “I’d like to hang out with Señorita Eve some more first.”

“You know, you don’t have to keep calling her that,” she says stiffly, pivoting on her heels.

I shoot Manuel a look of sympathy, but he knows his priorities. One of the most dangerous men in the world has entrusted him to keep his woman,his angel, safe. There’s noway in hell he’s going to screw it up by having a flirt-a-thon with her best friend.

I scan the crowds again. A dark-haired guy keeps catching my attention. He’s older than most and attractive in a lean, mean, angular kind of a way. He’s dressed to kill in one of the sharpest midnight-blue suits I’ve ever seen, and there’s a dangerous vibe about him that reminds me of Dante.

He’s stretched out across the best couch in the VIP area with a glass of hard liquor in one hand and an equally hard-looking blonde in the other. As I watch, she kicks off her shoes and drapes a long tan leg over his crotch. Now she’s straddling him and giggling for effect.

How much doesshecharge, I wonder.

The whole scene changes when he catches me staring at him. The smirk dies on his lips, and he pushes the blonde off his lap. She lands on her ass with an indignant squawk, but he doesn’t seem to hear. Either that, or he doesn’t care.

He’s moving toward us. I hear Manuel curse and reach for his gun again.

“We need to go, señorita.”

“Why, who is he?”

It’s too late. Four man-mountains have swooped in out of nowhere, positioning themselves like a wall of steel behind us and blocking our exit. I can smell their cheap aftershave. There’s a tight grip on my shoulder, and the unforgiving sensation of a gun being pressed against the hollow of my back.

The man glides to a stop in front of us and nods at his men to let me go. He makes no move to touch me. If anything, he slides his hands even deeper into his pockets. It’s as if he doesn’t trust himself and can’t face the penalty of a slip-up.

Has Dante been marking his territory again?

“Helen Of Troy, I presume,” he drawls, looking me up and down and licking his lips.

“Excuseme?” I say, glaring at him.

“I suggest you read up on your Greek mythology, Miss Miller. I figured you’d be beautiful, but I never imagined…this.” He sweeps his eyes over me again. “Rick Sanders. We have a mutual friend in common. I’m a former business partner of his.”

“I didn’t realizehehad any friends,” I say, arching my eyebrows at him.

Rick laughs. “Not many, and their numbers have certainly dwindled in recent months.”

“Formerbusiness partner?” I say, pouncing on the word.Is this man working for Emilio now?

“Not much escapes you, I see. He told me you were smart. I used to run the operational side of his business in Florida.”

“Traitor,” mutters Manuel.

Rick turns to my bodyguard. “I assure you I am no traitor. Not to Dante Santiago. I’m perfectly content with all four of my limbs.” His lips curve again as he removes his hand from his pocket and extends it in his direction. “Dante speaks highly of you too, Manuel.”

The Colombian seems to swell with pride as he takes it.

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