Page 80 of Turmoil's Target

She cocks her head, honey-blonde hair spilling over one shoulder. “Can’t a girl just drop by to say hello?”

Shiver’s gaze darts between us, brow furrowed.

He clears his throat. “Uh, Turmoil? You know this chick?”

I barely spare him a glance. “Yeah. I know her.”

Too well.

“Well, she’s requesting to see you,” Shiver says slowly, as if explaining something to a child.

“I see.” I can’t tear my eyes away from her, drinking in every detail like a man dying of thirst.

The way her leather jacket hugs her curves, the glint of silver at her ears, her throat.

The mask of red painted across her lips.

Seraphina arches one perfect brow. "You don’t look particularly happy to see me, Abe. Should I be worried?”

A strangled laugh escapes me. “Worried? Why would you be worried, Sera? ‘Cause last time I checked, you’re the one who wanted me gone.”

I choke on the words.

She takes a step closer, pale fingers curling around the chain link. “I had my reasons for pushing you away. You of all people should understand that.”

Should I?

The retort burns on my tongue, but I swallow it back.

We’ve got a bigger audience than I’d like for this little reunion.

“Shiver,” I say, fighting to keep my voice level. “Open the gate.”

He hesitates, doubt etched into the lines of his face. “I don’t know, man. If she’s gonna cause problems.”

“She won’t.” I level him with a look that brooks no argument. “I’ll handle it. Now open the damn gate.”

With a muttered curse, he reaches for the button.

The gate rattles open and Seraphina glides through, lithe as a jungle cat.

This close, her scent wraps around me, jasmine and nightshade, and it takes every ounce of willpower not to reach for her.

She stops a hairsbreadth away, tipping her head back to meet my gaze.

A slow smile curves her lips. “Hello, lover. Miss me?”

I open my mouth—to say what, I haven’t got a fucking clue—but she beats me to the punch.

“Careful,” she purrs, eyes dancing with mirth. “Keep grinning at me like that, and I might start to think you’re actually happy I’m here.”

My own lips twitch. “Maybe I’m just smiling ‘cause you haven’t hit me yet.”

Off to the side, Shiver makes a strangled noise.

Seraphina’s smile widens. “Mmm, never know, I might be getting ready to. Or I could have a gun tucked away,” Her gazedrags deliberately down my body and back up again. “Care to frisk me and find out?”

I have to blink at that, slow and measured, heat curling low in my gut.

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