Page 495 of Dark Love

“There’s nothing really to tell.” Vex’s finger stops moving and settles on my shoulder, still wrapped in my hair.

“Oh, there’s a story. Vex kicked her out of the club after they met,” Diane chimes in from the other end of the table.

“It wasn’t quite like that. Vex had a limo take us home safely. Wasn’t that sweet?” Mindy thankfully changes the narrative.

Adonis’ eyes pass over her quickly before moving back to Vex. Does Adonis even see her?

Can a man like a woman if he doesn’t even see her?

That’s a question for another day. Right now, I need to change the narrative. “Vex always makes sure that the women in his club are taken care of.”

“Women are always targets at clubs. The number of calls we get for drugged women at clubs is astronomical.”

Wait? What? Adonis is making it sound like that’s Vex’s fault. “Women get assaulted at parties. Should they stop being allowed to go to parties? Or do you think we should hold every person who throws a party responsible for a woman getting assaulted? Vex isn’t responsible for what evil men do. And even talking like that is insulting to all the men who stand up to protect a woman. Because that’s what he does every night.”

Adonis stares at me, unblinking.

“Did anyone hear about the call Marge got?” Mindy breaks the tension.

It seems if anyone can’t keep their cool, it’s me.

And I was worried about Vex.

***

There’s a car waiting as we step out of the restaurant. Vex opens the door for me and I slide in. It shouldn’t feel this unsettling to be driven around. I have a service take me to work every day.

But none of those men are trained killers.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Vex takes my hand, squeezes it, and then he wraps his arms around my shoulder, pulling me in close. It’s been a long day. I snuggle in and let my body relax.

There might be snow in a few weeks, but you couldn’t tell it from the bright lights and cement all around us. I miss foliage. If Vex was a normal boyfriend, we’d be talking about visiting my parents soon or traveling together in the future.

Is travel even an option for us? Vex said he never leaves town. Could there be something preventing him from leaving? Probation? Another crime lord?

Even thinking about that makes me wanna giggle and cry.

“That’s an awfully serious face.”

“My parents are on the beach right now.” Wow. Smooth. Really smooth.

The shadows and lights from the road outside play across Vex’s wrinkled brow. “Are they having a nice time?”

How would I know? “I like going on vacation.” Maybe not to the beach, but I like traveling once in a while.

Vex's frown turns into a slow, lopsided kind of smile.

“I know we’ve only known each other for a short period of time, but… um… we could… maybe…”

“Where would you like to go, Dahl?”

That means. “You can go on vacation. I mean, not tomorrow or anything, but eventually we could plan a vacation together.”

“Sure. Payne can cover for me.” Vex leans down and whispers in my ear, “You grab some bikinis and I’ll arrange everything else.”

The darkness hides the blush that steals up my face from Vex’s guards. “I hate the beach!”

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