Page 139 of Lamb

“With that being said …” Charon clapped his hands, pivoting towards me. “My date seems to have wandered away at some point.” He rested a hand against his solar plexus and bent in a deep ceremonial bow. “Will you honour this neglected man with a dance?”

Lamb’s head snapped like an owl, his eyes sharp like daggers, slicing straight through his veil of indifference. His expressionwas stone-cold, but his eyes were fierce and dangerous, a wave of broiling heat rolling from his aura like blue flames licking my skin. Something thrummed over my skin as his energy wrapped tight around me, snatching my breath, his eyes a dark void.

Charon’s eyes widened, his mouth strung into a feral smile that made my heckles rise.

I moved before I could think. My palm pressed into the soft warmth of Lamb’s cheek, stepping between the two men and blocking his line of sight. Lamb’s black eyes flickered straight down to me, and a burning tumultuous storm scorched my chest as I traced the flickering, subtle emotions rippling across his face.

“We cannot make a scene.” I smiled, doing my best to soothe him. “Not yet.” I pushed onto my toes, my heels helping me close the small height difference between us as I pressed my lips to his. I lingered longer than I needed to, hoping to steal some of that fire that stirred the stone giant inside. His lips melted into mine, and his muscles softened against my palm. “It is just one dance.”

I did not open my eyes until I dropped away, his taste lingering on my lips as I turned to face the problematic man in question. Whatever expression Lamb held would collapse my resolve, and I would be more than ready to derail my plans to make him happy.

“For a shadow, you are ataddramatic.” I rolled my eyes, placing my hand in Charon’s waiting one. His hand was far larger than Lamb’s, and it engulfed my own as he led us towards the dance floor.

“What’s life without a little drama?” Charon chuckled, the noise trickling down my spine as we broke through the dense crowd into a wide-open space; an extensive orchestra played classical pieces as couples danced and bounced around the roomin a pitiful display of elegance and nobility that had been lost in ages past.

I had not felt much for ballroom dancing and still cared for it little. But the academy’s strict compulsory lessons had done their job as I fell into position, my posture a little rusty but otherwise complementary as a song concluded.

To my surprise, Charon fell into step with ease as a new song began, and my muscle memory revived, and we both fell into seamless motion.

I was like a child in such a large man’s arms, easily turned and spun, his hardened hands holding onto my hips, fingers grazing my exposed scars. Hands that had committed more violence and wielded vaster control than I could hope to understand, and yet felt tender and gentle as he swept me through each turn. The presence of such a large player made me feel conscious, paranoid, and cautious all piling into one messy emotion.

“Looks like our dates are talking.” Charon smirked, eyes crinkling over my shoulder.

My gaze jumped up to meet his bubbling gold ones, and he shot a wink straight back before we leaned into a spin, his view swapped for mine.

At the edge of the clearing, Lamb’s eyes burned like molten lava. My skin blistered with fever and flame. Even so far away, his eyes were trained on me like a predator and I, the prey. Lamb’s mouth moved tightly as he stood next to another man in a suit, also looking our way.

The man was broad and bulky, not to Charon’s level, but it was easy to see a trained body even through a tight tuxedo. He had dark hair and light eyes, but he was too far to catch what colour.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Charon wink again, and the ally Lamb was talking to rolled his eyes and returned an irritable scowl before turning away from us altogether.

Lamb’s gaze did not falter, and for a moment, trapped in those iron forges, I forgot whose arms I was in until a warm, spiced breath rolled over my neck.

“Tell me,” Charon purred, and I could feel his smile hidden over my shoulder. “What does Lamb know aboutyourlittle plan?”

A jolt of panic flushed any lingering arousal out through my feet. My toes and fingers were cold and tingling as I became highly aware of whose mercy I was under.

I turned, catching his gold flickering eyes, alight with intrigue and amusement, and something else. Something deep and hidden beneath his expression, something I could not read.

Our planshad only been to confront my father and get the necessary evidence to have him arrested on United States grounds. His position was not as fortified, and his walls not as impervious on US soil; this was Charon’s territory, and my father had little hold here. I knew that the club would not let it end only there; a death sentence was hiding behind locked bars, and even if it was difficult, they would make it happen.

It was a good and solid plan. Everything was riding on being here tonight and catching him when he was most vulnerable. Tonight was all or nothing.

But I wantedmore.

It was dangerous and selfish, and if Lamb knew what I was doing, he would shut me down before I could even try. He would call me foolish and take me home over his shoulder and never let me step foot outside again.

A part of me wanted that.

But a bigger part of meneededthis.

I needed my plan to work. No matter the cost.

Charon reached forward, allowing his fingers to knowingly graze the skin of my thigh as they slipped ever so slightly under the hem of my dress. I tried to jerk back, but it was too late. Charon’s fingers tugged against the handle of my concealed knife, slipping it from its hold and snatching my only weapon. I opened my mouth to protest, but a warm finger pinned my words to my lips.

Charon’s Cheshire cat smile grew wide and sharp as he pressed something colder and heavier into my holster instead. His lips pressed against my cheek, his hand vanishing from my thigh, and then he stepped back with a cunning smile. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

I wanted to know the extent of his intel, know how much lurked behind that smile but, more importantly, I wanted to knowhowhe knew. I wanted his source.

---