Page 18 of Reign

He’s damn near Cas’s caliber of attractiveness so there would be no need. They’d come willingly.

I have more questions for Joelle but I need to get her alone. I was planning on just asking her to come get another drink with me but when I glance around, Victoria and Marguerite both are eyeing Cas like he’s their next meal as his hips begin to sway on the dance floor. I have no doubt they’d try to get a feel of him while I’m occupied. There’re too many secrets swirling around and I don’t trust them enough to leave Cas alone. Unable to believe what I’m about to do, I pull Cas with me over toward Camila who’s dancing with the hungry wolves. I playfully twirl Victoria before grabbing Camila by the hand pulling her to Cas and I. Keeping a smile on my face, I pull us all in closer.

“Cas needs to fill you in. I’ve got to discuss some things with Joelle.” I can see Camila’s pupils dilate at the prospect of being close enough to Casper – with my permission – to hear him, smell him, and touch him as they dance. To douse the flame of desire before stepping away, I put myself in between them, my back to his front, facing Camila head on. “Don’t forget you’re here as hiscousinand if your hands land anywhere on his body, I’ll make sure you bleed.”

She rewards me with a smirk. “Come on, how about his shoulders?” I’m starting to think she likes it when I threaten her.

“No.”

I glare at Cas to make sure he understands and I relax a little at his amused smile and nod. “Go get our information. We’ll behave.”

Gliding back to where the other three women are dancing, I grab onto Joelle’s shoulders and gently push her off the floor toward the bar, shouting in her ear, “I need another drink.”

She comes along willingly, a smile on her pretty face. She seems unaware that this is a bit of an ambush but I can’t afford to waste this opportunity.

As we place our order with the bartender, we slide onto two vacant bar stools, catching our breath. It feels good to sit down for a minute.

Behind the bar are thick glass shelves that line a gigantic mirrored wall. The rows and rows of liquor bottles really prevent me from being able to see behind me into the club. There are bluish white rope lights secured under each of the shelves giving everything a pretty glow. Four bartenders are bobbing and weaving and doing a dance of their own as they fill shakers, garnish glasses, take orders, and slide drinks to the patrons.

“Joelle, how’d your brother know I was in trouble?”

She does us both the favor of not playing coy. It’s clear neither of us have been telling the whole truth. “He’s probably been watching Max since we arrived. He hates the guy,” she says as she shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“Then why doesn’t he fire him?”

“It’s complicated,” she sighs.

“I know this probably sounds weird, but we aren’t just two ships passing in the night, Jo. Someone wanted our families to collide and I need to know who stands to gain from the wreckage.”

Her eyes actually widen like she understands my meaning, although I’m not sure how she could since I don’t totally understand it myself. I’m just throwing out some hooks to see if she bites, however I no longer think this is just about some money that was stolen from Mateo. Sure, half a billion dollars is a lot of money, but why couldn’t Mateo just find Nikita on his own? If the Bratva won’t be pissed if Nikita’s dead, why not just have someone else do the hit? Why involve Cas and I and what damn roll does Nikita actually play in all of this that would cause Mateo to want him dead? If he kills the man who owes him money, he’ll never recover any of it.

“Did you come here looking for my brother?”

Interesting that she would make the connection so quickly. Or perhaps it was my obvious statement that declared my interest in him.

If I answer yes, she’ll probably be able to guesswhywe were looking for him which means she’ll send him back into hiding. But to lie feels wrong after he offered to save me from Max.

Choosing my words carefully, I tell her, “It’s complicated. At this point though, all we’re looking for is the truth.”

“Meet me for brunch tomorrow. I’ll text you the address in the morning.”

I nod as we slip off the barstools, drinks in hand and head back out on to the floor. Hopefully, they both don’t disappear into the wind.

“Wow,” Jo yells in my ear as we approach the group. “His hips should be illegal. You’re sure they’re related?” She laughs as my heart rate spikes and I work hard to keep my anger in check since I was the one who suggested this. But I ampositiveI said no touching. As we get closer, Cas’s eyes are closed as he feels the music… with his right hand resting on Camila’s hip. Interestingly,herhands are by her sides, as requested.

I walk right up to him, plant my hands on his chest and push him backwards. I’m aware people are watching, especially the girls in our group, so instead of dancing with Cas, I take over his spot with Camila, completely ignoring him.

He either doesn’t catch the hint that I’m pissed he couldn’t follow through with myonerequest, or he understands and refuses to accept it because he responds immediately, his hands pulling my back against his chest. Before the girls reclaim Camila into their circle, since she’s now without a dance partner, she grabs my forearm and leans into my ear. I think she’s going to say something catty or possessive about Cas. Instead, she whispers, “Way to handle yourself. And thanks for the dance.” I can’t find my words before she’s swallowed by Victoria, Joelle and Marguerite.

Turning back to Cas, I place my hands on his chest and lean in toward his ear, stilling the rest of my body. The lust in his eyes lets me know he thinks I’m about to tell him that I want to get out of here for a reason other than starting to feel drained from the night. Instead, I whisper, “All I asked was that you not touch her.”

When one of the strobe lights lands on Cas’s face, I see his look of anger. His hands grind the beaded tassels of my dress into my flesh and the rough friction feels better than I want to admit. I clench my jaw, refusing to lose this battle of wills. We’ve been here less than a week. If he thinks I’m ready to go back to how things were in Aruba, he’s mistaken.

“Did it ever occur to you that maybeIneeded to let loose for a minute too?” he grits out. “Maybe I needed to be able to have a moment with someone familiar and forget about the rest of this bullshit for a second?”

I’m breathing hard when I look up and he’s staring down at me, his emerald eyes almost blinding in the lights of the club.

Fuck, he’s beautiful.

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