Page 36 of Isaia

“A coffeeshop,” he starts, then turns to face me. “Different from our usual setup.”

“By different, you mean not a sex club?”

He lets out a laugh. “Exactly. But I’d say you picked the right place. Low-key. Quiet enough for our needs. A smart purchase.”

“Thanks, brother. But as much as I’d love to have you blow some smoke up my ass, the low-key factor isn’t why I bought it.”

“Oh, I know.” He turns, his gaze steady. “It’s about her. The girl with the dog.”

“Of course, it is.” I don’t even try to deny it.

I pick up the phone, and Molly answers before the first ring has finished. “Sir?”

“Two black coffees.”

“Right a?—”

I hang up.

“It’s a good thing you came by this morning,” I say, leaning back in the new leather chair behind the desk I had delivered yesterday. “I think Caelian and Nicoli need to show their faces around here too.”

Alexius raises an eyebrow. “How so?”

“If Rinaldi has eyes on us or Everly, showing a strong presence here might remind him who he’s up against.”

“Intimidation tactic? I like it.” He adjusts his tie as he takes a seat across from me. It must be exhausting, being that perfect all the damn time. His suits are always flawless—immaculate lines, not a wrinkle in sight. He’s a shark in a school of goldfish.

His gaze shifts to my leather jacket, his eyes narrowing, and I don’t miss the assessment. “If you’re set on being a businessman, maybe start dressing like one.”

“I didn’t buy this place to play dress-up. And you know as well as I do I’m not one for monkey suits. They don’t quite go with my lifestyle.”

“And what lifestyle’s that?”

“The kind that doesn’t give a fuck about suits.”

A soft knock sounds and the door opens, framing her—Everly, carrying a tray with two steaming cups. Her gaze finds mine, her mismatched eyes capturing my full attention, and for a moment, the world narrows to just the two of us. The rhythm of my pulse shifts, each beat echoing her name.

She glances at Alexius briefly before her gaze returns to me, lingering for just a second longer than it should, and I know she feels the weight of my attention.

Every movement she makes is smooth, almost hypnotic—the way her lips press together as she balances the tray, the grace in her posture. She doesn’t know it, but everything about her pulls me in, harder and deeper each time.

“Your coffee,” she murmurs so softly it barely reaches above a whisper.

She sets the cups down, and I can’t help myself; I reach for the cup just as she pulls back, letting my fingers brush against hers. It’s an intentional move, a selfish one, but that fleeting contact is a flare of heat that’s got my cock rock-hard and my mind racing with every dark, filthy thought I’d push into reality if given half the chance.

Her gaze drops to my lips, and something raw flickers in her eyes before she looks back up, reconnecting with my stare. A second later, she pulls away, breaking the connection, but not before leaving a trail of heat in her wake.

As she reaches the door, I call, “Everly?”

She stops, glancing over her shoulder.

“Don’t go far,” I say, watching her lips part at my words. She hesitates a fraction of a second, then slips out, closing the door behind her.

“Isaia,” Alexius’s voice snaps me out of the haze, pulling me back to the cold reality of the room, “whatever you’re thinking about that girl, don’t.”

I shift, unwilling to let him get under my skin. “I’m not thinking anything,” I reply, pulling open a drawer and grabbing a flask of whiskey, pouring more than a reasonable amount into my coffee.

Alexius slides his cup closer, and I empty the rest of the flask into his coffee before he drags the cup back, raising an eyebrow. “Your mind might not be thinking anything, but your dick sure is.”

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