Page 73 of Vicious Addictions

“Oh, I’m sure our paths will cross again,” I retort, unable to hide the warning in my tone. “Come, love. The night isn’t over yet,” I say with a crooked smile, slapping Mina’s ass.

Mina’s cheeks turn pink at the slap, but if I had it my way, it would have been harder.

When we reach the elevator, I hold onto her hand and don’t let go.

“Not a word, honey,” I warn when I see her starting to open her mouth. “We don’t know who may be watching or listening,” I say, glancing at the elevator camera.

Mina squeezes my hand in response.

We step out of the building, the sharp click of Mina’s heels the only sound in the quiet night.

I hail a cab and quickly help her inside, just in case we’re being watched.

“Where to?” the driver asks.

“To the Dorchester, please,” I reply.

To make our cover story believable, just in case someone followed us from the club, Felix thought it best to book a suite at a five-star hotel in the center of London where Mina and I will be spending the night.

“You’re angry,” she says under her breath once we’re a few blocks away from Pavlin’s penthouse.

“Not now. Later,” I scold, unwilling to have this conversation in a fucking cab where the driver can hear us.

But truth be told, I’m more than mad—I’m livid.

And before the night’s end, Mina is going to receive the full weight of my wrath.

Chapter 12

Mina

Nineteen years old

In the elevator ride up to the hotel suite, Jude’s anger continues to simmer just beneath the surface. I feel it in the rigid set of his jaw and in the sharp edge of his silence. Tension coils between us, thick and suffocating as the numbers creep higher. But if the car ride back to the hotel was any indication, he won’t say a word to me until we’re behind closed doors.

I’m fine with that.

I didn’t do anything wrong.

In fact, out of the two of us, I was the one who was on her game. I was the one who got the intel we needed.

Not him.

So, if he’s angry with me because of how I went about it, tough.

He can rant and rage all he wants. I know I did a good job tonight.

I have more than proven myself to be an asset and a leader, as I was the one who did the heavy lifting tonight.

If his ego is hurt because of it, that’s his problem. Not mine.

All these thoughts churn in my mind, fueling me for the fight I know Jude is itching to start.

The only problem is that Felix and the twins are already in the hotel suite waiting for us.

Jude doesn’t so much as spare them a second glance, preferring to stride straight to the liquor cart and pour himself a whiskey.

“Were you careful?” Felix asks, eyeing us both.

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