Page 71 of Vicious Addictions

I keep my eyes on her while subtly searching for Pavlin.

Mina is the center of attention, drawing every man in the room to her with ease. They hang on her every word, captivated by her beauty and sharp wit.

Everyone wants a piece of her light.

Get in fucking line.

“Your woman is quite remarkable,” a voice says behind me.

I don’t need to turn around to know who it is.

“That she is,” I reply evenly when Pavlin steps beside me.

“Tell me, will you be taking her back to the States once you’re done visiting London?”

I wish.

But that could never happen.

Mina’s life is here. Not mine.

“Why do you ask?” I question, taking a sip of my whiskey.

“Just curious,” he retorts, his eyes fixed on her. “A prize like that shouldn’t be left unclaimed for long.”

My jaw tightens at how his gaze lingers on her for longer than I’m comfortable with.

“And who says I haven’t claimed her?” I counter, stepping into his line of vision.

He chuckles a hollow, humorless sound and replies, “Come now. Men like us know when a flower has been plucked or not.”

It takes everything in me not to shove my fist into his face.

“Looks can be deceiving.”

“Not from my experience.”

I meet his stare head on, my patience running thin. “And what experience is that?”

Instead of answering me, Pavlin only smirks. A slow, knowing curve of his lips.

“Enjoy your evening, Mr. Buchanan,” he says and then walks away.

I exhale, forcing myself to unclench my fists. It’s only then that I realize that Mina is gone.

Shit.

I resist the urge to shout out her name, but my pulse kicks up as I scan the crowded living room and still find no trace of her.

She was righttherea minute ago.

And now she isn’t.

With a forced grin on my lips, I move through the penthouse, slipping past groups of partygoers, searching for Mina without being too obvious about it.

A knot forms in my chest, wondering if Pavlin caught onto us and somehow managed to get his goons to steal her away from me.

No.

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