Page 131 of Sardonic Burn

My brows narrow.

He grins. “I told you months ago that you’d fall in love with him.”

I take the pillow from behind me and flank it across his face. He starts laughing, and it’s contagious. I’m laughing, too, for the first time in so long, and it feels almost too natural.

“Now,” Niko says, clearing his throat. “I know apologizing is something new for you, so I’ll help you.”

A snort leaves my lips. “No, thank you. I’ll handle this.”

“Good luck.”

Luck is something I’ll definitely need.

THIRTY-FIVE

This isn’t what I had in mind when I told Niko to track Hudson down.

My luck has always been fucking terrible, and I’m only now starting to realize how bad it is. Cecilia is with me because she’s on the list of people who haven’t left my side. But tonight, I’m glad she’s with me. Without her, I would’ve chickened out.

“Do you want me to go with you?”

I shake my head. “Let’s grab a drink first. I’ll need it.”

She chuckles, grabs my hand, and leads me toward the bar.

It’s one of the clubs that requires exclusivity. Cecilia has it. Hudson has it. I have it. I’ve never used it because I find clubsto be rather boring. From ages seventeen to twenty, I went crazy, and now I’m no longer interested in spending nights in a dark, crowded space with sweaty people.

But it’s good to let loose from time to time. Tonight, I’m a woman on a mission.

Cecilia orders us each four shots of tequila. Each shot slides down my throat, leaving the burning aftertaste on my tongue. The anxiety starts to fade away and since it’s been a while since I drank something that strong, I feel myself getting tipsy.

“Do you see him?” she screams over the loud music.

My eyes skim the crowd, and a pang of disappointment fills my chest. I shake my head and wonder if Niko’s location is correct but when I look around, I see that it’s all the people that I know, one way or the other.

He should be here.

“Isn’t this a sign from God that I shouldn’t be doing this?”

Cecilia snorts. “You don’t believe in God.”

“Well, I might just start.”

She rolls her eyes. “Stop. He’ll be here. Be patient.”

“I’ve been a patient for quite some time,” I joke, but I shut up the moment she throws a threatening glare my way.

“Stop fucking joking around. Especially about that. I almost fucking lost you, bitch. Never do it again or I promise you, I will be the one to put you six feet under.”

“I don’t plan on doing anything that stupid anytime soon, Cec. Don’t worry.”

Her eyes move from my face upward, and a small smirk tugs on the corner of her lips. She doesn’t speak, only motions with her eyes behind me.

Immediately, I turn around. There are a couple of VIP booths located on the top floor, but they’re more like little platforms with glass around them. Cecilia says that with thepress of a button, the glass turns black, and it becomes soundproof. It’s great because I’m going to need privacy.

My eyes find Hudson immediately, and the wind gets knocked out of my chest.

He’s wearing a black dress shirt with the first two buttons undone. He’s wearing a chain around his neck, and his chest is in my view. He looks so fucking good. His hair has gotten longer since I last saw him, reaching just below his neck. It’s styled back with a little gel holding it together and two front pieces falling over his eyes.

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