Page 18 of Gilded Touches

Luna

Gleaming marble reflects the red glow of the neon lights. Bathed in red, the black of the Ambrose brothers' eyes is heart-stopping. I can’t run. I can’t dodge around three men who take up every single inch of the hallway.

I take a step in reverse, earning me growls. Large shoulders roll and sway with their synced movements in my direction. Their muscular bodies bulge and flex as they lumber closer. Standing shoulder to shoulder they’ve effectively cut off my only exit, leaving me only one direction to run.

Is the door to my left to the bedroom or bathroom? Is there an escape from inside the rooms? Access to elevators? I chance a quick look over my shoulder. Oh. Now that is something. Room one hundred and six’s door stands ajar.

My hair fans over my shoulder, and it catches all three of their gazes.

They’re ready to catch their prey. Can I get up the last door before they catch me?

“Don’t.”

Jasper likes to take control of a situation.

“You three really do nothing alone, do you?”

Shayne takes a step toward me, sending me in reverse. He prowls yet another step closer and I do the same in the opposite direction. Come on, buddy. Just a few more feet…

“Look, there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Jasper’s low rumble of a laugh is humorless. “Has there been, sweet thing?”

He skewers me with a hard look. “Are you here on behalf of the buyers? Did they tell you to seduce us and then make off with our item? Making enemies out of us is not a smart move.”

“No doubt.”

My feet falter and I reach out for the wall so I don't fall on my ass. I never thought of that scenario. He’ll never believe me when I tell him I don’t know his buyers so I play into their accusations and grab onto the idea.

“They’ll come looking for me. You don’t want them to do that. They’ll kill me and you three.” I don't know how much they care about me getting hurt, but maybe they fear the buyers.

Voss shrugs, with a glint of wickedness in his eyes that says he’ll slay anyone who dares challenge them. “They can try, but they can’t have you.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

I can’t help but wonder why they are not asking me to hand the jacket over?

“Who told you where to find us? You had to have a lot of time to get ready and be in our booth. I didn’t set the meeting place until thirty minutes beforehand.”

I lift a shoulder, “I guess you’ll never know. Word to the wise. Never go to a sex club to hook up with millions in gems in your pocket.” I pat the empty pocket of Jasper’s jacket, earning a rumble of irritation from the man.

His dark grin has me swallowing the lump of dread forming in my throat. “Touché. Lesson learned.” He cocks his head to the side. “You caught me off guard twice this evening. That has never happened before.” He pauses, considering me in silence for a moment.

I take another step back.

“Not another foot. Or you will be sorry.”

Jasper’s voice drips with an unspoken dare I can’t resist and I do exactly what he warns against. Dark hair falls over a smooth forehead making him look more dangerous.

Shayne closes the gap between us, his muscular body is a visual gift I need to look away from. “Where are you going, tigress?”

His voice is low and as daring as his brothers.

I hold a hand up like the simple act will stop him from invading my personal space. As predicted, he knocks my hand away and takes my chin between his thumb and finger.

With his other hand, he searches the jacket for the loot. “Sneaky tigress. Where did you stash them?” He sounds more amused than his brother.

“I wondered how long it would take for you to ask.” The corner of my mouth tilts upward in a sly grin.

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