Page 5 of V for Vindictive

“He wants to buy her things?!” Tiff murmured to Mia, sighing wistfully. “What a dreamboat. Why can’t I meet me a man like that?”

“It’s ridiculous and fake, is why,” Topher commented offhandedly, bitterness tainting his voice.

I eyed the group, but Sloan didn’t appear to have any issue ignoring them, and he quietly led me out to the path that headed for town.

In our present garb, a moonlight stroll through the woods would’ve been laughable if done with anyone other than Sloan. It was several miles to the nearest house, and nearly forty to the nearest town. Sloan and I looked ready for a rich-person party on a yacht. I would’ve grumbled about it, but I didn’t want to make Sloan feel bad after all the trouble he went through to make it happen.

“V doesn’t like to be pampered like that,” Nigel added, his eyes meeting mine when I looked over my shoulder at him. “She’s not that type of girl.”

What, the girl who doesn’t deserve a guy to wine and dine her?

Despite his claim not being totally off the mark, I glared at my friend.

But it was Claude who sighed and spoke up in place of me, “Wow, you guys are so jealous it’s sad. What, bitter you didn’t get to do it first? Don’t hate the player.”

After two weeks, it was clear Claude liked Sloan. A lot. More than the others. More than Tiff. He eyed Sloan every chance he got, and no one could blame him. He was an oddball, but one I respected.

Auburn hair blew into my face, catching rays of moonlight, just as I turned my head to give the bitter Shifter a piece of my mind.

As if barely bothered, Sloan gently brushed my renegade hair aside and smirked at the group behind us. “If you enjoy yourself, nothing they say here will matter, V. This is your night, and I’m honored you chose me to spend it with. Whatever you want to do, we’ll do. I don’t determine the agenda, you do. So, if a dinner and walk don’t appeal to you—”

“They do!” I nearly yelled and quickly cleared my throat, blushing. “I mean, you already went through all the trouble, and I could really use some new clothes.”

Sloan’s dashing grin reached his glimmering blue eyes. “Then, of course, whatever the lady wants.”

“Holy! What a man, M&M. What. A. Man,” Tiff said, defusing the tension instantly, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I couldn’t figure out where to put my weapons,” I admitted, shifting a dagger on the inner part of my thigh into a more comfortable position. “This outfit doesn’t really give a girl any place to conceal her weaponry.”

Sloan’s deep, husky laughter tickled my skin from how close we stood next to each other. Presently, we headed towards the car the Brit summoned for the evening. “I won’t deny it crossed my mind when I saw your outfit where you might put a weapon, if any. I’m impressed you managed to conceal a few, and I look forward to discovering how many for myself later.”

What, did Sloan train with Phillip on the weekends or something? Holy hell.

I nearly tripped over a branch, not ready for the other Hunter’s seductive quip. “Hey!”

Sloan’s arm was already around my waist, saving me from a meet-and-greet with the dirt floor. It was a ridiculous situation considering my superior blood and abilities. I’d very likely spend a full three days bemoaning the mishaps and misspoken words from our night out.

“I’m joking, V.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” I rasped, barely recovering my composure. “You can’t come at me with one-liners like that, Sloan. It’s cheating.”

The Brit’s lips slanted devilishly, and his long fingers stroked down my thinly covered side before spiriting away. “I’ll endeavor to remember that for the future.”

Phillip was bad, but Sloan was worse. Maybe because the Brit came across as innocent and well-meaning, so his seductive, left-field comments hit harder. Maybe it was because Sloan struck me as someone who didn’t go out of his way to beguile a woman. Or maybe it was how his charming smile instantly disarmed my post-comment rage, making it impossible to stay angry at him.

Even cheeky, Sloan wore it all in an adorable way.

Whatever it was, I wasn’t ready for the level of suave bastard Sloan brought to the table, and it was a constant effort to regain my cool façade around him.

“You may wonder why I hadn’t mentioned Phillip before,” Sloan started, catching me by surprise and immediately changing the tone of our conversation.

I yanked my head his direction, eyes narrowed. “Yeah. I would’ve appreciated you saying something.”

“He asked that I didn’t, but I don’t agree. I think it’s important you understand why he hasn’t returned to your side.”

My heart came into my throat, understanding immediately that what I was about to hear would probably hurt worse than knowing I’d kissed some other guy and left him behind.

“He was injured by Eros’s magic, and it happened because Phillip did everything he could to keep Eros from going after us when we fled.”Called it.“But Phillip’s real reason for not returning is because he’s searching for Cash. Am I right to assume you remember him?”

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