Page 41 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

A woman with straight black hair sighs. I glance over at her and her stunning heart-shaped face and deep amber eyes that immediately draw you in. She gives me an exaggerated pout.

“What I wouldn’t do to have a taste… just a little.”

A fire in my chest ignites at her words. I try to shake off the unexpected reaction and focus on what she confessed.

“Hasn’t he ever...” I glance around at the girls with a questioning look. Some of them stare at me with horrified expressions while the rest wear a dreamy look filled with lust.

The girl with knowing gray eyes chuckles. “You must be new. Hook isn’t interested in our company.”

The rest of the girls nod their heads, agreeing with her. But it didn’t make any sense to me.

“Why does he come here, then?” I ask.

“Business.Actualbusiness.” Giselle replies, taking the bottle from my hand and drinking a few gulps before handing it back to me.

A beautiful girl with shocked deep green eyes and long, wavy deep red hair stands up, her brows raised at each of the girls. “Are we all talking about the same Hook? The ruthless beast that scares the crap out of everyone he comes in contact with?” She shivers. “His name alone dredges up fear.”

She looks at me with a frightened expression on her face. “I’d run if I were you. If he has his eyes set on you, you’re not safe.”

He’s notthatscary. I open my mouth to tell her as much when Giselle nudges me over to one of the seats beside the girls.

“None of that, Kenna. He came with her and from the look in his eyes, he’s definitely not leaving without her. She’s here to have a little fun, show him exactly who’s in charge and then be on her way.”

Just as I take a seat between the now curious gray-eyed girl and Kenna, a couple of men barge into the room.

Both are tall, their build wide and presence intimidating as they glance around the room. The tallest of the two has wavy golden blonde hair that meets his shoulders. His forced smile and pale, glassy blue eyes make him seem approachable, harmless. But I quickly spot the slight twist to his lips, and the darkness slowly spreading in his gaze. A look that many men I’ve come across wear like a mask but reveal sooner or later.

Both of the men look intoxicated, his slightly shorter friend even more affected with his clothes and short, dark hair more disheveled. But I didn’t miss the same dark, cruel look in his eyes that his friend has.

It seemed my time for a little fun had ended before it even began. These men were here for trouble and nothing more.

“Where’s my girl?” The tallest of the two looks menacingly at us. His words are slightly slurred as he scans the room.

Giselle sighs as she stands up, trying to shove them out but they don’t budge. “You know this room is out of bounds to you lot. If you want to see one of the girls, put in a request at the front desk.”

His smile quickly dries up as his dark gaze veers to Giselle. “Tell me where she is?”

“She’s working,” Kenna tells him, rolling her eyes.

“She’s…” He narrows his eyes on the redhead beside me. “Where?” He snarls as he moves quickly and grabs her by the arm, pulling her up.

“Hey!” I stand and grab hold of her other arm, pulling her back to me. His eyes swiftly cut to me. There’s a cruel, twisted look in them. One I was all too familiar with. And because of it, I knew I couldn’t let any of the girls go with him or his friend.

I tighten my grip on Kenna as she trembles beside me. Before I get a chance to push him away, he lets go of her and grabs me, shoving me sideways. I twist my body trying to avoid the nearest table but my head slams into the corner as I hit the floor.

“Stop it!” Someone screams around me as pain explodes throughout my head making me dizzy.

I blink away the dark spots in my vision as the rest of the girls move toward me. The door bursts open behind them making them pause as a couple more men spill into the room wearing the same dark look the two in front of me have.

My stomach churns as I realize just how much worse this has gotten.

“Leave her alone!” Giselle shouts as I try to push myself up.

The other men drag her out just as I get to my feet. The rest of the women shout and scream but it’s no use as the new men shove them out before closing and blocking the door.

It’s only then that I notice I’m the only girl left in a room with four intoxicated men all wearing that same dark look I’ve come to hate and fear.

“What have we got here?” A short balding older man asks as he steps closer with a leery expression.

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