Page 229 of Intense
Her brows lift, intrigued. “What do you do?” She plucks a glass of champagne from Frankie without breaking eye contact.
“I’m a surgeon in cardiology. I work for Finn.”
Her grin widens knowingly. “Nice. Married the boss.” She winks.
“That wasn’t my initial plan.”
“No. She wanted to kill me, really,” Finn’s voice cuts in dryly.
Frankie chuckles, joining the conversation. “Most of our women do want to kill us. That’s how we know they really love us.”
Nikolai and Mila drift closer, catching the tail end of the exchange.
“That’s how we met too, wasn’t it, d’yavolitsa?” Nikolai rumbles, looking down at Mila like she hung the stars.
Her lip curls, eyes full of adoration. “It worked out for us eventually.”
She steps toward me, hand extended, black nails like claws. “I’m Mila. Nice to meet you.”
“Stephanie.”
Finn presses a kiss to my neck, murmuring something against my skin before excusing himself to join the men. My body instantly misses the cage of his hold, but Mila and Zara close in on either side of me.
“You’re new to this world, aren’t you?” Mila asks.
I nod.
Zara smirks like she’s already seen my future. “But you’re going to be one of us. I can feel it.”
I glance around at the room full of predators and power. My lips twitch with something dark. “I’m not your typical surgeon. I guess you could say I have a past. And… some interesting pastimes.”
Their eyes light up. “Tell us more,” Mila presses, leaning in.
“Well,” I lower my voice, “up until recently, I had a part-time gig at a strip club. So I could hunt down men from my past… and kill them in their sleep.”
“Wow,” Zara breathes, genuine awe in her tone.
I blink. Wait. She’s a cop.
But her smile only widens. “Welcome to the family.” She slings an arm around my shoulder like we’ve known each other for years. “Whatever you have to do to survive, you’ll never catchjudgment from us. We stick together in this world—especially us women.”
Tears sting unexpectedly in my eyes. I’ve never had women like this in my corner. Never felt the weight of protection that wasn’t transactional, wasn’t false. Just… fierce and loyal.
“Has Finn given you your instructions for tonight?” Mila asks.
I nod. “I–I kinda forced him to bring me here. I don’t really have a role, just that I have to stay with him at all times.”
The girls sip their champagne, perfectly poised.
“We came under the pretense of a date night in London,” Zara says lightly, though her eyes glint with steel. “But we’re here if we’re needed. Honestly? I think this will be an easy night for them. Precaution, more than anything.”
The door opens again, pulling my attention. Enzo. The twins. Drago. And three men I don’t recognize, their accents giving away their British roots the moment they speak.
“Should I be more prepared for this?” I whisper.
“Just trust Finn,” Mila says. “He knows what he’s doing. The Quinn brothers are well respected by our husbands.”
My gaze finds Finn across the room. He’s in deep discussion with the newcomers, the masked man listening closely.
