Page 76 of A Pawn in the Game
“Hi,” I eventually respond. “Would you like to go somewhere? With me?”
Her eyes widen, her mouth opening to form an adorable little ‘oh’.
“I just thought…” I continue. “You’re probably tired of this place. I can’t take you somewhere public, unfortunately. But I thought we could have a quiet night at my place.”Why are my hands clammy?
“Fortunately, I’m not really a fan of the public.”
Her joke unclenches my nervous hands, eliciting a chuckle. “So you’re up for it?”
“For a chance to leave this place and analyze the place you call home? I’m up for it.” She’s sitting straighter now, almost like she’s excited.
“Let’s go, then.”
She jumps up from the chair, my hoodie huge on her. My heart cracks at the sight, but another thought pops into my head. “Would you mind changing? Into the dress you had at the Mayor’s Ball, maybe?” Her head snaps back so I add, “I just want us to go unnoticed. I don’t want anyone to catch wind you left this place. For your safety.”
She watches me for a second, processing my words, before she nods. Another relieved breath escapes me. The door closes behindher as she retreats to the bathroom. I scroll my phone for a good vegan spot near my place and order half the menu from the one with the best reviews. She exits just a couple of minutes later, once again knocking the breath out of me.
I’ve seen her in far less clothes than this modest dress, but the way it accentuates her form makes spit pool in my mouth. The length of her neck, the muscles of her arms, the curve of her hips.
She fidgets under my stare, so I clear my throat before saying, “You look incredible.”
Her face blushes the faintest shade of pink and I’m instantly addicted to it. I want to make her blush every single day. Just like I want to make her smile. And laugh. And come.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, breaking eye contact. She might not be used to receiving compliments, but it’s something I plan to change.
“You ready? You can take your hoodie, too, and change into it in the car? I just don’t want you sticking out while we exit the club.”
“Sure.” On a light jog, she runs to the bathroom, coming back with my hoodie.
I look around searching for a bag but come up short, so I throw the hoodie over my head and place a hand on her hip. Her body shivers under my touch and I try to pretend I’m less affected.
We make our way upstairs in silence, the deep bass of the music penetrating my ears. The crowd is bigger now, and I’m grateful for an easier chance for us to fit in, but it also means there are more prying eyes tracking every shy but enticing movement Sophie makes.
A drunk guy in his late thirties bumps into us. His tie is loose around his neck and his suit screams polyester. But the worst thing about him, by far, is the way he licks his lips while staring at Sophie. Blood boils in my veins and my grip on Sophie’s hip tightens. Her breath hitches and I urge her on toward the car.
The air is cool as we step outside, the ground still wet fromthe rain that fell in the morning. I lead her to my car, helping her into the passenger seat. When she gets in, I make sure she has her seatbelt on before saying, “Stay still. I’ll be right back.” She opens her mouth to protest, but I’m already closing the door and clicking the lock. A nagging voice in my head whispers she could easily get out of the car, but somewhere deep in my chest, I know she will stay.
My teeth grind as my boots stomp through the parking lot, back into the club. It takes me only a second to find the douche that was checking Sophie out, his sleazy face engraved in my mind. He’s already sprawled over some other chick, but I hoist him up by his collar, turning him around.
His face is more surprised than shocked, but in a second it becomes contorted by my fist pummeling into it. His eyes roll to the back of his head, his nose bleeding instantly. The surrounding crowd falls back.
Not wanting to make a bigger scene with innocent people around, I drag him by his collar to the bouncers out front. “Take care of him,” I tell them. “Dead or alive, I better not see him in this club ever again.”
Jimmy, the taller of the two, nods in response and grabs the douche’s arm, twisting it uncomfortably against his back.
I wipe my knuckles on my pants and get back outside. My rage is nowhere near sated, but getting back to Sophie is more important.
This was a risky move. My security guys were already eyeing me when they saw me leave with a woman, something that they hadn’t seen in a long time. Luckily, their status isn’t high enough to have guarded Sophie or even know what she looks like. Despite that, if they tell Ivan I left with a woman, he’d be onto me in half a second.
I push the thought away. Sophie’s scent seeps into my nose as soon as I enter the car, grounding me. Who would have thought that a random shampoo a random waitress bought for Sophie would become my favorite scent in the world?
“Is everything all right?” she asks.
I huff a laugh. “Yeah.”
Nothing is all right.
I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Between betraying my family and the memory of my dead father or betraying this girl that has come to mean so much to me. But yeah, the thing she’s asking me about, the reason I had to get back inside, it’s handled. I remember I promised her the hoodie back, so I tug it off me and she puts it on. The giant sweatshirt swallows most of her body.
