Page 25 of Break My Rules

Saint looks amused. “What part of secret society don’t you understand?” he asks, and I give a bashful laugh.

“Oh, sorry. I just assumed, you know, that Sebastian was part of the group.”

“Not me.” Sebastian takes a gulp of sake. “My blood isn’t blue enough for the likes of them,” he adds, with a friendly smile.

“And back at Oxford, he was only filthy rich, instead of offensively, stinkingly loaded,” Saint adds with a laugh.

Sebastian just gives a modest grin. “What can I say? Business is booming.”

I smile too, but instead, I’m disappointed I’m striking out again. How am I going to tactfully get the answers I need? “Excuse me,” I say, rising. “I’ll be right back.”

I cross the restaurant to the bathrooms and take a moment to regroup. They’re just as modern as the rest of the place, with low concrete sinks and moody dark lighting. I shut myself in a cubicle and try to think of a strategy. Saint is being no help; aside from the introduction, he’s acting like this is any old reunion between old friends.

Except he did agree to let you take the lead.

I sigh, hoping the night isn’t already a bust. But when I flush and emerge back into the main bathroom, I’m surprised to find Avery is waiting for me.

“Hi,” I blurt, surprised. She’s leaning against the wall, arms folded, watching as I rinse my hands. “It’s great seeing Saint catch up with old friends,” I add, pleasant. “Hearing all the old stories… Although, I get the feeling they’re not telling us half of the trouble they got up to,” I add, with a grin.

Avery doesn’t smile back. In fact, the way she’s looking at me right now is intimidating, like a woman that knows how to kick some ass and would be perfectly willing to do it.

“What are you playing at?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.

I blink. Adrenaline spikes in my bloodstream, but I force myself to act calm.

She can’t know anything.

“I’m sorry,” I say, keeping a friendly smile fixed to my face.When in doubt, play dumb. “I don’t know what you mean.”

I dry my hands, and carefully check my reflection, painfully aware of Avery’s sharp stare still burning into me.

“You want something,” Avery says slowly. “And you’re asking a lot of questions to find it out. I don’t know what it is yet, but I’m not buying this friendly curiosity routine.”

I force a nervous laugh. “Really, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just trying to learn more about Saint’s friends, that’s all.” I turn back to face her and give a bright smile. “Hopefully we’ll all be hanging out more in future.”

Avery narrows her eyes at me, but she doesn’t say anything more as I exit the bathroom. She trails after me, following me back to the table, and I take my seat again, as Saint flashes me a smile.

“We were just deciding about dessert.”

“What’s there to decide?” I ask. “Yes, always.”

“I thought so.” Saint reaches over and squeezes my hand. He leans in, whispering in my ear. “That doesn’t mean we won’t have any later…”

I shiver at the brush of his lips. “Like I said,” I murmur back, flirty. “Yes, always.”

Saint chuckles, sitting back. He lifts my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles as he gives me one of those smoldering looks, but just I’m just relaxing again, Avery announces bluntly, “I think it’s time you two dropped the act, and tell us what’s going on.”

I freeze, and even Sebastian looks surprised. “What do you mean?” he says to her, frowning.

“Ask them.” Avery nods to Saint and me. “They’re up to something. And I thought we knew each other well enough to be honest, instead of playing games. At least, the three of us do,” she adds, giving me another long, suspicious glare.

“It’s not a big deal,” Saint says, immediately trying to smooth things over. “Tessa just has something she’s trying to find out, and there’s a possibility that—”

“You have the tattoo?” I ask Sebastian bluntly. Clearly, there’s no point being subtle about this anymore. “The serpent and crown symbol.”

He frowns, surprised. “No.”

What?

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