Page 2 of Devil's Last Dance

“Yeah, you look like a guy who’s drowning his sorrows. Lost at the tables? Put a bet down that didn’t go your way?” she asked.

Antwone couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t gamble.”

“Really?”

“You’re surprised?”

“Look around you, sweetheart. There are a lot of men here who are drowning their sorrows because they lost at the races.” Candice folded her arms across her chest, and then pursed her lips. “Broken heart?”

“No.”

“Wife giving you trouble?”

He lifted his drink. “I don’t have a wife.”

“Really?”

Antwone couldn’t help but chuckle again. “Another surprise, I see.”

“I figured you’d be married.” She shrugged. “You look like the kind of guy who has it all figured out.”

“Thanks for the compliment. So, is there a husband waiting for you, Candice?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Nah, no special someone for me, thank you.”

This did surprise him. “Are you lying to me?”

“You may be a stranger to me, but no, I’m not lying. I’m single. Trust me. It’s a good thing.”

“Ah, have you sworn off all men?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like that. Let’s just say I’ve had a bad experience and leave it at that.”

He didn’t want to leave it. He wanted more information and as he stared at her, Antwone found himself curious about this woman. In all his life, he couldn’t recall a woman, not even his brother’s wife, talking to him so freely. Most of the women in his world were vying for his attention, wanting the status of marrying The Boss.

“So, if you’re not married—and you’re clearly doing well in the world by the looks of the suit—why are you here, late on a Friday night, drinking alone?”

His cell phone buzzed.

“Ignoring your calls?” she asked.

“It’s complicated.”

“Most things in life are,” she said, sighing. “You’re totally right, though. I get it. It’s nice to just get away from all the shit, isn’t it?”

Antwone smiled. “Yeah, it is.”

He watched as she grabbed the whiskey bottle, stepped toward him, and poured him another glass.

“On the house,” she said.

He didn’t get a chance to thank her as she was already moving away to deal with other customers.

His cell phone died, but then was immediately aglow again with Draven’s number lighting up the screen. It would be so easy to ignore it, but if he continued to do that, blood would be shed as Draven tried to find him, expecting the worst. Clicking the green phone icon, he placed the call to his ear and waited.

“Antwone, speak, or so help me, I will make you suffer.”

“What could you possibly need from me right now?” Antwone asked.

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