Page 3 of Devil's Last Dance

“You’re alone.”

He had evaded his guards for a reason. “Get to the point.”

“Damn it, Antwone, you know the threats. Our enemies—”

“Are always out there, and I know how to deal with them. Trust me, Draven. I can take care of myself.”

His brother had been taking care of him for long enough now. It was time for him to stop.

He knew how to handle himself. He’d shed enough of his enemies’ blood to know how to take care of everything. There was no mercy in him. No one would ever be safe with him around.

Antwone watched as Candice smiled. She was a beautiful woman and her smile was so sweet, but he also saw no other man paid her too much attention. They wanted their drinks and to drown their sorrows.

He had no idea what made him walk into this bar. He didn’t even know the name of the place, just that he needed a drink, some privacy, and this place had lit up like a beacon for him.

****

Candice Swift hated the dark. It was the one downside to working at night—only the streetlights to offer any kind of protection. Stepping out onto the street, she wrapped herself up in her jacket. It was only late September, but it was already cold. They were going through one of those strange, early fall/winter things. One day it was freezing cold, the next toasty warm. She pulled out her mittens and slid them on her hands.

“Cold?”

The sudden question directed close to her ear had her screaming. She quickly spun around, hands clenched into fists, not that anyone would see them, as they were already covered by her mittens. She was surprised to see the guy from the bar—the one without a wife or girlfriend who hadn’t lost at some gambling venture.

“Hello, Candice,” he said.

Keeping her fists raised, she frowned at him. “You do realize this is totally creepy, right?”

He frowned. “How?”

“You waited until closing, and you startled me. I’m getting a little bit of a creeper vibe right now.”

“Ah, I see. I wanted to thank you.”

She still didn’t lower her fists, but she couldn’t help but be intrigued. “You want to thank me?”

“Yes.”

“What for?”

“For helping me, and I also wished to offer you a ride home, or we can walk.”

“I’m not getting into a car with you,” she said.

“Ah, okay.”

It was strange, because this man was indeed a stranger, and yet she wasn’t afraid. She didn’t have an overwhelming feeling to make a run for it.

“You can walk with me, but … I need to know your name first. You know mine.”

“So, Candice is your real name?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Antwone.” He held his hand out.

She looked at it for several seconds, then held her hand out toward him and shook it. “Nice to meet you, Antwone.”

“This has to be the strangest meeting I’ve ever had,” he said.

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