Page 7 of King of Ruin
“Yeah?” He asks in a half grunt as his fingers clench and unclench on my arm, his impatience clear.
Another sign he’s not enjoying my company.
“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want.”
“Do what?” he asks, and he sounds irritated again. I grimace.
“Go out.” I draw in a quick breath. “I get it…dating someone like me might not be that fun. It’s my fault.”
He gives my arm a small squeeze, all his hectic energy gone. “I think dating a girl like you is going to be lots and lots of fun.”
“How’s that?” I ask, the tiniest tremor of fear moving through me. It’s the word choice and the tone that make his words sound like a threat.
He pauses and I can actually feel his gaze sliding down me, his body hardening. Does he like that I’m extra vulnerable? Again, I’m all for alphas but I feel almost…unsafe. And not in the he’s dangerously hot kind of way.
I hear him suck at his lip. “You’re hot, Maddie.”
“Oh.” Heat rises in my cheeks as he opens the door and hands me in. It only takes a second for me to realize he’s putting me in the backseat on the passenger’s side. What the…
“Hi,” a woman’s voice chirps from my left. “I’m Kate.”
“Hi,” I answer back. There’s another woman on our date?
“Hey gorgeous,” another male voice says from the front. “Remember me?”
I know the voice. It’s Vigo’s brother, Vincent. They were together when Vigo and I met. “Is this a double date?”
A door in the front of the car closes. “Did I not mention that?” Vigo asks, sounding unconcerned.
“Nope. You didn’t.” But I really don’t mind. In fact, it’s a relief. Not being alone with Vigo will make this night so much easier.
The car speeds off and Kate asks me several questions about myself, which I mostly deflect back to her.
She’s in medical school, and only visiting Vegas for the summer for an internship. She met Vincent two nights ago when she was at a restaurant alone having dinner. “I haven’t made any friends here yet,” she whispers with a small laugh. “It’s nice to talk with another woman.”
“It’s so wonderful to chat with you too,” I answer back, meaning it. She’s been really nice.
Which makes me wonder what she’s doing out with Vincent.
If Vigo goes from nice to jerk and back again, Vincent consistently reeks of giant a-hole. Like class bully vibes.
We pull up to some place with a large crowd and get out as the valet takes the keys. “Not a scratch,” Vincent rumbles before he hands them over. “I fucking mean it. I will end you if anything happens to my car.”
I cringe at his words and his tone.
Vigo’s hand is at my elbow again and I’m whisked inside and straight to a private room, the sound of the crowd dying away as our chairs are quietly pulled out.
“Wow,” Kate says in a whisper as she looks around. “I knew this would be a good dinner if I said yes. I can’t even afford a spot in the dining room at this place, let alone a private room.”
“Stick with me, baby,” Vincent replies with enough obvious smarm to make me actually wince.
“Your friend Lucia. Where is she from?” Vigo asks from my other side.
“Boston.”
“I mean, where in Italy,” Vigo snorts. “She’s got an Italian name.”
My mouth opens and closes as I try to formulate a proper response. How was I supposed to know that’s what he meant? “Umm, east coast, I think. Near San Marino.”