Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Reaching my bloody angel.
Just as I cleared the distance between us, she turned to leave, but I grabbed her arm. She looked at me, surprise flickering in her crystal blue eyes.
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Hello?”
She studied me for a moment, her gaze assessing. Then she reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, revealing the faint outline of a heart tattoo on the back of her neck.
“I got blood on your dress.” I felt as if the words were being ripped from my throat.
I couldn’t look away from her, the way the light seemed to halo around her, setting her apart from everyone else in the room.
“I see that.” Her voice was as cool and unyielding as her gaze. She glanced down at the dress then back up at me, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I think it suits me.”
“I’m Bones.” I released my grip on her arm.
She leaned in closer, her breath warm against my ear. “I know.”
She reached out to run her finger on my cut, collecting the blood. She brought her finger, now stained with my blood, to her dress and smeared more blood on the white fabric.
“You’re dripping. Since my dress is ruined, I might as well help you out,” she practically purred as she seductively wiped her finger clean.
My heart skipped a beat at the sight.
At her words.
At her most delicious and wicked act.
She was a dangerous woman, and yet not, and I was drawn to her like a moth to a fucking flame.
What the hell was wrong with me? We were in a frozen moment. The world paused, and for a second, it was just us.
The world rushed back in with loud pops of gunfire in the distance, followed by screams.
The crowd panicked, surging toward the exit like a torrent of water breaking through a dam. Amid the chaos, she never broke eye contact with me, her expression one of calm and steadiness. The gun went off again, and I threw her to the ground, my body on top of hers to shield her from the bullets that could rain upon us.
“Stay down!” My voice was gruff from the fight and the adrenaline that still coursed through my veins. I could feel her heartbeat against my chest, rapid but steady.
I risked a glance up to assess the situation. People were trampling each other in their haste to escape. Security was trying to maintain order, but it was like trying to stop a tidal wave with a sandcastle.
I looked down at the woman beneath me, knowing we couldn’t stay in this position for long or we’d risk getting trampled ourselves.
“We need to get the fuck out of here.” With one fluid motion, I stood up, pulling her with me. I kept my arm around her waist, holding her close to me as we made our way through the out-of-control crowd.
I led her through the sea of chaos, my hand on the small of her back to help push her through the bodies all clamoring toward the exit. The madness around us faded into the background as I focused on her. On the way she moved, the curve of her waist, the scent of her hair.
Once we made it outside, the cool night air hit us like a slap in the face. The wail of sirens filled the distance, growing louder with each passing second. I kept my arm around her, pulling her closer as we headed toward safety.
It wouldn’t be long before Lotto found me, and when I saw him running out of the exit, scanning everyone for me, I waved him down. Relief washed over his eyes the instant he saw I was safe.
“It’s a goddamn madhouse in there,” he said, taking in my angel as he approached. “What the fuck has gotten into them tonight?”
“Did you get our money?” I asked.
He nodded, his gaze still locked on the angel tucked in next to me. “Yeah. We should get going. Cops will arrive soon.” He then extended his hand and said, “I’m Lotto.”
My angel took his tatted hand in hers and said, “I’m Ari. Nice to meet you.” I wasn’t sure who had more tattoos on their hands. Her or him. But it was a beautiful blend of the two.
Lotto returned her introduction with a toothy grin. “Ari. Bones. Lotto. Has a nice ring to it, wouldn’t you say?”
Freakshow then emerged from the chaos and charged toward us. “What the fuck are you doing with Ari?” He took hold of her arm. “We need to get out of this place. Fucking idiots shooting over bets gone bad.” He then guided her toward the parking lot before I even had a chance to say another word.
She looked over her shoulder and gave me and Lotto a wink that promised more of Ari was yet to come.