Chapter 13
Chapter 13:
She descended the stairs to the main lounge. It was darker here, the music louder, the crowd more chaotic. She found she preferred it. It felt like war.
She located a booth in the corner and sank into the leather. Her side throbbed with a dull, rhythmic ache. She checked her bandages discreetly — no fresh blood seeping through the velvet yet. Good.
“You look like you need a drink. Or a priest p>
June looked up. A man was standing at the edge of the booth. He was strikingly handsome — sharp cheekbones, disheveled hair, eyes that glittered with easy mischief.
Behind him stood Sloane Harper, the wildest of the Manhattan debutantes and a woman who despised Alycia Beasley with something close to religious conviction.
“Sloane,” June said.
“June.” Sloane grinned and slid into the booth beside her. “I heard you dismantled Cole upstairs with five words. An absolute legend p>
The man set a tray of tequila shots on the table. “I’m Luca,” he said, with a wink.
“I’m married,” June replied automatically. Then she caught herself. “I’m — pending p>
“Pending is my favorite category,” Luca said.
Sloane tapped the table. “Truth or Dare, June. Old school. Unless you’re too scared p>
U𝘱dа𝘁𝖾ѕ 𝗲𝘃𝖾𝗿у w𝘦еk о𝗻 𝗀𝘢𝗅ո𝗼vе𝘭s.𝗰𝗼𝗺
June spotted Blair hovering near the bar, phone raised. She understood exactly what was being orchestrated.
“Dare,” June said.
Sloane’s eyes lit up. She pulled a box of Pocky sticks from her purse. “One minute. You and Luca. The chocolate stick game. Don’t break eye contact. Don’t break the stick p>
It was a trap — a schoolyard game designed to simulate a kiss.
“Fine,” June said.
Luca placed one end of the biscuit between his teeth and leaned in.
June took the other end.
The crowd around them erupted. The music seemed to fall away.
Luca moved closer. He smelled of mint and expensive tobacco. His eyes were warm, nothing like the cold blue she was used to. June did not pull back. She held his gaze and leaned in.
Blair’s camera flashed from the shadows.
From Blair’s angle — with Luca’s head tilted just so — it looked like something fierce and consuming. It looked like passion. It looked like June had already moved on.
In reality, June’s heart was a stone. She was counting the seconds.
Ten… nine…
Luca’s lips were millimeters from hers. She felt his breath.
Three… two…
June bit down. The biscuit snapped. She pulled back, leaving the chocolate end in Luca’s mouth. She had not touched him. Not really.
“You win,” Luca laughed, chewing the biscuit. “You have ice in your veins, Erickson p>
“You have no idea,” June whispered.
Upstairs on the rooftop terrace, Cole’s phone buzzed.
He pulled it out, irritated. Alycia was beside him, complaining about the wind destroying her hair. He opened the message from Blair. A video file.
He pressed play.
The screen showed the dim lounge. It showed June. And it showed a man — young, hungry, leaning over her — their faces drawing together until they seemed to merge completely. It looked like something deep and unrestrained.
Cole stopped breathing.
The phone screen cracked under the pressure of his thumb.