Page 106 of Twilight of Embers
I looked back and forth between the two of them. “What’s downstairs?”
Knox grinned. “A different sort of playground.”
“What the fuck are you thinking?” Easton snapped as he stepped up to our group.
Any amusement slipped from Knox’s face. “What’s your problem, East? You said you didn’t want to come. Fine. But don’t try to sour our good time.”
The pain of those words landed. Easton had been invited, but he’d refused any proper time with me. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but it still somehow managed to sting.
Easton’s jaw worked back and forth. “I didn’t know you were coming here. I just stopped in to get a drink.”
But as I took him in, I knew it was more. You didn’t come to a bar alone without an ulterior motive. One like picking up a woman that wasn’t me.
I straightened my spine. “Let’s go downstairs. The energy’s too stuffy up here.”
Easton’s eyes flashed gold. “You’re not ready for that.”
I glared at him. “You wouldn’t have the first idea about what I am or am not ready for. Because you haven’t taken a single second to actually get to know me. I’d say that you should, but I know you’re too much of a coward to try.”
And with that, I stalked toward an elevator, hoping it was the one that would take me down to whatever waited below. Even if it was hell itself, it would be a heck of a lot better than Easton’s vitriol.
52
HAYDEN
I came up short as I took in the two hulking men next to the elevator bank. They stared down at me, their faces impassive masks. I swallowed hard. My storming-off exit would lose its effect if I couldn’t actually make it to whatever was downstairs.
Heat flared at my back as an arm came around me. Pine and rain filled my nose as Knox pulled me close.
“It’s okay, Harrison. You can call the elevator.”
One of the guard’s eyebrows raised the barest amount in question as he pressed the button.
“Cill’s gonna fry your ass,” Cáel muttered.
“Let me worry about him,” Knox shot back.
“Trust me, I’m not going to get between the two of you when he loses it.”
What the hell was in the basement that would set Cillian off like Cáel was warning?
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened, revealing plush leather walls. Knox guided me inside, Cáel following. The moment the doors closed, Cáel turned to face me. “If you want to leave at any time, just say the word.”
I stared up at him, trying to read his expression. There were only hints of emotion playing beneath the careful mask. Worry. Agitation. Heat.
Mere seconds passed before the doors were opening again. Different music filtered over us. I wasn’t exactly sure how to describe it. Low and sultry, it pulled at you.
Cáel turned, stepping off the elevator. He led the way to what almost looked like a hostess stand. But the woman running her gaze over Cáel and Knox looked like anything but someone who might lead us to a restaurant table. She had raven hair and bright red lips. She wore a leather dress that was cinched so tightly, it had to make it hard to breathe.
“Evening, boys,” she purred as she opened what almost looked like a cigar box. “What color tonight?” She pulled a red silk band from the box, handing it to Cáel. “Always red for you. But one day, I’m going to get you to change your mind.”
Cáel simply grunted in response, fastening the colored silk around his thick wrist.
“Red, please,” Knox said, dropping his hand from my waist.
The woman’s eyes flared and then shifted to me. She frowned slightly. “Interesting. And you?”
“She’ll have red, as well,” Knox answered for me.
