Page 82 of Kill Feed

I turn, almost snapping my head right off, and you've got to be fucking kidding me.

Of all the clubs in the city.

Of all the nights.

Dante, of all people, strolls inside with Marcos at his side, looking as though they accidentally wandered onto a film set, completely unbothered by the fact that half the room immediately notices them.

People have an almost embarrassing instinct to stare at confidence. Dress it well enough, stand a little straighter than everyone else, and suddenly you’re the most interesting person in the room.

Look at him. All tall, pretty blonde hair, tatted and dressed up, yet he has no time to reply to my fucking messages. I should’ve known he’d end up here. The universe has developed an irritating habit of putting Dante wherever I happen to be, and at this point, I wouldn't even question finding him in my kitchen making dinner.

“Oh my god,” Sofie murmurs.

“Who are they?” Naomi adds, whipping her head around.

“Who cares. They’re hot.” Sofie reiterates, and suddenly Ryan becomes a lot more aware at her side, tugging at the collar of his shirt. Even Amani’s staring now.

Lucas squints harder. “Wait… wait… I know that guy.”

I don’t say anything because Dante has already found me. His attention settles on me almost immediately, as though the rest of the room simply doesn’t exist.

Lucas follows my line of sight, then slowly looks back at me, wiggling his brows. “Hey, isn’t that your ‘trainer’?” Clearly, this man has already forgotten how he was treated at the Cafe the last time he had a run-in with Dante.

“Damn,” Naomi says, moving closer, eyes lighting up as she stares at Lucas. “You know that guy?”

“Hook us up,” Sofie adds immediately, leaning forward on the bar like she’s already preparing her introduction, erasing Ryan from the equation as he scoots closer to Leo, who has his eyes everywhere except on Dante and Marcos.

So, this is what he does instead of texting? Shows up in the flesh. Part of me suddenly feels stupid for even checking my phone earlier.

If anything, I’d rather he’d stayed gone. Instead, he’s making his way directly towards me.

“Oh shit,” Naomi whispers.

“They’re coming here,” Sofie breathes.

Amani nudges Lucas with her elbow. “Did you invite them?” she asks under her breath. “Because if you did you better introduce them to my cousin.”

Lucas laughs nervously and rubs the back of his neck. “Uh, no. I mean—technically—I’m not the one who knows them.” That earns him confused looks from all three girls.

I refuse to inconvenience myself with pleasantries. Game plan? Find the nearest exit. Won’t be too difficult; there’s one straight ahead. I just need to push past a few bodies. He can’t make a scene if I’m not here. Just as I push away from the bar, Dante’s voice cuts through the music with infuriating ease. “Leaving already? That’s no way to greet me.”

“Oh… so you're Adrian’s friend?” Naomi is the first to recover. She smiles politely, extending a hand, but before Dante can answer, Sofie practically shoulders Ryan out of the way.

“I’m Sofie.”

“Dante.” He takes her hand with that effortless smile that should honestly qualify as fraud. “It's a pleasure.”

His attention shifts seamlessly to Naomi.

“And you must be?”

“Naomi,” she chuckles, and I’m about to throw up. His charm is almost mechanical, with perfect eye contact and his perfect stupid smile.

Even Amani laughs as Dante greets her with warmth, and I roll my eyes into my drink.

“Are you Adrian’s friend?” Amani asks with a soft smile.

“Oh, Adrian’s much more than a friend,” Dante adds with a wink.