n Lounge, Beatrix drained he

at, but it did nothing to silence

ed leather booth, reaching out to gent

Bea. You're ru

back against the padded

Julian. I spent four years waiting for this

iding out of the booth and offering his ha

and, the heavy double doors of

c over the speaker

lanked by four towering private

ushed forward, his f

s said you were in

ring the manager a glance. His dark, predator

gh-profile patrons scrambled out the back exits

owering frame carried an overwhelming, suffo

between Jaziel and Bea

t be here, Sm

stride. He gave a s

, grabbing Julian by his arms and

g against their grip, but the guards hauled him ba

ooked down at Beatrix, who was staring up at

get back to the city?" Jaziel asked, his voice

ohol fueling her rage. She jabbed he

ght to judge me

ightning-fast grip, pulling he

iliar scent of his cedarwood cologne and cold rain filled

thed, her heart hamme

hing against the shell of her ear

to me. Dea

ength, breaking his hold as she stumbled

not the coward who protected the

jaw cla

what happened

atrix shouted, her voice breaking with raw agony.

t screamed at him to pull her into his arms and tel

ng the words out through grit teeth. "You

gering ember of affection in her he

ss of bourbon from the table, and threw

is sharp cheekbones, soak

flinch. He did

from his jaw, his dark eyes burning with danger