บททั้งหมดของ Torin-Shattered: Way Down We Go (Part 1): บทที่ 41 - บทที่ 50

My earlier thoughts continued to bounce around in my head as I poured another drink. Glancing up, I noticed the two bouncers near the VIP room eyeing the dancers. Red flags went up, as one of them, the heavily built one with a shaved head and a neck tattoo, whispered something into a small earpiece. With alarm bells going off in my head, I shot a glance at Tannin, but she was busy shaking a cocktail and hadn’t noticed the men's behaviour.As I continued watching the men for a few seconds longer, the music switched back over to a fast-paced tempo, and the bar's rhythm once again picked up, allowing me no time to ponder over exactly what it was about the two men that was setting me off.As I was topping off the beers I'd poured, behind me a hand slammed down onto the counter, interrupting my flow and startling me, causing me to give a slight jump. Looking over my shoulder with a frown, I took in the tall, well-dressed man standing on the other side of the counter. His jawline was sharp,

The next morning as I came down the stairs smothering a yawn, Brian was flipping through channels on the TV, the volume blasting. With a shake of my head, I made my way toward the kitchen, then uttered a groan as I stepped into the room. Pots, pans, dishes and the makings of God only knew what, were everywhere; they overflowed the sink, the counters, and spilled over onto the floor. As I gazed at the sight before me, I couldn’t help thinking, “Damn Brian, what the hell did you make that could have possibly made this big of a mess?” Jesus, I mean, I loved having Brian as a roommate, but the guy had no respect for cleanliness.With a shake of my head, I gave one last look at the disaster, then turned on my heel and exited the room. Nope, not dealing with it today!As I was passing the front door, my steps were abruptly stilled by the knocking that came from the other side of it.~~Moments later, and the last thing I expected to see when I swung the door open, was the sight of a man in a

I knew what was going to happen next, and for the first time since Torin's death, I didn't push the thought away. Instead, I took a deep breath and let myself be swept up in the moment.~~The hotel Lucien had brought me to was contemporary and beautiful, and after a ride up the elevator, we stepped inside a plush hotel room. Closing the door behind us, he rested his hand on the small of my back, "It's not much," he teased, wearing a grin as his eyes swept over the expensive furnishings. "But it's all ours for the night."I shook my head. "It's perfect," I murmured.Lucien slid his arm the rest of the way around my waist and pulled me closer. "Are you sure?" he whispered, his lips caressing my ear. "If you're uncomfortable---""No," I protested as, turning in his arms, I placed a finger on his lips, silencing his words. "At this moment, I'm right where I want to be."Lucien's grip tightened and gazing into my eyes, he searched for any signs of doubt within the depths of mine. Not findi

The next day was a blur of uncertainty. Each time the phone buzzed, I’d find myself hoping it was Lucien, and my heart would skip a beat, yet in the back of my mind, was the nagging voices of both Jess and Brian telling me to be careful. Their caution wasn’t something I could just dismiss as merely a friends’ concern.Was I jumping too quickly after all? I couldn’t help but wonder. After all, what did I really know about Lucien? 1. He was gorgeous. 2. He made my heart beat for the first time since Torin’s death. 3. He was damn good in the sack. And 4…He was a Mob Boss’s son.Earlier that day, I'd found myself restless, and had decided to head into work early. I'd kept myself busy for most of the time, but now the steady flow of customers had begun to lag, and with a small sigh, I picked up a cloth and began wiping the counter down.When I’d finished, I was in the process of folding the cloth to set aside, when the hairs on the back of my neck stood up under the tingle of someone's gaze

I sat, clutching the phone in my hand, feeling more alone than I had ever before. I couldn’t just sit, waiting to hear something, for something to happen; I would drive myself insane if I even tried. Instead, I decided to go for a walk to clear my head. The night air felt good against my skin, and it helped to calm my racing thoughts.As I wandered the streets, in the distance I began to hear the rumble of motorcycles, and I felt my heart skip a beat at the sound. Chances of it being Rook and the other members of the Raven’s was slim, but there was always a possibility. As I quickened my pace, the sound grew closer, and I ducked into an alley, my heart pounding in my chest. If it wasn’t the Raven’s, I didn’t want to be caught on the street alone.The bikes began roaring by, and as they did, I caught the Raven’s emblem on the back of their kuttes. Stepping out of the shadows and onto the street, I watched as several passed, before one of them peeled off from the pack, slowing down and c