RAVEN
“Care for another drink?”
The man talking to me is one of Em’s cousins.
Tall, athletic, and made of muscles.
Cute.
“I’m good,” I say.
I’m more than good.
I couldn’t swallow another drop of alcohol after I left the club. I never thought I’d end up in another villa by the ocean.
Although I should’ve known.
My gut had tried to tell me stuff.
Like… ‘Listen, woman. This won’t end well. You could run into the same people. Even them… The three men. It’s a big city with a lot of people, but your circle is fairly small.’
Em’s house is on the same street as the villa hosting the dinner party we all have been invited to. The party where Kai, Francisco, and Alejandro thought it was great to play cool.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when our limousine veered in this direction, rolled through the nice neighborhood of million-dollar homes, and pulled up in front of Em’s house.
I could walk out, stroll to the third house on the right, and chat with Robert Walker, provided he was still there. I’m sure his son is no longer there.
I saw him jump into his Cadillac.
A shiver goes through me at the thought that I will have to face these three men at some point.
The sofa dips as Isla plops next to me.
“He likes you…” she says.
I glance at her, a bit disoriented. She reads my eyes. I can’t make the connection for a second.
“Em’s cousin. Are you okay?”
Her smile morphs into thick concern.
“Yeah… Yeah… I’m fine.”
“Where were you?” she asks, smiling while bringing her drink to her lips.
She takes a drink and gestures with the hand holding her glass.
“Your mind wandered off…”
I laugh.
“Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”
“Seemingly.”
She leans forward and places her drink on the table.
“Your safe,” she says, humor lining her voice, her hand touching my knee. “I’m sorry you have to go through this.”