MALCOLM

hat the world was designed, tha

and spit me out. Before, my dreams

s not about destiny, it's about fight

fighting to get th

with a fresh stain down my front, George glari

waving an empty tray wildly. "Table five

forcing a straine

s breath. I didn't have to hear the wor

e. He acted like I stole his job, like I was the problem, when reall

essing issues tha

ables, not caring about the way my shoes stuck to

booth like she was a supermodel posing for a magazine cover.

sigh. "Sorry

et out, give nobody a reason to

t it. A change. As if the

an instant, it might as well have

rive. He didn't have to. He moved as if

y patron losing themselves in pricey li

wn upon the space, and yet it wasn't his

lver watch sparkling under the soft club lights. Wide sh

utting, glacial blue, s

n the suggestive once-over men give

s was the kind of gaze

w and had you questioning whether y

elf hung on the edge of a knife. Then, as

in. A hand wrapped around my ar

rt. My friend grinned up at me, green eyes

it wa

tting my shoulder. "You were checking out the b

ng my temples.

." She moved in closer, speakin

ave been able to capture Malcolm Slade's

e in, trying to exhale. "It was

of eye contact that makes you q

even if it was, I'd rather

toward the bar. "Just be careful, Iri

ut she had planted

it was, like

olm Slade was a human death warrant, some sma

the fact when I nearly pl

my tray. "Uh-hi," I stammered out

at, cold. Calculated. Merciless. She

My stomach twisted. Had George

s as sharp as a knife. "

nked.

eparing myself for. Sh

nt. Guests don't pay for luxury to s

away. I exhaled the air out of me as soon

ught came to me. Wha

e did not see people, let alone a waitress. Bu

juggling sequins and tugging fishnets.

ped the handle. Tugged. L

ed in my pockets. Nothing. M

nd naturally she had locked my locker

back in a hurry. I looked around the room

mmed it over my head, and immed

d across my chest, fabric binding against my ribs

r," I cursed, tugg

ost up. I just had to survive ten

ut, right

! Pamela's wai

ed. "Aga

. "Who knows? She always glares.

led my feet forward. Step by step.

d of sweeping me to the floor,

ggered, but Pamela steadied

ious

apped twice. A deep voi

me

n turned around, st

t's

realizing I had no choice, I walked