Savage Hearts (Queens & Monsters #3)(16)

Stepping closer, he removes an envelope from an inside pocket of his overcoat. It’s a thick brown rectangle with a rubber band around the middle. He leans over and sets it noiselessly on the countertop beside the sink. He gazes down into my wide, unblinking eyes.

“Don’t go back to him. Leave now. Make yourself a better life.”

He reaches up and gently brushes his knuckles over my cheek. His voice drops even lower.

“I can tell it’s not too late for you. There’s still hope in those pretty eyes.”

Swift and silent as smoke, he turns and vanishes out the door, leaving me stunned and breathless.

I’m a sweaty, shaking, disoriented mess.

What the hell just happened?

After several moments, I gather my last two living brain cells and look at the envelope. Turning it over, I pull off the rubber band, slide my finger under the flap, and stare in disbelief at the stack of crisp one-hundred-dollar bills looking back at me.

I say to the empty room, “Wait. Wait a second. Wait just a fucking second.”

Thumbing through the stack, I estimate I’m holding about a hundred thousand bucks in my trembling hands.

My brain does a series of complicated gymnastic flips, then presents me with a hilariously impossible scenario: a hot, scary, wealthy stranger just tried to save me from being my future brother-in-law’s prostitute.

I run over the encounter again in my mind. Then again. Then once again for good measure. The only other possibility I can come up with is that Sloane is playing a bad joke on me.

Or she just doesn’t want to lose our bet. Maybe that’s it. Maybe she paid a guy to come in here and screw with my head.

No, wait. It’s all mixed up in my mind. The bet was that I would win if a man thought I was a hooker because of the way I’m dressed.

Wasn’t it?

I don’t know. I can’t think. Giant Hot Dangerous Stranger ran off with my IQ.

Plus, how would she have found someone on such short notice? After we made the bet, I was only out on the patio before we left for like four minutes. Is that enough time for her to arrange this kind of prank?

Well, probably. This is Sloane we’re talking about. And it seems like she has dozens of these big, dangerous guys hanging around.

And she probably carries that much cash in her bra.

But why would she make it so specific? There was no need for Giant Hot Dangerous Stranger to mention Declan. Not that GHDS mentioned him by name, but the implication was there.

Wouldn’t it have made more sense if he simply approached me and said I didn’t need to sell myself, his assumption that I’m a sex worker being based on the way I’m dressed?

And furthermore, why would a total stranger assume a woman is selling herself unless there was evidence? More evidence than a slutty dress and heels?

Plenty of girls my age dress like they’re trying to mortify their fathers, and I’ve never heard of a single man approaching them in the ladies room and telling them they still have hope in their eyes!

In their pretty eyes, specifically.

My breath catches.

Wait…does GHDS think I’m pretty?

I ponder that for several seconds until I throw my hands in the air, irritated by my own stupidity.

“You all right in there, lass?”

I suck in a startled breath. It’s Spider, from outside the ladies room door. He must’ve heard me growling at myself in frustration.

I’m about to answer that I’m fine, but I’m stopped by the realization that if Spider’s standing right outside the door, he would’ve seen GHDS as he left.

And if he saw GHDS…he definitely wouldn’t have just let the guy mosey on past like he was out for a pleasant evening stroll.

I don’t know much about men in the Mob, but I do know that if Declan put Spider on my security patrol and Spider saw that beast come out of the restroom I was in, Spider would’ve lost his mind.

I doubt he would’ve been quiet about it.

Holding the envelope of cash behind my back, I push the door open a few inches and look through.

Spider stands sentry two feet away. I peer cautiously up and down the hallway. Other than Spider, it’s empty.

“Lass? You okay?”

“You already asked me that.”

“I know, but your glasses are all steamy.”

Of course they are. A large, handsome, terrifying man just set my endocrine system on fire. “I’m fine, thanks. Did you see someone come out of here a minute ago?”

“No. Why?”

“Oh, no reason. He just—”

“He?”

Spider bristles like Wolverine and steps forward, eyes blazing. He whips his hand around under his suit coat to the small of his back, where I suppose a large loaded gun is nesting.

I say quickly, “I meant she! Sorry. Um, she…whoever was last in here…left something on the counter.”

“Oh. Right.”

Like a light switch has been thrown, Spider settles back into his usual amiable, attractive self. He folds his hands in front of his crotch and smiles at me. “You ready to go back to the table, lass?”

The cash in my hand has gained considerable weight since I opened the door. I have no idea what I should do with it.

Leave it on the sink?

Stuff it in my underwear?

Try to find its owner?