Through My Window (Hidalgos #1)(70)

“Hmmm,” I look at him and imagine him in both costumes. “I think you’d make a very sexy vampire.”

“I knew it!” He looks proud, and I just smile.

I feel someone looking at me, and I glance around. Andrea is murdering me with her eyes.

“Your girlfriend doesn’t look very happy,” I tell him, taking a sip of my margarita. Gregory gives her a quick glance.

“She’s not my girlfriend.” I don’t say anything, not wanting to seem nosy, but Gregory keeps talking. “I liked her a lot, but . . . she’s just like her friends.”

“What do you mean?”

“All the boys at this table are from wealthy families,” he says, and my eyes go over each one of them: Ares, Zahid, Oscar, Luis, Marco, and then back to Gregory. “They’re the next managers and owners of companies, corporations, businesses . . .”

Gregory points to several guys dressed in black around the bar. “See those guys? They’re bodyguards. We’re never alone, even if it looks that way.”

But what does that have to do with Andrea? Gregory seems to notice the confusion on my face.

“There are very few people who approach us without an agenda. Andrea . . .” He pauses, and there’s a slight sadness in his voice when he continues. “Let’s just say that her feelings were not genuine.”

I squeeze his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m fine, I’ll be fine. I’ll rock Halloween in my vampire costume.”

“I’m sure you will.”

A lively song plays, and Natalie and Andrea get up and begin to dance for the seated boys. Samy just checks her cell phone. Andrea moves in front of Gregory, and I look away uncomfortably. She better not even think about getting closer to Ares.

Natalie moves in front of Marco, who doesn’t bother to hide his disinterest. She moves on to Luis, who applauds her and plays along. I watch her get closer to Oscar and then Zahid. Ares is next, and I stop breathing. I can’t make a scene here if she dances for him. What should I do?

Natalie goes to move toward Ares, but he gives her such a cold stare that I feel shivers run through my body. I have forgotten how icy the Greek god can be. She ignores his stare and moves toward him, but before she can reach him, Ares gets up and says he’s going to the bathroom, leaving her standing alone.

Natalie purses her lips and returns to her seat. I grab my phone and type a text to Ares.

Me: Good move. I am proud of my friend. :)

His response comes quickly.

Ares <3: You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?

Me: Nope, not a bit.

Ares <3: You will fall, “friend.”

Me: Nah and I am your friend, the quotation marks are not needed.

Ares <3: My “friend” who moans in my ear and asks for more when I fuck her hard.

A shiver runs through me and I feel the heat invade my face.

Me: Very inappropriate, my friend.

Ares <3: Inappropriate are the things I want to do to you; you have no idea.

Phew, it’s hot in here all of a sudden. Like the coward I am, I don’t answer him, afraid of what he might say to me.

Time is flying by and it’s time to go. I can’t believe it’s three in the morning. In the parking lot, everyone starts to say good-bye. The cold weather isn’t sitting well with Samy; Marco is holding her and helps her into the car.

We all get in, and Ares starts the engine. I’m grateful for the heat. Marco blows on Samy’s face. “Hey, Samantha.”

“I think I’m drunk,” Samy says and bursts out laughing. I feel sorry for her.

Ares looks at her in the rearview mirror. “Do you think so?”

Marco sighs, holding her in the back seat. “We can’t take her home like this, her mother would kill her.”

“I know.” Ares starts driving. “She’d better stay at my place.”

I turn my head so quickly toward him that my neck hurts, and I give him an incredulous look. Marco rubs the back of his neck.

“Yes, I’ll stay at your house too to help carry her.”

Calm down, Raquel, they’re friends.

Marco will stay, too, it’s normal; they’re friends staying at their friend’s house. But jealousy is eating me up inside. When we get to my house, I hesitate, but I don’t want to make a scene, especially in front of Marco. Controlling myself, I fake a smile.

“Have a good night.” I open the car door, but Ares takes my hand and brings it to his lips.

“Trust me, Witch.”

I take a deep breath. I want to tell him that trust is something you earn, not something you ask for, but I swallow those words and get out.





- ARES -




“Ares, she won’t get out of the car.” Marco grunts in annoyance.

I close the driver’s door and head for the back door. Samy is lying on her side on the seat, her legs dangling out of the car.

“Samy,” I call, and she looks at me. “You have to get out now.”

“No,” she murmurs. “Everything is spinning.”

“Come on, Samy,” I say and carefully slip my hands under her legs and back to carry her. Marco closes the door behind me. We enter through the back of the house. Marco opens the doors for me. Samy clutches my neck tightly, murmuring.