PURPLE HEART - Soliders Of Fortune [BOOK TWO]

Chapter ELEVEN

Sunday Santos

Neon lights strobe and flash on the casino floor as slot machines chime and drunken patrons chatter boisterously.. My overstimulated senses give way to trembling nerves as Max's arm settles around the small of my back, his hand resting gingerly on the curve of my hip..

Verity struts ahead of us, turning heads in her direction, all the way to the bar..

A few grizzly thugs offer a knowing nod in Max's direction, but he doesn't stop to speak to them.. Instead, he remains glued to my side, a towering and ever intimidating presence.. I am not sure if his attentiveness is for my benefit or his own.. I can't help but wonder if he might suspect that I am going to try to run away again.. After all, It would be much easier for me to slip away in the casino crowd.. Or maybe he is simply trying to protect me from the hundred leering eyes that I feel pass over me in critical curiosity..

An inked up thief with a frat boy appearance and a million dollar smile waits behind the bar and within mere moments of our arrival, I witness as Verity places him under some kind of hypnosis.. She smiles, tossing her hair as she breaks the ice and he laughs.. She winks, leaning forward over the bar to offer a flirtatious view of her cleavage and he pays for her drink.. He plucks up the courage to ask her on a date and within minutes she is using her red lipstick to write her number on a cocktail napkin..

The woman is a seductress of the most dangerous persuasion.. Vicious and beautiful both at the same time.. I hate to admit it, but she's impressive in action.. Not that I'd ever pay her the compliment out loud, god knows her enormous ego doesn't need to grow any larger..

"She doesn't waste any time.." I sigh, the sound far more envious than intended.. Seeing Verity flaunt her 'zero fucks' attitude and enjoying her independence, free from the entanglements of debts and deals, I seethe with jealousy..

I want that freedom for myself.. But I am still too afraid to truly believe it is even possible.. Javier had made sure I knew my low worth, which only makes Max's betting on me even more insane..

I don't know how I am supposed to convince anybody that I belong by his side and soon I'm sure everybody will see just how right Verity was about me.. That I am not good enough..

"She's something alright.." Max hums in disapproval, with just a hint of amusement lightening his gravelly timbre.. Signalling to me through a subtle squeeze, he draws my attention away from Verity's performance and pulls me to a stop.. I turn in my borrowed high heels to find his discerning steely gaze cast down at me.. "Whoa- you're shaking, Little Bunny.."

My breath shallows under his scrutiny and my heart thuds frantically behind my ribcage.. A thousand angry butterflies flap about in my tummy, twisting me into tense knots.. "The last time I was here was when Javier sold me to you.."

"Loaned.." The Loan Shark retorts an amused reminder..

"What's the difference, Max?" I squeeze my eyes closed for just a brief moment, fighting to contain the prickly threat of tears..