Fuck me.
It was Sofia.
I could recognize that long dark hair anywhere. I’d fisted the strands so many times that I’d completely memorized the texture of her hair, the way it slid through my fingertips when I held her close to me. Even if she just got a trim at the salon, I noticed it. I noticed the way her hair framed her face and trailed to her shoulders.
The rest of her features were even more distinguishable, like her tanned skin, her chiseled back, the sky-high heels that made her ass look dangerously perky. She had her lips painted red the way I liked, and the smoky effect around her eyes was another thing I enjoyed. She certainly didn’t look like she’d just had a baby. That dress was tight and flattering, and her sexy chest was distracting to any straight man with eyes.
Did she know I was there?
Was this just a coincidence?
It had to be, because there was no way she could’ve figured out my whereabouts. I never told Ash or Damien, so unless she was following me, there was just no way. I stared at her with a mixture of shock and annoyance.
Seeing the handsome man talking to her just annoyed me more.
Then she laughed, throwing her head back and gripping her stomach because whatever the fuck that guy said was so hilarious. Her hand rested on his wrist on the surface of the bar, seeming innocent but also purposeful. All the guys before him had struck out based on the untouched Long Island iced tea, vodka cranberry, glasses of red wine, and a screwdriver.
The drink she was actually consuming…was a scotch.
That pissed me off more.
“Damn.” Rhett genuinely looked devastated he never got his chance with Sofia, even though he knew nothing about her, hadn’t ever even listened to her voice.
Damien’s words came into my head. She won’t be on the market for long…
I grabbed my glass and took a deep drink, feeling unbridled rage coming from nowhere. I was up the stairs and tucked into the back of the bar, so she probably had no idea I was there. She really was out on the town, picking up handsome strangers to erase my memory.
I didn’t give a shit.
At least, I didn’t want to give a shit…
Forty-five minutes later, she’d been hit on by three other guys and had so many drinks that, if she drank them all, she would be in the hospital for alcohol poisoning. To make it worse, the guys hitting on her weren’t ugly weirdos. They were handsome men who could have anyone they wanted…but they thought she was worth their time.
The blonde was grabbing my thigh under the table, doing her best to get my attention. She pouted her lips and whined like a child. “Why are you in such a bad mood?”
“I’m not,” I said defensively.
“Well, you haven’t paid attention to me all night.”
“Then why are you still sitting here?” I snapped.
Rhett and Tony had drifted off when they’d paired off with other women they found that night. I would’ve gone home and taken the blonde with me, but I chose to stick around and watch Sofia drain every wallet in that place. There was no reason for me to stay, no reason for me to care, but I couldn’t bring myself to go.
Sofia would eventually walk out of there…and she wouldn’t be alone.
The blonde eventually threw in the towel and smacked me on the arm. “Forget it.” She grabbed her clutch then stormed off.
I didn’t bother to watch her go. My eyes were on the woman who used to be my wife, the woman I’d once loved and lost. She’d left me at my darkest hour, and the betrayal had never gone away. I gave up on us because it seemed like we had no chance. I didn’t feel the way I used to.
But I fucking hated this.
It was getting late, so I knew this night would conclude soon. She and the guy stopped ordering drinks and just continued to talk. She never dismissed him, and it didn’t seem like she was going to. Maybe this was the guy she liked. Maybe this was the guy she wanted to take home.
The guy she wanted to fuck.
I downed the rest of my scotch to get rid of the bile.
I couldn’t explain what I felt. I was pissed she was there. I was pissed she was flirting with guy after guy. I was pissed she hadn’t shooed this one away. That anger was rising in ferocity, and now I wondered if she was hooking up with Damien on the side while sampling what else the city had to offer.
I was out of my seat before I realized what was happening. My feet carried me forward without my thinking twice about it. I had no plan for when I arrived at my destination. I had no idea what the fuck I was doing, but that didn’t stop me from doing it.
My heart beat faster as I came close. One hand tightened into a fist because I wanted to break that guy’s nose even though he’d done nothing wrong. I wanted to grab her by the wrist and yank her out of there even though she could do whatever she wanted.
I could hear her voice as I came closer, hear her laugh at something he said. The guy had a deep voice and chiseled arms, looking like a man pretty enough to be with her. They seemed like a good match, her beauty and his muscles.
What the fuck was I doing?
Before I could second-guess my decision, it was too late.
Sofia turned and looked at me, and after the initial surprise on her face, her features slackened into an expression of confusion. “Hades? What are you doing here?” She glanced at her date like she was immediately uncomfortable by my unexpected visit. Her eyes glanced back and forth like this was the most intense moment of her life.
I couldn’t bottle my rage for a second longer. It was illogical and irrational, fucking stupid. But whatever, it was happening. “Leave.” I stared at the guy sitting beside her and promised him a painful death if he didn’t excuse himself.
The guy glanced at Sofia for explanation.
“Don’t look at her. Look at me.” I stepped into his line of sight so he couldn’t see Sofia. “Leave.”
“Hades.” Sofia smacked her hand into my back. “What the hell are you doing? I like him. He’s not bothering me.”
I opened my jacket and pulled out a small knife. “You don’t speak our language? Or do you just speak stupid?”
The guy raised his hands in the air then hopped off the stool. He was gone in a couple seconds, making the right choice.
I slipped the knife back into my jacket and turned around to look at Sofia. I had no idea how I was going to excuse that tantrum. This conversation would not end well. I’d probably get slapped, maybe kicked in the groin. Sofia had never done that before, but I’d never deserved it before.
She looked pissed. Her eyes were wide with danger, and her hands were up with skepticism. “What the hell was that? Who do you think you are? I’m talking to a cute guy, and you think—”
“Shut up.”
Her mouth hung open because she couldn’t believe my audacity. She grabbed her clutch off the table then slid off the stool to get to her feet. With impressive speed, she pulled her hand back and slapped me hard across the face.
I knew it was coming, so I didn’t bother blocking it.
“You have a lot of nerve, asshole.” She turned around and stormed off.
I watched her sexy body move in those impressive heels as my hand went to my cheek to feel the heat that flushed my skin. People automatically moved out of her way, and she still turned heads everywhere she went, despite her violent outburst.