Page 12 of Bleed with Me

“I tried to get to him four times already,” I whispered, casting Lucas an annoyed glance. “I need him alone to use my weapons.”

But Dorian was never alone. He was surrounded by guests and surveilled by his brother like a superstar. Well, he was tonight’s celebrity, but they could give him some space and give me an opportunity to use my charm and catch him in my web.

Yes, my plan may have sounded naive, but Dorian was a man known for enjoying women’s company—even if he clearly wasn’t interested in every woman who threw herself at him. He wasn’t a womanizer in the right sense of that word, but he refused commitment as if it could burn his entire world down.

Still, I believed I could make a difference. I wasn’t just a beautiful face who hoped to catch a filthy rich husband. I had some undeniable qualities Dorian would surely appreciate. And maybe, just maybe, I had a little secret help. Just to be one hundred percent sure he’d cooperate.

A smile tugged on my painted lips when I remembered his look when our eyes met over the buffet table. Heat spread from my lower abdomen, and a zap of electricity traveled up my spine just from the memory of his fierce hazel eyes watching me with venomous hunger that instantly seeped into my veins. It poisoned my senses, pulling me toward him like I was a puppet, and he was my master.

“That’s it? No action? No fireworks?” Lucas whined, his expression falling in disappointment. “Come oooon, you surely have something more thrilling lined up.”

He nudged me with his elbow and gave me an expectant look. I reluctantly nodded because, of course, I had plans B, C, and D. No one knew about them, and I wanted to keep it that way.

“Thank God,” he exhaled, ordering another glass of whiskey. “I thought you forgot what was at stake here.”

I didn’t. How could I?

My bruised abdomen hurt like fuck with every inhale and exhale. My jaw and neck were covered with heavy makeup, and I barely had a believable story for the girls to explain why my skin was smothered with tiny bruises. I told them I was practicing archery again, and arrows made the marks. They bought it only because they had no clue about my hobbies. So yeah, I knew exactly what was at stake here.

Playing with the crystal champagne glass to preoccupy my nervous fingers, I peered from behind Lucas to steal another glance at Dorian. But my view was immediately blocked by a massive chest dressed in all black, shifting the relaxed atmosphere into something menacing and wicked.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze from the black turtleneck to dark brown eyes, barely suppressing a gasp at the coldness that speared my soul—Malin Zhumagulov, in all his frightening glory.

“Good evening, Mr. Zhumagulov,” Lucas greeted politely, but his usual friendliness vanished into thin air. His shoulders tensed as he stretched his hand out for a shake.

Malin looked at his outstretched palm like it was a festering wound, rudely ignoring the gesture. Instead, his gaze pierced his skull like a laser.

“Mr. Colapino,” he said in a low voice, sounding like a villain from a horror story. I wasn’t a scared chicken or anything, but if he spoke to me like that on a dark street, I would probably pee myself. “I believe the invitation your family received for this party was for your brother, Matteo.”

Oooh, fuck!

“There are over a hundred people here,” I interjected, casting Malin my best charming smile that usually worked on every man. But hell, it did not affect him at all. His look stayed uncomfortably inquisitive and as cold as ice. Still, I continued, “Do you remember everyone?”

Malin’s eyes narrowed slightly at the edges while his face remained frighteningly calm.

“There are two hundred and fifteen people inside this building right now, and yes, I know everyone,” he answered, his statuesque posture giving me the creeps. I had no idea how someone who was the spitting image of Dorian could be so different. No smile touched his lips, no sparks lit his eyes. It almost felt like his soul had left his body long ago, and he was empty from the inside out.

“I admire your memory,” I said, nervously clutching the glass in my right hand. All my instincts screamed at the predator in my personal space, urging me to disappear from his reach.

“It’s my job to ensure nothing unexpected happens tonight, Miss Valentino.” My name rolled from his tongue like a curse, sinking into my bones. “And your presence is unexpected.”

“I’m just a plus one.” My voice sounded foreign to my own ears, but at least it came out firm. He didn’t need to know I was shit scared of him. His reputation truly preceded him. If half of the things people said about him were true, and if he really murdered my grandpa, I had every right to shake in his presence.

“But you’re at the wrong party,” he stated, his gaze drifting to Lucas. “I’ll consider this a simple misunderstanding, Mr. Colapino. However,” he dramatically paused, taking a calculated step forward, making Lucas shrink under his deadly glare. “Next time, I won’t be so forgiving. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Lucas confirmed, grasping my hand and pulling me away from Malin. But two muscular guards stopped us and stared at us like we were annoying flies.

“Security will escort you out,” Malin said from behind me, his chilling voice sending unpleasant goosebumps across my skin. “Keep your distance, Miss Valentino,” he warned sweetly, almost as if he cared for me. “You don’t want to get hurt.”

He nodded at the guards, and they dragged us out without any respect. Before I could put up a fight, I almost twisted my ankle on the sidewalk in front of the Starlight because one guy pushed me out of the door, and the other one threw Lucas out so harshly that he fell to his knees.

“Fucking pigs,” I cursed, helping my friend to his feet and dusting his pants. “I’m sorry for this.”

“It was bound to happen eventually,” he replied, stopping my hands. “You can’t expect to sneak into the lion’s den and think they won’t notice you.”

I straightened my spine, exhaling a white cloud of desperation. Plan A failed before it even started. I didn’t have a chance to execute it, and now I had to move on before it was too late. My body tensed, knowing it was time for plan B. But fuck, I’d truly hoped to avoid it.

“What are we going to do now?” Lucas asked, giving me a scrutinizing look.