Sins of the Innocent - Jamie McGuire Page 0,8

even though it had undergone a facelift or two since then. Hipsters instead of pouty coeds manned the cash registers. The walls were decorated with irony, the tables and chairs aimed for modern rustic, and the speakers streamed rainy-day indie rock.

I chose a table in the corner, and we ordered. I sipped on my caramel macchiato as Bex stirred a few sugars into his house blend. He blew on the dark liquid and then placed the lid back on the top edge, seeming satisfied. It was moments like this when I felt normal.

A few women were tittering a few tables over, trying to get Bex’s attention. Brown had been out of session for over a week, so they were either stragglers or tourists, and they had on too much makeup and were too tan to be Brown students.

“Did you have to bring us so close to the college?” I asked.

Bex shot the women his most charming smile, sending the girls into a tizzy. “Yes. Yes, I did.”

Before he said another word, something heavy filled the room. My throat sizzled with each breath, as if the room were on fire.

“Bex,” I said, trying to nonchalantly glance around the room.

“Yeah,” he breathed. “I’m trying to get a read on it.”

At first, a prickling scratched at the back of my neck—similar to the druden, and then it felt like many drudens were around. But my ears began to ring, and my chest tightened, as if my heart were trying to scratch its way out and run away. Whatever was coming was a formidable presence, like nothing I’d felt before.

Bex shook his head, concentrating harder. The skin around the two lines between his brows turned white.

“Samuel?” I asked.

Bex shook his head. “He’s busy. Really busy. Probably on purpose. We should go.”

I nodded, but just as my leg tensed to stand, a young man sat next to me, all smiles.

Bex moved only his eyes, targeting the man. “Levi,” he snarled.

“Bex Ryel,” Levi said. He stretched one arm along the back of my chair and relaxed, as if he didn’t have a powerful hybrid and … well, me sitting next to him. He gazed down at me. “I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time.”

Bex’s knuckles turned white, his palms and fingers pressing hard against the tabletop. He leaned forward, waiting for Levi to give him a reason to attack. “You really should have called,” he said, his voice low and menacing.

“Calm yourself, Bex. This is a social visit.”

I arched an eyebrow, looking back and forth between my bristling uncle and the somewhat handsome smart-ass sitting two inches away. I hadn’t heard the name Levi, so I was going to let him explain who he was and what he wanted before I wadded him up like a piece of paper.

Levi didn’t seem the least bit intimidated, and that intrigued me as well.

He looked at me with the same ice-blue eyes as Aunt Claire, several shades lighter than mine, but they were nestled under a pair of thick dark brows. He was dressed like a funeral director, wearing a black suit and white button-down with a skinny black tie that matched the messy dark wisps poking out of his baggy knit beanie that had likely been added for that all-important bit of rebel flair.

I leaned over to get a look at his shoes.

He observed me with amusement.

“Converse?” I asked.

Without hesitation, he slogged his leg onto the table with a thud, revealing a pair of red-black-and-white sneakers.

Bex’s face twisted in disgust.

“You’re going golfing later?” I asked.

He pulled up his pant leg. “Puma Ferraris, love. C’mon.”

“Don’t call me love. You have thirty seconds,” I said simply.

“What shall I call you? The Merovingian? That’s what everyone calls you behind your back.” He looked up at nothing, faking a thoughtful moment. “I feel it’s derogatory though, and I hate being ru—”

“Ten seconds,” I said.

Levi was unfazed. “That’s not long enough to finish your coffee.” He sat up. “I’ve intruded. My apologies. I’ll wait for you outside.”

I puffed out a laugh. He at least pretended to be confident, and he couldn’t be all bad. He was too pretty.

He stood up, politely nodding to Bex.

Bex narrowed his eyes, incensed. “What are you up to, Levi?”

“No agenda.” He winked at me. “See you outside, Eden.” He walked away, amused at my disbelief.

“Is he suicidal?” I asked.

Bex fell against the back of his chair, exasperated. “I don’t know, but something is off. Really off.”

“He’s alone,” I said. “That’s weird, isn’t it?”

Bex confirmed with a