Ruin (Rhodes #1) by Rina Kent

                             We stop by the balcony, and I face her. “Cut the comedy, Celeste.”

                             At the mention of her name, Xan appears right behind her, a gun pointed at her side.

                             “Oooh, I’m terrified. Save me, Aaron,” she purrs, her voice too sexual for her current situation. “Are you going to let your big bloke here shoot me? I’d hate to ruin this dress, you know.”

                             “You’re so arrogant to come here with your own feet, Celeste.” I nod at Xan. “Take her to the dungeons. Let’s get some information out of her before we get rid of her.”

                             Xan grabs her arm, but she doesn’t resist. A gleam crosses the depth of her eyes as she keeps staring at me. “Yes, Xan, take me so I would give you information about your master’s new pet.”

                             Ice shoots through my veins, and it takes great effort to keep my expression neutral.

                             Fuck.

                             She does know about Mae, and if she tells Xan, Tristan will know and things would end badly for me.

                             Sucking a deep breath, I nod at Xan to retreat back.

                             “Sir, are you—”

                             “Go, Xan.” My tone is firm.

                             With one last glance at Celeste, he retreats back into the shadows.

                             “No wonder you guys left The Pit.” She throws a piece of bread with caviar in her mouth, chews then releases a longer-than-needed moan. “If I had such luxury to go back to, I would’ve left too. “ She pauses and tilts her head up. “Or is it your human pet that keeps you rooted in this place?”

                             My left eye twitches. “What are you doing here, Celeste?”

                             “What does it look like I’m doing?” She chugs half of her champagne. “I’m experiencing your snobbish lifestyle.” She blinks her fake lashes. “How did you know it was me? I thought my disguise skills were on a professional level.”

                             “I can recognise a snake whatever she wears.” I look her up and down. “Besides, your fashion sense is the same. Knee-length dark coloured dresses to hide your knife’s sheath.”

                             “Touché.” A showy laugh erupts from her plump red lips. “But you’re not changing the subject. Since when did you start keeping human pets?”

                             “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” How the hell did she know I keep Mae here? Only Kane is aware of that information.

                             “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” she purrs again. Her arms circle my waist and she gets close until her generous breasts press against my chest. Her hot breath fans my neck as she tiptoes to whisper in my ear, “I saw you take her outside that nightclub, Aaron. You’re becoming reckless. Something tells me Tristan and Dylan don’t know about your little pet. Should I tell them and spike things a bit?”

                             I yank her hand, that reached for my knife, from inside my jacket and twist it behind her back. “You’re still centuries away from disarming me.” I shove her back. “What do you want, Celeste?”

                             A fake laugh leaves her lips. “How about we kill your little pet and you go back to being my partner?”