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Turning my head to look over my shoulder slightly, my eyes go straight to Elena who is already watching me. She stands from her chair and saunters fashionably toward me.
“Can you take her home?” I ask through a whisper to Elena.
She nods. “Of course, sweetheart. I was hoping you would ask.”
I can hear Nate’s voice behind me, and warning bells start ringing.
“Would you like her to sleep with me tonight or in your room?”
“Yours might be better because I’m not sure about tonight.”
Elena nods, and then her fingers wrap around my chin and she tilts my face to hers. “Be very careful tonight, Tillie. Something isn’t right in the air.”
I gulp, already heeding the warnings my own gut is sending off. “I will.”
She takes Micaela and I press my lips to her soft little head, inhaling her scent. I would do anything to be able to smell her forever. To be able to take her away from this world and give her a normal life.
Nate stands too and gives Micaela a kiss, and then thanks his mom for taking her before taking his place back at the table. I’m still watching Elena leave, longing in my heart. I wish Nate and I could go home with her and cuddle. Just us three. I make time for that in my head, maybe tomorrow we can have our first family day.
Nate’s fingers come to mine and he gently brings me back down onto my chair. “This is Tillie.”
I slowly take a seat, my heart somewhat calm now that Micaela isn’t here. I feel my vulnerability leave with Micaela’s departure and invisible war paint smear over my cheeks.
“I know,” Nate’s father says, his eyes remaining on mine.
“And how do you know this?” Nate asks, shooting back his drink.
Hector interrupts when he clears his throat. “Let’s head to the next room.”
We all collect our belongings and I watch as Madison glares at Bishop again, storming off outside. I get that she’s always angry at him over things that he can’t change, but honestly, even I’m getting annoyed with it.
We head into a boudoir tent that has been set up behind the pool.
“What is tonight about?” I ask Nate, leaning into him more as we make our way toward the exotic looking set-up. The tips are stretched high, reaching for the dark sky. There are lights that dangle around the edges and as we get closer, the music becomes more profound and the guards standing out front become larger.
Nate clears his throat, his arm draping over my shoulder. “We don’t know. This is new.”
“What is new?” I mumble, worried about where tonight may take us.
“This whole fucking thing,” he grinds out through a whisper, his hand touching my lower back to lead me into the tent. Waiters are walking around balancing trays on their hands, some with champagne flutes with pink cotton candy sitting inside, and some with small inimitable appetizers. I snatch a glass and take a sip.
Nate glares at me. “What’d I say before.”
I wave him off. “I feel like I might need this, and I’m not a light-weight so chill.”
He’s still glaring at me when Bishop appears with Brantley and Eli.
“Where’s Madison?” Nate asks Bishop, and you don’t have to be a Nate whisperer to know he’s not impressed with whatever is going on between the two love birds.
“Gone,” is all Bishop says, and then his eyes come to mine. It’s the first time I notice his mask. Black with silver fangs where Nate’s are bone. “She won’t be back.”
I shrug. I’ll talk with her tomorrow to see what’s really going on between the two of them. If it’s still just the secrets thing, I think I’ll be more pissed than before. And I’m not even sure with who.
“Where’d all these people come from?” I ask Bishop since this is his parents’ house.
He looks around the room. “They’re associates of The Kings. Senators, even the fucking President’s people are here somewhere. I’ve seen one or two people from The Circle too.” His jaw clenches, his attention going solely to Nate. “Which is what’s confusing the fuck out of me. Why would he invite them all here if he was going to kill Gabriel?”
I choke on my drink, my hand clenching around my throat. “I’m sorry, but what and who?”
“Gabrielle is my dad,” Nate says to me and then answers Bishop. “Because he doesn’t want to kill him. He has already made that clear. But why all of this… tonight?”
Brantley’s phone rings. He looks down at the screen and then curses, sliding it unlocked. “Fuck, what?”
Silence.
“No. Leave it alone, Bailey.”
I almost forgot about the troubled little teen. I’ll need to make some time to visit her.
I perk my eyebrow at Brantley and he flips me off. Because after all, this is my fault. I snort, drinking the rest of my champagne. The lights dim and people quiet down as Hector takes the center of the makeshift stage. A single spotlight beams on him as he flips up the collar of his suit, a smirk on his mouth.
