Page 18 of Bliss

“Excuse you, bitch,” Shaya snarled, her fingers turning white around her fork and knife. “Do you even know who you’re talking about right now?”

Odette flicked the younger woman a glance and instantly dismissed her as not important. “I suggest you stay quiet, little girl. My boyfriend pays your daddy’s salary.”

“Ah, hell,” Harlem muttered, putting a hand on Xaden’s shoulder when he pushed back from the table.

“This bitch and her entire family are filthy addicts,” Odette sneered, returning her gaze to me. “Whichever one of you decided to bring such a cheap slut tonight should probably be extra careful. She most likely has Hep C just like her dirty daddy.”

“Durmak,” I whispered. “Durmak.”

Noah jerked to his feet half a second before Evan and Xaden did, pulling more unwanted attention our way. I sat there as still as I could be, the water rippling in the glass from how hard my fingers gripped it. If I moved, I knew I’d do something that would most likely get me arrested. Arella beating up Odette back in high school was one thing. They had both been under the age of eighteen, and it had occurred on private school property.

If I got my hands on that vile cunt, I would kill her. In a room full of over three thousand people. There were way too many witnesses for me to get off with a warning and a few days’ suspension from class. I’d go to jail.

But it would be worth it, the little demon on my shoulder whispered. A few hours in a cell was nothing. Aunt Emmie would be able to get me bonded out in no time. And Odette Washington would be reminded to never say such ugly things about my dad ever again.

“Hawkins, you have two choices here,” Noah said in a tone that was full of ice. “You can have your date apologize to Bliss, here and now, and then show her to the door. Or I walk.”

Ted held up his hands in an attempt to calm the three seething men towering over the table as he carefully rose to his feet. “Let’s just take a deep breath. Odette has had a little too much to drink tonight. She didn’t mean to insult⁠—”

“Drunkenness is not an excuse. She apologizes to my girlfriend and leaves, or I’m out of here. Fuck the contract and the season. I’m not staying in the same room as anyone who disrespects the love of my life.” Noah sent Odette a disgusted look. “This orospu doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Bliss.”

“Same for me, Hawkins,” Evan announced, moving to stand behind me. “Get this cunt out of my sight, or I’ll end my contract with you right now. I don’t align myself with people who allow others to speak like that to my family.”

“They walk, I walk,” Xaden chimed in, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “You have ten seconds to make your choice.”

Sweat began to bead on Ted’s forehead. “Now, gentlemen, let’s not be hasty.”

“Five seconds,” Evan said, not backing down.

“The longer you stand there, allowing her to take up space near my woman, the harsher the consequences.” Noah took a step closer to Ted. “Because I won’t just burn our contract. I’ll drag you out of this room and tear you apart.”

Bending down, he met his boss’s eyes. “Without me, the Titans are nothing. You should understand, Hawkins, if I walk, everyone I brought with me walks too. And you’re about to lose the two players who are the face of the entire team.”

“Security!” Ted shouted.

Five men in black suits with communication devices in their ears appeared at the table. With their arrival also came the arrival of Aunt Emmie. That couldn’t be a good thing. Odette and Ted didn’t understand the real danger was standing right behind them.

I remained motionless, the urge to use my butter knife to slit Odette’s throat too strong for me to resist if I so much as blinked.

Odette shimmied in her seat, her smile smug. “Bye-bye, dirty skank.”

Ted turned to face his security team and spotted Emmie standing among them. His face lost all color, and he gulped loud enough for me to hear him from across the table. Clearing his throat, he adjusted his tie. “Show Ms. Washington out. She’s banned from any and all future events that I host.”

Odette’s mouth fell open. “What? You can’t possibly be serious, Teddy. I’m your girlfriend. You said you want to marry me.”

“I said that so you’d shut up and let me fuck you. My legal team was already preparing the breakup agreement. It would have been a generous severance package. Now, you’ll get nothing.” He nodded to the security men. “Get her out of here. Now.”

She didn’t move, so two of the men took her by the arms and lifted her to her feet. With an angry shriek, she struggled as they dragged her from the banquet room. As soon as the doors slammed behind them, the deathly silence of the room turned into a dim roar as everyone began whispering at once.

Ted started stuttering out an apology. “Bl-Bliss, I sincerely⁠—”

Before he could get further, Aunt Emmie tapped him on the shoulder. He flinched like she’d struck him and turned to face her. Her face was completely devoid of emotions, but her eyes were a brilliant shade of green that Evan and I both knew meant she was livid.

“Let’s have a chat, Hawkins.” It was a command, not a suggestion.

“I’m sorry, Emmie.” She lifted her chin, and he gulped again. “Mrs. Armstrong, I apologize, but I’m in the middle of hosting. Perhaps your people should contact mine, and we can meet to discuss whatever pressing business we may have.”

My aunt glanced at me, her eyes softening ever so slightly before she turned back to Ted, the fire-breathing dragon appearing, making it clear why so many people had given her that nickname. “Your event staff are more than capable of handling the rest of the evening for you. I would know since I use the same company to help me with my own charity events.”