Page 118 of Play The Game

We win nothing here by being obvious in our dislike of this man.

“Forgive me, I’m not accustomed to seeing you as anything but the Wolf.” Atticus’s eyes flick over to Avery and the slow perusal of her outfit is the last straw for Harley.

“I’m going to bathe in your blood, you manipulative, spineless cunt,” he hisses, and Blaise barely manages to grab him before he chokes the fucker out.

“Ha! There it is! There’s the impulsive Irishman in the kid. Can’t say I blame him, I’d slit your throat any day of the week for the shit you’ve pulled on our family,” says Illi, sauntering in behind us, looking as dangerous as ever in his suit.

I gape a little and then snap a photo on my phone, giggling at him like a schoolgirl. I don’t even care about the danger we’re all facing in that second. Because Illi. In. A. Suit.

He smirks at me and shrugs. “You can’t get in here without one, and I didn’t want to make a scene.”

Ash quirks an eyebrow at me, and I laugh. “He didn’t even wear a suit to his wedding! It’s ridiculous to see him in one now. What the fuck did Odie say when she saw it?”

Illi cackles and when he steps up alongside Ash, I’m shocked to see them exchange a knowing, and respectful, nod. They stand like a wall between Avery and Atticus like they’ve become best friends without me noticing. When the fuck did that happen?

Atticus looks straight through them, unconcerned with their clear threat. “Avery⁠—”

Her voice is glacial. “No, thank you. I’m quite fine where I am. Lips, I’m happy to wait for our table here with Illi.”

That’s my girl. I smirk and Illi catches on quickly, throwing himself down next to her and slinging an arm over the back of her chair.

Neither Ash nor Harley tense up in any way, but Atticus stares down at the Butcher of the Bay like he’s planning on ripping that arm right the fuck off of him.

Illi winks at Atticus. “Odie has decided to embrace the polygamous lifestyle of our little club, and she loves the little Ice Queen.”

Blaise snickers under his breath. Harley elbows him in the ribs but the smirk on his face gives him away.

I wait, fully prepared to dive into the fray to get Avery out safely if Atticus loses his damn head. Illi’s arms are loose and casual, but I know he could tear Atticus in half in a split second without breaking a sweat.

The silence stretches on until finally, a waiter comes to direct us to our private table in the back. Illi jumps up and helps Avery to her feet like the perfect gentleman, guiding her over to walk with Ash behind me. Then he takes up the rear, watching everyone and ready to start swinging his cleaver the second things go south.

As we weave our way through the tables to the private area, I glance back to Ash and raise an eyebrow at him. He knows what I’m asking and rolls his eyes at me.

“The night he called me to go find you, even after you told him not to, I decided he’s not so bad.”

I shake my head. “Not so bad?”

Blaise laughs, his fingers dancing along my arm. “Star, he’s a part of our family now too. Maybe not our immediate family, but he’s like a distant cousin we hang out with at family reunions because everyone else sucks ass.”

Illi cackles at me, listening to our every word. “See, kid? I’m the cool cousin you can’t wait to drink with.”

Harley snorts. “The cousin we call when we need a body to disappear. How useful.”

Avery giggles and says, “I’m just glad Ash approves. It’s nice that he’s no longer snarling at my choice in men.”

Atticus’s shoulders tense so badly even his expensive suit can’t hide it. To think I’ve been so wary of this man from the moment I met him and all along his weakness has been my dictator best friend with an icy gaze and a heart too fucking big for those she loves.

No matter what happens between them, I’ll back her.

Even if we have to add him to the list of people hunting us.

The waiter ushers us into the back room where Joseph Beaumont Senior is already seated at the table waiting for us.

“Who would have thought a slum slut from Mounts Bay could look so good in a dress? From Joey’s descriptions, I thought you must be hideous but I can see the appeal.”

His voice makes my skin crawl.

How the fuck did he convince a young Alice Arbour that he was human? He sounds like a fucking monster.