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We were going to try to put pressure on him. Theo said there’ve been several high profile losses for his dad’s law firm recently, so it’s possible his family is going through a rough time. We were going to try to leverage that weakness to our advantage.
It’s still a viable strategy, but with Marcus’s return, there’s been such a seismic shift in the game that I don’t know quite where things stand anymore.
But regardless, we can’t stay in this damn laundry room all night, as appealing as the idea might sound.
I nod, drawing in a deep breath. “How do I look?”
Marcus smirks, not an ounce of shame on his face. “Like you got fucked on a washer.”
I bite back the smile that tugs at my lips. The pride in his voice makes a little zap of pleasure shoot through me, and I realize I really don’t care what any of these rich, privileged, corrupt party guests think of me. And if my showing back up like this undermines the credibility of Marcus and Victoria’s sham engagement, so much the fucking better.
He holds the door open for me as we step out of the room, then leads me back through the wide hallways to the ballroom.
The party has continued unabated in our absence. People are still talking, drinking, and laughing as the orchestra plays in the background. My gaze settles immediately on Ryland and Theo. They’re on the far side of the ballroom, standing near Victoria, although they’re not speaking to her or even looking at her.
But I get the sense they know exactly where she is, and I also get the feeling that if she’d tried to follow after me and Marcus, she would’ve found two burly, intimidating men in her way.
My heart gives a little squeeze in my chest. I love that they look out for Marcus that way. That they look out for me that way.
I don’t know quite how it happened, but I somehow went from being alone to becoming part of a group that’s more tight knit than any I’ve ever seen, their loyalty to each other unwavering and constant.
That kind of loyalty is rare—mostly because it can’t be bought or won by threat. It has to be freely given.
I notice several heads turn in our direction as we make our way across the ballroom. Judging from the looks on people’s faces, I’m not the only one who was shocked by Marcus’s reappearance. Not everyone looks as happy about it as I am though.
As we approach Ryland and Theo, their hard expressions relax slightly and they step forward to join us.
“Everything okay?” Ryland asks seriously, while Theo just takes in my freshly fucked appearance and smirks.
“Yeah.” Marcus nods, and Ryland transfers his gaze to me, a question in his eyes.
“Yes.” I echo Marcus’s answer.
Victoria turns toward the four of us, and I swear I can feel hackles rise on the back of my neck as she strides over, her dress’s short train flowing elegantly behind her.
She looks like the kind of person who’s been wearing dresses like this her whole life, but I know it’s a practiced act. Unlike almost everyone here, she didn’t grow up surrounded by luxury and wealth.
That should probably make me like her more than I do.
She stops when she reaches us, the same cool smile I saw on her face earlier returning. Her gaze flicks over me quickly, and even though the glance doesn’t last more than a second, I get the feeling she’s just catalogued every single aspect of my appearance—my messy hair, the bruise on my neck, the pink flush to my skin.
But rather than commenting on it at all, she transfers her attention over to Marcus, holding out her hand. “Luca wants to congratulate us. Come with me.”
His fingers clench around mine, and I can physically feel how much he wants to tell her to go fuck herself, or maybe make good on his earlier promise to me and kill her right now.
But that won’t help any of us.
It would probably get us all killed.
And I just got him back. There’s no way I’m gonna lose him again so soon.
“Go,” I murmur.
Victoria’s gaze snaps to me quickly, her green eyes narrowing. She clearly doesn’t like me giving her future husband permission
to do anything.
Well, suck my left tit, you bitch. Too fucking bad.
