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“Drink up gentlemen, I have bottles of Macallan Red for everyone to enjoy. What is a tea party without a little libation?” He pours himself some of the whisky and takes a small sip before speaking. “Let’s start with introductions. We have the Sidorov brothers here representing their family.” Nick nods at them.
Oh shit. I try to not make eye contact with them. I just hope Nick’s no violence rule holds up tonight. I don’t understand why Nick would put me in a room with men who want to kidnap me, hurt me, or even kill me.
Nick continues on with, “Regretfully, Lucian Morelli could not attend my party tonight, but Leo and Tiernan Morelli are here representing their family. We also have Gio Ralston because it’s come to my attention recently that he too is involved in this little circle jerk we have.” Nick inhales deeply. “I can smell the testosterone in the room. Luckily, we have some estrogen to offset the stench with our guest of honor, Lyriope Morelli.” He then glares at the men at the table.
Nick extends his palm out as if presenting me and offers a warm smile. It does little to calm my nerves. I feel as if all eyes are burning holes into my flesh.
“I’ve asked her to join us tonight, sitting by my side. And when we are done with this meeting, she’ll be leaving with me, by my side. I hope we are clear on this fact.”
I wish I can shrink right now and disappear into my dress. Everyone is staring at me, and I can’t get the nerve to look a single person at this table in the eye.
“Can we just get to the point,” Leo says, glancing at his watch.
Nick takes a seat and leans back casually. “At my last Wonderland party, Maxim—who I believe you all know—tried to kidnap Lyriope off the dance floor. He claimed he was acting under order from the Sidorovs.”
“Which was a lie,” one of the Sidorovs spits out. “We use our own people to do our bidding. We wouldn’t hire that low-life assassin to do shit. He’s never worked for us.”
Nick nods his head very slowly. “Very well. Moving on. So the real question I had when I found out he was lying was the obvious. Who was he working for? Who wants Lyriope?”
I’m shocked with this information. If Maxim wasn’t working for the Sidorovs, then when he first arrived at the Morelli party, he wasn’t there because of my debt. So why has he been after me?
“I don’t have time for this,” Leo cuts in. “We’re taking Lyriope with us. We can protect her from whoever wants her.”
Nick laughs. “Why? Because she’s suddenly family? Does Daddy Morelli know she exists?”
“We’re handling it for now,” Tiernan interjects. “But you’re lucky we are here and not him, Nick. He’s not going to be too happy hearing you got involved with her. What’s in it for you anyway? What’s your master plan?”
“Yeah, what’s in it for you?” Leo repeats.
“Good question,” Nick says, pausing to take a drink from his whisky. “Your dear sister got herself into some trouble a few months back. I chose to pay her considerable debt to the Sidorovs in exchange for her virginity. I’ve yet to cash in, and until I do, she remains with me.”
My heart squeezes, and I feel as if my face just ignited in flames. I’ve never been so mortified in my life. For them all to know that I’m a virgin and that my virginity has been sold… I want to crawl up under the table and disappear.
“You’re fucking sick in the head,” Tiernan spits, his hands fisting on the top of the table.
Nick chuckles and flings an arm over the back of his chair. “Yes. I most certainly am.”
Nick then turns his attention to Gio Ralston. “So let’s talk about you, shall we? Word on the street is you’re searching for Lyriope yourself. Why is that?”
Gio crosses his arms across his chest. “I’ll keep my business to myself, thank you.”
“Ah, but that’s not how we play at my tea parties. Total transparency,” Nick says with a wry grin. “Besides, I know the truth. I know you got contracted out by the Constantines.”
“Who?” Leo asks.
Gio shrugs. “It doesn’t matter who. I’ve been asked to bring Lyriope to this person, and I plan on doing so.”
Nick extends his arms out to the entire table. “I think there’s quite a lot of people at this table who are going to disagree with you on this one.”
“Why would the Constantines want Lyriope?” one of the Sidorovs asks, finishing off the whisky in their glass.
“Because she’s one of us,” Leo says. “Fucked up revenge.”
“Your families,” Nick shakes his head as he tsks. “You really should put whatever sick vendetta you two have to bed. It’s quite exhausting. Especially considering you’re married to a Constantine now.”
