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“You mean, CBP isn’t going to threaten me, too?”
Delaney smirks. “Does she need to?”
Laughter bubbles out of me. “Touché. Okay, who else?”
“My Aunt Geneviève still treats me like I’m nine, so ignore the way she talks to Tessa and me. My Aunt Franchesca and Uncle Toby don’t talk much. They probably won’t say anything more than a polite hello to either of us. And lastly, my Uncle Dom. He’s the best, you’ll love him.”
“He’s your favorite, I’m guessing?”
She nods. “He’s the fun uncle. The one who buys us all the best presents for Christmas and has been sneaking Tessa alcohol since we were sixteen.”
Sounds like my kind of guy. “So, not everyone in your family has a stick up their ass?”
Swatting my arm, she smiles and shakes her head. “No. That’s pretty much just my dad, and maybe my sister. She’s always been the one to idolize him.”
The car ride goes quiet, and I can tell she has a lot on her mind. I do, too. It’s no secret to either of us that we’re from two totally different worlds—hell, even our schools are completely against each other—but somehow, we work.
Just as I pull up to the valet, Delaney squeezes my hand and turns to me.
“Promise me one thing?” The fear in her eyes is enough to get my full attention. “That you won’t run.”
I lean across the center console, placing my hand on her cheek and kissing her softly. “I promise.”
THE GALA ISN’T NEARLY as bad as I thought it would be. There’s free drinks, delicious food, and even Delaney’s father appears in a good enough mood to not kill me tonight. Ainsley, poor fucking woman for having a name like that, does her best to try to scare me with her empty threats, while Tessa stands behind her trying not to laugh at my attempt of looking scared.
I’m on the dance floor with Delaney, swaying back and forth with my girl in my arms, and life doesn’t get better than this. For once, I don’t care about the differences between us or feel like she might realize how much better off she’d be without me. All that matters is the way her body molds against mine right now.
Three little words sit at the forefront of my mind, perching themselves on my tongue and threatening to jump out if I so much as open my mouth. Maybe that wouldn’t be a bad thing. I’ve been around her enough to know the feeling is mutual. It’s clear in the way we are together. However, just as I’m about to let them slip out, she gasps.
“Uncle Dom is here,” she says excitedly, grabbing my hand and pulling me with her. “Come on, you’re going to love him.”
I allow her to drag me, focused entirely on how eager she is to show me off—like I’m not the train wreck I constantly feel like I am. As we get closer to the man I’m guessing is her uncle, there is something horrifyingly familiar about the back of his head. When he turns around, my blood runs ice cold.
“Knox, this is my Uncle Dom,” she introduces. “Uncle Dom, this is my boyfriend, Knox Vaughn.”
He puts out his hand with a look that sends chills down my spine. “Dominic Callahan. Nice to meet you.”
All the pieces fall together like a fucking puzzle as the familiar icy blue eyes pierce into my soul. The same ones that show pride every time I win a fight. The ones that have glared at me when I didn’t do as he said. Cal isn’t short for Calvin or Callum, like I thought. It’s short for Callahan.
Dominic Callahan.
22
KNOX
I never understood how Grayson felt so strongly for Savannah that he would literally kill to protect her. There was nothing in my life that was important enough to risk everything for. But lying here, watching Delaney sleep soundly next to me, I know one thing for sure. I’d slaughter the whole damn world to keep her safe.
The second I learned Cal is Delaney’s uncle, two things became crystal clear. One, that he’s fucking certifiable, willing to hurt his own niece to get what he wants. And two, how easy it would be for him to do it if needed.
Sliding down until I’m lying beside her, I roll over and wrap my arm around Delaney. Instinctively, she moves closer into me. I know what I need to do, but fuck is it going to hurt like hell.
SHE LOUNGES OUT ACROSS the couch, with her feet on my lap, looking like she doesn’t have a care in the world. I swallow down the lump in my throat. If I don’t do this now, who knows what could happen.
“Bambi, we need to talk.”
Her eyes meet mine, and the smile falls off her perfect face. “Okay?”
I slide her feet off my lap. “I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”
