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Frustrating as fuck.
I almost ran into Hamilton. He had a small circle of three men chatting with him. Without saying a word, I motioned an apology and diverted away from them. King’s voice drifted through the crowd, but I didn’t catch where the snippet of conversation had come from.
A slow swivel only revealed dozens of “could-be’s” yet none of the was. Then I caught his low laugh and pivoted. There he was, fully dressed up in a fine overcoat and lace with a feathered hat like some French king.
The mask, twisted black and white in distorted fashion, actually made my eyes ache, but it suited his rather jaded personality and plotting habits. I made it two steps closer when a whiff of perfume, the barest hint of something sweet but musky, pulled me like a siren summoned a sailor from the ships.
Kotyonok.
She was here.
Guilt assailed me. Then need.
Our last meeting had… well, it hadn’t gone how I’d hoped. Now she was here. The very last place she should be. No sooner did the familiar scent tease me than it drifted away. I set out after it, searching the figures around me. A pair moved together—trailed by a third man. The plague doctor mask revealed nothing, but the man ahead of him—the bird mask.
Hardigan.
It had to be. Only Lainey would show him off so proudly. The guilt gave way to envy, while regret segued into anger. She was showing him off and walking on his arm. The minute she turned her head and I caught sight of the gold and black mask with the peacock etched into it, I knew it was her.
The man following was my man. Good. Karagiani should be here. If she was venturing into this nest of vipers, better she have someone to take the hits for her. I cut ahead of them and stepped into their path.
The cloak was a flourish that I hadn’t appreciated until it flared. I locked eyes with Lainey, except all she did was give me the barest of nods before going to move around me. No, I needed to talk to her, so I moved to intercept again. Then Hardigan checked me with a shoulder to knock me back a step. It was almost a smooth move. One I could appreciate because it looked like he’d just run into me.
“I want to talk to her…” Begging? Maybe. Demanding? Definitely. I needed to talk to her. I needed her to talk to me. The bodyguard I sent glanced at me, but he didn’t interrupt. Good.
Neither said a word though, or at least nothing that I heard. Then Hardigan turned and a distant part of my brain acknowledged that he was swinging a second too late to avoid the hit. His fist collided with my jaw. The sharp clack of my teeth slamming together rocked through me and the taste of blood filled my mouth.
I staggered backwards, the blow knocking me off-balance, and I couldn’t catch myself before I fell into someone behind me. A startled oath went up as glass shattered and I hit the floor. The slam of my ass against the marble was enough to send another jolt through me.
Hardigan loomed over me as I scrambled upward. A woman let out a startled scream as he swung at me again. This time, I managed to avoid the blow by twisting. Unfortunately, the waiter I hit wasn’t so lucky. His tray spilled glass everywhere and I snagged it. This time, when Hardigan struck at me, I managed to block his fist briefly. Then I struck him with the tray. The hit barely seemed to jostle him.
His next fist went into my gut and all the air whooshed out of me. It neatly sent all of the champagne I’d drunk out of me too. The need to puke was right there. I coughed, as he struck another fist into my side. Then a third one…
“Stop,” Lainey said, and she was there, getting between us. Fuck no, I wasn’t hiding behind her. Only she wasn’t touching me, she had a hold of Hardigan’s hand. “Please.”
The music had stopped and the hum of conversation throughout the whole event had ceased. Frankly, it was silent except for her.
“He’s not worth it,” she said and those words cut deep. It would have been easier if she’d gouged out my side with a spoon.
Hardigan was barely panting. And as I straightened slowly, fighting for a breath, I locked eyes with him.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Adam said as he stepped between us. “If the two of you would come with me.”
“Adam—”
“You are more than welcome to join us, Lainey,” he said. “Although I think this is better dealt with elsewhere.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” she said and it scored another hit.
“Actually,” Hardigan stated, “I do.”
She turned her gaze up to him and it didn’t seem to matter that we were all on display. Everyone was watching us. Goddammit.
“Adam’s right,” I grunted. “Let’s take this elsewhere.”
I wasn’t sure I could walk upright, seeing as my side burned from those blows. The coppery flavor on my tongue didn’t help the waves of nausea either.
Hardigan turned from us as Adam pivoted to face the crowd. “Sorry folks, that was a fine bit of entertainment for the evening, but I’m sure you’d rather drink and dance and enjoy the music…” And with that, the band picked up again and conversation began to trickle.
