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“Let’s stop for a drink, eh? Maybe that’ll warm me up.” Eleanna’s father says to me in between introductions. “Ines, why the hell is it so cold in here? Get them to turn it up!”
“We can’t change it, Eleanna said it’s stuck this way!”
“This is why I told her to let us have this dinner at home in the tents.”
“Háblalocon tu princesa obstinada!” Take it up with your stubborn princess!
Outwardly, I chuckle at the couple hounding each other. Inside, I wince. I know Eleanna did this for me. Only a few months and she’s noticed the constant long sleeves. It was bound to happen, I suppose. I’m just so irritated that she keeps trying to take care of me. To befriend me. To become the partner that I do not in any way actually want.
She’s fucking relentless.
I throw back my whiskey and continue scanning the room. So much blood money and dirty power. And everyone is calm as can be. Not threatened one bit. My money is a done deal because Fausto Delgado doesn’t miss. I clench my fists without thinking and then quickly relax.
Just a few weeks ago, my father said we were getting close. Robbie looked so nervous that night, jumping at each firework explosion, and we laughed at him. Now, I almost wish I’d shut my trap.
One wrong move, no, ahintof a wrong move, and we’re all dead. This room alone is a powder keg with way too many hidden matches walking around, myself included. I wonder which of these men secretly hate their boss. Or the guy to their left or right. The clans and syndicates can’t really be at peace, and definitely not for this long.
The thought of infighting between these thugs would usually make me happy, but now I just don’t want any disruptions. I need to get my pieces in place, my plan underway, my mission intact, and then, they can all kill each other. I hope they do.
I keep scanning for late guests or faces I may have missed. I purposely avoid my blushing bride. A week ago, I had a chance with that pint-sized brunette, the friend of the ditz who wants to save Texas on her Instagram. But when I saw her, Lydia,I think her name is, I immediately thought of the prairie dogs and dark hazel eyes and newly-red hair and a kind smile that fucking haunts my dreams.
She’s just so convincing about it all, my darling little fiancée. Like she’s really that kind and that good. Like she really wants me that much. The woman doesn’t even know me. Now, I can’t even look at her miles and miles and smooth, gorgeous fucking miles of leg without having to adjust myself.Damn my bullshit excuse for a life.
I’ve continued to be distant and cruel, and still, she persists. Like a cute, classy little cockroach that just won’t give it up. I can hear her laughing and talking, but I don’t look. Hopefully, she’s getting all the affection she needs from everyone here, her family, my mother.
Because I know,I just know, she will look painfully gorgeous tomorrow. And she’ll smile like the princess she is and say and do all the right things. Then she’ll casually, innocently try to seduce the fuck out of me the second we get in the house.
I am not going there. Do I think about her sweet little mouth and perfect ass and bizarrely soft skin? Yes. And it would be so easy, she’s right there, just hoping I’ll give in. But it would complicate everything and tie me to her even tighter than I already am. Not to mention the possibility that she lied about being on birth control. Mafia women poke holes in condoms. It is known.
No. Not happening. No matter how breathtaking she is. A witch always looks beautiful when she’s casting her spell and thenbam,old lady with warts.
Not fucking happening.
I glance at the witch in question.
Wait, what the hell?
She’s white as a sheet. I’ve never seen her that way. She is trembling, genuinely afraid. Someone just left her, walking through the crowd now. I can’t see who the guy is, and they all look so similar, since they’re all cousins or brothers and so on. But I will find out.
These vermin don’t care about innocents. About collateral. I do. Maybe it’s my one shred of remaining humanity. Eleanna is not going to get caught in the crossfire. That’s one of the few principles I have left. She’s gripping Luna’s hand like Luna can protect her from these monsters. She can’t.
Only another, scarier monster can do that.
I can’t love her. I won’t befriend her or coddle her. Hell, I can hardly even stand her a lot of the time.
But I sure as hell can and will protect her.
I pull out my phone.
Mark: Check the footage from just now, something spooked Eleanna
Robbie: I don’t have eyes in there.
Zander: Me either.
Mark: The fuck?
Robbie: Pulled the power on the closed system, cut the wifi
