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As we move through the crowd, my guards keep a respectful distance, scanning the room for threats and keeping strangers away from us.
We help ourselves to two glasses of champagne and as my mom smiles her thanks, it strikes me how alike we are. She is the beauty in the Vieri family with her sleek black hair and flashing blue eyes. She has taken good care of herself and I don’t miss the attention she attracts as we move through the room. My father always did like the best, and my mom was the beauty most men wanted by their side. That’s why her marriage to Stoner was so surprising, and it was even more surprising that she allowed him to control her.
I see Shade and Allegra standing in the circle of his own dark menace and as the guards part, the couple breaks apart and I grin at the flush on Allegra’s face as she sees who is joining them.
Shade is as arrogant as usual, and it doesn’t take a genius to work out he was doing something inappropriate before we came.
“Shade, honey.” Mom kisses him on both cheeks and then turns to his girlfriend. “You must be, Allegra. I have been dying to meet you.”
“Mrs. Stoner.’ Allegra stares at mom with wide eyes and I can tell she is intimidated.
“Call me Sarah, please.” Mom smiles and I catch Shade’s eye, noting the usual irritation in his.
“We must have lunch together.” Mom says to Allegra, who nods vigorously. “I would love that. Thank you.”
Shade leans against the wall and raises Allegra’s hands to his lips and smiles in his usual lazy way. “Have you seen Killian yet?” he asks, and I shake my head. “We just got here.”
He points to an opening in the crowd where I watch Purity laughing at something as my brother glowers beside her. They are talking to a well-known actor and his date, and the rage in Killian’s eye is almost palpable.
Shade grins. “I love watching him trying to keep his shit together. It’s so entertaining.”
“Is that his wife?” Mom says as she stares in awe at Purity, who dazzles like an angel beside our arrogant brother.
“Yes, but good luck getting a minute alone with her.” Shade drawls, “Killian’s name has replaced overprotective in the dictionary.”
It makes me grin, but that soon fades when I see who has just walked in.
It’s as if my heart is ripped out while I’m still breathing and flung into the pit of hell when I see a beautiful woman gazing adoringly into Alexei’s eyes. It’s as if my world stops spinning and everyone around me fades into a blur as I stare at the man I gave my heart to, tossing it back at me, ripped and bloodied at my feet.
“Well, that’s interesting.” Shade drawls as we watch them head across to us, giving me nowhere to run. I have no time to hide as they arrive in our inner circle and for some reason, it’s not me Alexei is staring at.
I can only stare at the woman holding onto his arm and if I had a gun right now, I would empty it between her eyes. I am barely conscious of the introductions, but even in my shocked state, I notice something is happening I should really be aware of.
CHAPTER32
ALEXEI
As soon as I saw her standing there, my heart died a thousand deaths. The pain in her eyes hit me hard across the room and the devastation on her face was quickly concealed by a mask of pure rage. My heart sinks knowing I destroyed the one woman I am trying to protect by using the one who tried to take her from me.
We head across the room and yet it’s not for Serena’s benefit that I staged this introduction.
As we approach, my eyes are on only one woman and her reaction confirms I was right.
Sarah Stoner is staring at Regina as if she has seen a ghost and yet Regina hasn’t even faltered. She is staring around the group as if they are strangers and yet Sarah appears to wish she was somewhere else entirely. She must sense my scrutiny because she glances up and as our eyes meet, I can tell she understands. The fear I register in her eyes confirms my suspicions, which makes my next introduction even more interesting.
Shade is watching the scene with enjoyment and as I greet him, he smiles in his usual lazy way. “Alexei. We meet again. Please introduce us to your guest.”
I can’t even look at Serena, but I can feel her pain. It almost brings me to my knees, but I steadfastly ignore her and remember who I am and face the group with cold indifference.
“Please allow me to introduce Regina Silver.”
Serena stares at her with a sharp look of distaste as Regina positively glows beside me.
“I’m pleased to meet you all.”
It leaves Shade’s girlfriend to break the awkward silence as she says pleasantly, “Hi, I’m Allegra and this is Shade.”
Regina nods. “We have met before. How are you, Shade?”
