AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I clean up nice, huh?” she asked. She held her hands out and gave him a twirl. She smiled at him, but he saw her nerves.
Avery wasn’t good at hiding her feelings. He saw every single night when he left her that it hurt her just a little more. He hated hurting her, and that was why he had to leave.
She wasn’t someone for him to care about. He was using her for his own ends.
“You look beautiful.” He wasn’t going to lie to her tonight. She did look amazing.
The smile she gave him melted his freaking heart.
He had to keep a distance otherwise he’d lose himself.
“I’m ready to go. Do I need a purse?” she asked.
“You hold onto me. That’s all you need to do.”
“Of course.” She rolled her eyes and walked toward him, putting her arm through his. “Like this?”
“Yes.”
They left the room and made their way down to the waiting limo. His men would be there, blending in with the other guards.
He helped Avery into the back seat of the limo.
“Do you think you’ll be in danger tonight?”
“I don’t know. Only time will tell. You can never know when an attack is going to happen. The best thing to do is to prepare for it and hope for the best.” He kept hold of her hand. He didn’t like the sudden sweep of emotion that washed over him. The thought of anything bad happening to her filled him with fear.
The fear he remembered from a long time ago of being a little boy.
He didn’t want to lose her.
Squeezing her hand, he let her go and pulled out his cell phone.
All week, he’d expected her to disappoint him, to run off and do something that would mean a punishment. She had kept her word to him, and now he was unsure of what to do next.
Avery didn’t try to make small talk for the rest of the journey, and he welcomed her silence as he worked on his cell phone.
The threat from the Cartel was serious. More of their men had been spotted, and he’d put in a request for some of The Boss’s soldiers to help. In the next couple of days, more men would be arriving. This was how they all worked. They all protected each other, and in doing so, it kept them strong as a unit.
When they arrived at the charity gala, he pocketed his cell phone, waiting his turn to be let out.
“Wait. There are press here?” Avery asked.
“Yes. I’m a businessman. I donate a great deal to charity.”
“But, what about me?”
“You’re the daughter of one of the men who works for me. To them, it could be a whirlwind romance. Or however they spin it, I don’t exactly care.” His door opened. “Remember to smile.”
He climbed out, buttoning up his suit and smiling for the flashing cameras. This was always part of his job he hated, but it was necessary. He wasn’t only in the illegal businesses of drugs, sex, and money, but also had several companies and corporations. He was wealthy and didn’t have to work again, but in his world, wealthy didn’t mean he could be lazy.
The cameras went into a frenzy as Avery climbed out of the car. The dress he’d picked for her was designed to get this kind of reaction.
She was beautiful, but not prepared to flash her body for the cameras. As he took her arm, he made sure they got that, showing his possession.
There was a chance his enemies would use this against him, but she was a woman whom he was using as well. There was no real connection, but if it also helped to use her as bait to draw his enemies to him, he’d do it.
Entering the gala, he felt her shaking but didn’t let her go. There were vultures all around, waiting to pounce. There were a couple of women he’d slept with. Someone who had wanted something from him, and had tried to get him to bend to their will.
Sleeping with him didn’t make him bend. They always provided him the ammo for him to hang them by. He was always the biggest shark in this ocean of monsters.
He spotted the mayor the moment he entered the main room. There were so many businessmen along with actors, actresses, models.
“This is a really fancy gala,” she said, whispering. “So, what’s the plan? Are you killing someone tonight?”
He laughed. “You’re charming.”
“I can help. I mean, I can’t kill anyone, but I can provide a distraction. Have you ever tried to walk in these heels?”
“I can’t say that I have.”
“My distraction won’t look good on you though. Your date will look like a huge klutz.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
She offered him a huge smile. “Good.”
“You don’t need to provide any distractions tonight.” He grabbed a glass of champagne from the waiter. “Enjoy the night.” He sipped the liquid and handed it to her.
