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I lifted my gaze to the floor-length mirror at the end of the dressing rooms…and found Creed and his sons staring at me.
“Stunning,” Creed finished, meeting my gaze in the reflection.
My heart lunged as I spun, my gaze moving to Tobias and Nick as they stood next to him.
“We came to check on you,” Creed smiled. “The boys offered to drive you home, seeing as how your mom is about to be…wasted.”
“Hell,yes she is!”one of her new friends squealed.
I winced at the sound, glancing at the three women gushing over mom and Creed. One of the women navigated to Nick, opening her arms, quite obviously intoxicated already. “Nickyboy!”
She pulled him into a hug, one that he didn’t fight. Instead, he smiled and hugged her back, laughing. “Jess, you’re such a cheap drunk.”
“I know,” she groaned, and stumbled a little.
But when Nick turned his gaze back, it was directed at me. “The dress looks good on you, Ryth.” He said carefully, hiding his real emotions as he gave a shrug. “You should wear it.”
I shook my head. “I wasn’t going to—”
“Elle, we’re gonnabe laaattteee,”Jess moaned, jealousy flashing in her eyes as she glanced from Nick to me.
“Okay,” Creed chuckled, motioning with his hand. “You ladies go.Go on.”
Mom turned to Creed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Will we see you out?”
He laughed. “Not where you’re going. I don’t plan on swimming across the harbor to crash your stripper party on the damn boat, Elle.”
Stripper party?
No wonder she didn’t want me to come.
“Leeetttssss gooooo!”Jess howled and the two others added to the chorus until the entire shop was filled with whiny, intoxicated calls for partying.
“Okay…okay,” mom laughed as her newfound friends pulled her from Creed and dragged her toward the door.
“Have a good time!” Creed laughed. “I don’t want to see you home until tomorrow!Late!”
She blew him a kiss and flashed me a smile before she was gone out the door, taking the deafening squeals of her friends with her. Creed laughed and shook his head, his gaze moving to mine before he took in the dress. “Buy it, honey. It looks beautiful on you.Youlook beautiful in it.”
I shook my head. “I—”
Tobias hadn’t said a damn thing since walking in, he hadn’t even smiled, just scowled that moody goddamn scowl that seemed to be fixed on me, until he turned and strode away. Humiliation mingled with the cheap champagne, making my cheeks flush bright red until I caught Tobias swiping his card across the scanner attached to the cash register.
Nick glanced at his brother, then chuckled. “Looks like you’re getting the dress, little sister.”
Tobias glanced over his shoulder, meeting my stare. It wasn’t disgust in his eyes as he took in my body.It was hunger.
Creed’s phone gave abeep,drawing my focus as he winced, staring at the message. “Shit. I’m late, too. You guys okay to take Ryth home?” He glanced at Nick.
“Sure,” he smiled. “Go, Dad. Have a good time yourself.”
I was starting to understand their dynamic now, starting to find out where they all fit. Nick was the good guy, the smiling assassin, the one who drew you in like a rattlesnake, until he pounced, and Tobias…Tobias was the wounded beast, the one caught in his own trap, staring at his own heart like it was a limb he needed to gnaw off to save himself.
And Caleb?
You’re such a good girl, Ryth…those words resounded, making my pulse race and my body tremble.
“Go,” Tobias murmured as he headed my way. “We’ll take care of her.”
