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“I understand, Gio. And I appreciate your vigilance. But Ariana was only helping me, helpingus.”
Sophia turns to Alister then, but his attention is solely on me as he studies my every movement, my every breath. His eyes graze my body all the way from my aching feet to my slightly parted lips. His gaze gives me chills. Or, perhaps, it’s just the wind lifting my hair and sending most of my dress billowing behind me. As I stand before him, I feel naked. So naked, I begin to wonder if he knows the truth, if he somehow figured out who I am and why I’m here. No. How could he? And yet—
“Clever,” he says then, finally moving his eyes from me to the trees surrounding us.
“Excuse me?” I ask.
“You’re clever,” he says, returning his gaze to me. Only this time, for the first time, he isn’t assessing me or studying me. He looks at me without flat lips and tension in his stance. He looks at me like a normal person, allowing some of my own tension to ease. “Dealing with the crowd is always the most difficult part of these events, even more so tonight for obvious reasons. I apologize on behalf of my head of security for the misunderstanding.”
“No apology is necessary.”
Alister gives me a gentle nod before turning to Sophia. “You and your friend should take some time in the gardens. I’d say theurgent matterhas earned you an hour. But I really must get back.”
Alister turns and heads back to the party with Gio in tow, though my peripheral vision tells me Sophia and I are anything but alone. Alister is keeping an eye on me,us. Though I can’t help but wonder, if he’s so certain Sophia needs protecting, either from me or someone else, why would he risk her safety by returning to a party even the dead can tell he loathes? There’s something else going on here. Yet, despite my careful planning, I’m no closer to figuring it out or getting Alister alone. And with Gio and every other guard here on high alert, I’m starting to wonder if getting him alone is even possible.
“Is your brother always so intense?” I ask once Alister and Gio are out of earshot.
“Only on days that end inY.” At that, Sophia and I laugh and continue our stroll through the gardens.
* * *
“There you are!I’ve been looking for you.” As Sophia and I arrive back at the party after our walk through the gardens, a blond-haired man with an accent calls out to us, well, Sophia. He finishes off his glass of champagne, and based on his swaggering walk, bright eyes, and playful grin, I’d say it wasn’t his first.
“I’m sure you have,” Sophia says. She gives me a look filled with annoyance as the man approaches. Whomever this guy is, she doesn’t want anything to do with him.
“Now, now, darling. Let’s not fight,” he says, registering the tension in Sophia’s voice and the way she stands. “Dance with me.” He offers Sophia his hand, which she doesn’t even glance at.
“What are you doing here, Caleb? When we broke up, I made it clear it was for the last time.” Oh, he’s her ex. Got it.
“Hey, do you want anything to drink? I think I’m going to go get something,” I ask. I’d rather not stick around for the conversation or rather, argument that’s about to take place.
“Sure, thanks.”
I excuse myself just as Sophia puts her hands on her hips. I get that Alister worries for her, but, from the looks of it, she can handle herself. Still, I wonder what all the fuss is about. It’s a party. Why would Alister and his security detail be so on edge?
That’s when I see him. In the opposite direction of the party, Alister, Gio, and another man whom I don’t know sneak away from the crowd and into Laroux House. For someone who was adamant he needed to get back to the party, he doesn’t seem to be spending much time socializing. So, what is he doing? Whatever it is, I need to know. I’ve got to find a way inside that house. And yet, just as I go to take a step toward it, I’m reminded of the Amatos’ security and the fact that tonight of all nights, they’ve got their bases covered. Without Sophia, I’ll never make it in there. Even with the schematics of their compound, I won’t be able to bypass the security camerasandthe Amatos’ armed guards without blowing my cover. No. Sophia is still my best way to Alister.
Sticking with my original plan, I hightail it to the nearest food station in search of the drinks I promised Sophia. I grab two bloodred cocktails from the table and—
“For me? You shouldn’t have.” As I turn, I’m faced with a man I don’t know, as if I know anyone here. He towers over me by at least a foot. Like Alister, he hasn’t bothered to wear a costume, which I find a bit odd given the setting. Unlike Alister, he has bright green eyes and a buzz cut so short he almost appears bald in the poor lighting.
“For my friend. Excuse me,” I say, moving past him. Though, as I do, he repositions himself, stepping in front of me.Great.He’s one of those who don’t know how to take a hint. Deciding it best not to draw attention to myself, I handle him more delicately than I would if the setting were different. At least I try to. “Listen, I’m flattered. But I really need to get back to my friend. She’s having a rough go of it and could really use a cocktail.”
“Well, how about you?” he asks, moving his hand to my arm. He caresses me from my forearm to my shoulder, sending chills through my body. And not the good kind. “Would you like to have a rough go of it?” He moves his fingers through my silky, straight hair and brushes it over my shoulder, exposing my neck and chest. I flinch. I have half a mind to let the drinks fall to the ground and show him how rough I can be right here, right now. But before I can, he removes his hand and takes a step back. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Enjoy the party.”
As he leaves me, I watch him with narrowed eyes and begin to follow him at a distance. He was smart to leave me alone, but that doesn’t mean he won’t find someone else to give a hard time. Though, as I follow him through the crowd, condensation on my fingers reminds me of the glasses I hold and of Sophia, whom I find nowhere, not even with her drunk, sloppy ex, Caleb. I make a beeline to the British blond just as he sits down next to another brunette he hopes to charm.
“Hey, where is Sophia?” I ask. The bite in my voice is obvious, but I don’t care. Not only am I on edge because of my encounter with the buzz cut bastard, but in less than five minutes of knowing Caleb, I’m already certain I don’t like him.
“Hey…Sophia’s friend. Are you going to drink those?” As he spots the drinks in my hands, his eyes are even glassier than before. Deciding it better he passes out sooner rather than later, I hand him the drinks, which he then uses to woo his new girl.
“Hey!” I snap to regain his attention. “Sophia? You know, the girl you were begging to take you back no more than ten minutes ago. Where is she?” At that, the brunette sitting next to him stands, thanks me, and leaves with her drink in tow. Caleb rolls his eyes and exhales. “The quicker you answer, the quicker I leave.” I raise a brow and cross my arms over my chest. He nods and struggles to stand.
“Look, some guy came up and asked her to dance. She left with him and that was that. And for the record, I wasn’t cheating on her. At least not this time. We’re broken up. She made that pretty clear no more than ten minutes ago, as you said.”
I nod as Caleb walks away in search of his next replacement girl. Though, as I turn to the dance floor in search of Sophia, once more she is nowhere to be found. Even under the night sky, her silver bejeweled flapper dress would stand out like the moon.
“Hey!” I call after Caleb, but the music is too loud for him to hear me.
