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My heart sinks deeper into my chest, squeezing in on itself to seem smaller, to feel less.
And all the while, Nero just stands there, pretending I don’t even exist.
CHAPTER47
Nero
An awareness slidesover my senses.
It’s that feeling I get when something has changed.
Mr. Gintley keeps talking, but I stopped listening.
My instincts have kept me alive this long. And I’ve learned the hard way to trust those instincts. To trust myself.
And only myself.
But those instincts weren’t strong enough, not tonight. Because the last thing I expect to see when I move my gaze is Payton.
My Payton.
Decades of practice keep the surprise off my face, but my brain can’t compute what I’m seeing.
Payton is here.
Payton ishere.
At my birthday party.
In public.
Anger bubbles beneath my shock.
Wasn’t she listening to anything I said?
Did I not make it clear that knowing me was dangerous?
My teeth clench together.
I need to get her out of here.
Nikki drags her claws over my chest, and I watch as Payton’s wide eyes drop to track the movement.
Goddamn it.
I let my gaze lower too.
To Payton’s cleavage on display, and the tight sparkly fabric clinging to every one of her fucking curves.
I settle on the short-as-fuck dress, showing way too much thigh.
That outfit is going to earn her ass a tanning.
I want to go to her. I want to shout at everyone to leave, so I can fuck some sense into her right here, in the middle of the room.
I can’t do any of that though. Because I can’t afford to bring a single ounce of attention to her.
And I can’t let her bring any attention tous.
