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“My son.” Eaton’s father warmly embraces him, and Eaton reciprocates in a manner that tells me it’s a complete act. “And your beautiful fiancée. Shelby, it is wonderful to see you again.” His father leans forward and kisses me on both cheeks. I swallow down the smell of stale cigars. Eaton’s hand wraps around mine again, firm and commanding, and a low growl reverberates in his throat.
“Mr. Armstrong. Lovely to see you again,” I reply with a false smile.
I ignore the comment about me being engaged to his son. It’s not true but is clearly the story he’s telling tonight.
Eaton’s father makes a point of taking my left hand.
“You aren’t wearing your ring?” he questions, looking sternly between Eaton and me.
Eaton’s brows are furrowed, and his nostrils flare with anger. He opens his mouth to speak, but I place a hand on his arm to silence him, fearful of what he may say.
“I’m afraid the jewelers didn’t get it back to me in time, Mr. Armstrong. I needed it re-sized. I’m sure Eaton will see to it that we are refunded for such an inconvenience. But my lovely fiancé still wanted me to sparkle with diamonds tonight.”
I pull my hand away from Mr. Armstrong’s grip and point to the diamond choker at my throat. Eaton presented it to me after injecting me with the tracker earlier. I think it was a fair trade, even when he said it was rented for the night and not to get too excited about keeping it.
Looking around the room at the silent crowd watching us, I add, “I’m sure there are many who would think this stakes his claim on me more than a ring.”
Eaton’s father turns around and claps his hands in excitement.
“Drinks, music. This is a party, and we are celebrating my son’s impending marriage to the only daughter of Daniel Jones. Finally, she has returned to our Vegas family.”
Everyone is still silent.
Mr. Armstrong motions again for music, and the band starts to play. He walks away from us, strutting like Betty does when I give her a special treat such as a drop of cream.
“Are you all right?” Turning to Eaton, I check on him.
“Thank you.” He nods at me. “I wasn’t expecting him to introduce you that way. I’m sorry.”
“Why? In effect, we are engaged, even it’s not official. We’re engaged to be married because that’s what needs to happen.”
“But it needs to happen in our own time, and not so my father can demonstrate his power to an assembled crowd.”
A waiter steps forward and offers us a glass of champagne. Eaton takes one and downs it, before replacing the glass and getting another for himself and one for me.
“I think I might drink it a little slower than you, if that’s all right.” I chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.
“I think that would be wise.” His frown finally turns into a smile. “The only person who takes away my control is my father. I hate it, but there’s nothing I can do about it.” Eaton sighs heavily. “Come on, let’s go mingle, and then I can get you home and lock you in your bedroom again where I know you’re safe.”
“So romantic.” I roll my eyes and take Eaton’s hand.
He guides me deeper into the room, stopping occasionally to introduce me to people and to accept their congratulations. I will never remember any of their names or faces, though. It’s all a blur of making sure I’m beside Eaton and trying to remember my elocution lessons. I think I only slip up twice with a y’all.
We reach the center of the room, and Eaton pulls me toward the dance floor.
“I don’t know how to dance,” I dig my heels in.
“It’s all right, Shelby. We don’t have to do anything fancy. I just want to have a moment alone with you.”
Eaton pulls me against his body, and we move slowly together in time to the music. I feel like a princess in a fairy tale. Except this is nothing like that. This is all for show—the outfit, the jewelry, the dancing. It’s to show everyone I belong to him. The doubt of my situation seeps into my mind again.
Why did my father do this?
A cough comes from behind us, and those dancing around us part to reveal a man who looks to be Mexican in origin. He has a similar stature to Eaton. Max and Lena are at our side in an instant, along with several other guards. And the man has his own entourage join him in a standoff.
Eaton pushes me behind him.
“Diego, I wasn’t aware you were invited tonight,” Eaton addresses the man.
