“Everyone, settle down now. Here we gather to celebrate the best partnership Georgia has ever seen.”
Silas sure did think a lot of himself, pompous asshole. Luca seemed to agree, his lip curling as he watched Silas, and even Michael rolled his eyes. Robert surveyed the room like he couldn’t believe he had been dragged here.
Silas was oblivious and continued, “Almost five years ago, the Steel Saints and the DiAngelo family joined rank. The Saints are no longer some back-alley group of crooked boy scouts.”
I scowled at the description, my face reflected around the table, and I felt Mac tense up from where I still leaned against him.
“Robert and I have big plans, everyone.”
Silas surveyed the room—a mix of dirty politicians, cops, and lawyers, as well as a few other Saints. I committed every single one of their faces to memory. Other than my table, everyone was here willingly and took part in the wholeDiAngelo mess to line their pockets. Bunch of scumbags.
Silas droned on for a few more minutes about his big plans, without ever really saying what those plans were. It was boring as hell, but when he was done, a flurry of wait staff came out of a side door pushing carts of plates covered by shiny silver domes.
I sat up, and Holly murmured, “Saved by the bell,” as the wait staff set plates of food in front of every chair.
The seats quickly filled, and the room was mostly quiet besides the sound of silverware on plates. The whole thing was a stuffy, oppressive affair, but at least the food was good. Our glasses were never empty, and I just watched and listened, taking in as much as I could of everything around me. Three tables down, Silas sat with the heads of the DiAngelo family. I barely paid attention to the easygoing banter at my own table, wishing we were closer to Silas.
When I glanced towards them again, I about dropped my bite of roast chicken when I met the grey eyes of Luca and Robert DiAngelo. Robert’s face was a mask but Luca smirked at me, his smile cold and cruel.
“Vixen?” Dalton leaned forward, placing his hand over mine where it rested on the table, and squeezed to get my attention.
“Yeah, sorry. What did I miss?”
Six pairs of concerned eyes watched me—they must have been trying to get my attention for a hot minute.
Maria’s gentle, brown eyes searched my face. “Everything okay,mija?”
“Yeah, it’s just… every time I look up, someone at that damn table is staring over here. And, just a second ago, fucking Luca was looking at me like a piece of meat.”
Mac’s eyes flew to the table in question, looking ready to get up and beat a DiAngelo to a pulp. Dalton gripped my hand so tightly it almost hurt. I hurried to reassure them both. “It’s okay, really. I’m fine. I just… I really hate those sons ofbitches.” Holly’s hazel eyes assessed me, and I smiled at all my friends. “I’m fine. Let’s just try and have a good time tonight, okay?”
About an hour later, as the evening was winding down and I had danced until my feet hurt, I was making my way to the bathroom. Dalton and Mac had taken turns twirling me around the dance floor and, despite the weight of the evening, I was actually having a lot of fun. Even Maria, Holly, and I had danced to a fun beat none of us knew. Every now and then, I would catch wind of some new tidbit of information from an overheard conversation that I squirreled away. I’d just disentangled myself from Dalton’s arms as he pressed a kiss into my neck, and everyone was gathering their things from the table. I, however, was feeling the effects of too much whiskey and water, and needed to find a bathroom as soon as possible.
The nearest bathroom was set down a long hallway, just outside the ballroom. Out of fucking nowhere, Silas appeared at my side. He grabbed me by my elbow and said, “Good evening, Ms. Moore. You and I need to talk.” His mouth was near my ear, and I could smell and feel his hot breath. His grip was unforgiving.
I snarled at him, “Mac and Dalton are waiting for me.”
He twisted my arm, and I forced myself not to wince as he pulled me into a darkened room.
“They can keep fucking waiting.”
I yanked myself out of his group, stumbling away from him. “What do you want?”
“We’ve talked about this. You will address me with respect.”
“I only give respect to those who have earned it.”
I was expecting his backhand, and dodged it easily.
“You little cunt. I knew you were trouble the second I laid eyes on you.”
I wished I was armed so damn bad. But Mac and Dalton weren’t even five minutes away. They hadbeen my heroes once before—if I took too long, they would come looking for me.
“What do you want?” I repeated.
Silas just stared at me and finally said, “I want to see the look on your face when you realize I wasn’t the one who wanted to speak with you.”
Then he turned and left, and for a minute, I was confused as hell.
