Chapter 28
28
“ D on’t you think it’s about time you stop taking those?” King asked, nodding towards the birth control pill I’d just swallowed. He stood at my bathroom doorway with an easy smile on his handsome face, a monster with classic good looks.
“After the auction?” I suggested.
King wrapped his arms around me from behind, then kissed me on the cheek. “If one more week makes a difference to you, so be it.”
He’d switched my pills out right after the wedding for placebos without telling me, but he didn’t need to know that I knew. Just like he didn’t need to know that I’d gotten an IUD in anticipation of him sabotaging them. It was the same doctor who patched me up every time Kevin smacked me around, and I’d played on his guilt to convince him to bring an IUD. It had been one of the acts of defiance that showed me I could still fight back.
If you spent enough time with a monster, you stopped expecting them to be anything but monstrous.
Once I was ready and packed for our trip, I lingered in my closet, running my fingers along the Bryson Blue Dress. My mother and grandmother hadn’t been able to escape. One died in a mysterious car accident, and the other died in a tragic plane crash. I wondered now if either had truly been an accident. If my family was cursed, it was by men who craved power and were willing to crush anyone who didn’t obey them.
One more week is going to make all the difference…
I stood in front of my Bernini an hour later, waiting for Kevin to come downstairs so we could leave for the auction. He’d taken everything from me, even my favorite artist. How was I supposed to feel the same way about Bernini’s work now that I could relate more to the mistress he’d mutilated than the beauty of his art?
All I could see were the themes Bernini had chosen—the inherent violence of so many of his pieces, the entitlement of his male heroes, and the way his heroines suffered.
The Rape of Proserpina was so exquisite, it was easy to look past the subject matter. No one saw Nemesis’s tears when they looked at the statue in front of me. Nobody cared that Daphne had turned herself into a fucking tree to escape Apollo’s relentless pursuit. All we saw was art.
Similarly, my marriage was such a pleasing match to the press and the public and the territory leaders alike that no one cared what really happened in this house. My pain meant nothing. No one cared that I would have to distort myself to escape him.
But I wouldn’t become a tree or a bird or a fish like they had. I’d become a goddamn monster too.
I surreptitiously pulled out my secret phone, the one Reaper left me as a wedding present of sorts, and hit Schedule Send on the press release I’d drafted…then I walked away from that statue for the last time.
“I have a surprise for you,” I said to Kevin, just as we were about to enter the ballroom for the pre-auction gala. “A belated wedding present of sorts…”
We walked into a ballroom filled with people posturing while they drank and socialized. A quick scan of the room, and I’d laid eyes on an actual prince, a mob princess, a Cardinal, all manner of senators and judges, and eight of the top ten richest people in the world, including my husband, of course.
“Now isn’t really the time for surprises,” he said through gritted teeth, annoyed that I was doing anything but decorating his arm.
I handed him my phone with the news article up. Kevin King Donates “The Lost Bernini” to Museum in Rome.
“Isn’t it a glowing piece?” I asked, watching his jaw muscle work as he stopped moving to read the article.
“Why would you do this?” he growled, knowing better than to show emotion in this crowd.
Because I hate looking at it, you sick fuck.
I blinked innocently. “I thought you’d be happy. It paints you as a champion of art for the people.”
“Do you have any concept of what that sculpture cost? It’s irreplaceable.”
“It belongs in a museum,” I said sweetly, steering him towards the bar. “Why don’t you grab us some drinks? I’m going to say hi to my father.”
I greeted my father coolly, giving him a brief hug. I wasn’t going to pretend to be his perfect little daughter anymore.
With gleeful anticipation, I watched Peter Donahue stop Kevin as he crossed the ballroom so he could shake Kevin’s hand and thank him profusely for the monumental campaign contribution. Never mind that Kevin knew nothing of the contribution and had handpicked Peter’s opponent in the race.
I smiled, watching Kevin play his way through it like it had been intentional. He couldn’t very well tell them his wife was running amok, funding his opponents to spite him.
He reached us and thrust a glass of champagne into my hand so violently, some of it spilled. “More of your handiwork, I suppose?”
I toasted him. “I just thought it might be strategic to support both sides, you know? Give the will of the people a chance.”
He seized me under the arm roughly. “Why don’t you stop with the theatrics and tell me what this is about?”
I looked down at where he held me in a grip that felt like it might snap my arm. “You know what it’s about.”
I winced, trying to dislodge Kevin’s fingers from my arm without making a scene. If he kept this up, he’d get kicked out before I was able to enact my plan. At that moment, I swore I could feel someone watching me, and I looked up to find Reaper standing on the other side of the room. He wore leather pants cut so low, I didn’t know how his dick wasn’t coming out. He was, of course, shirtless, but a long black cloak was fastened at his throat with silver jewelry dangling onto his chest. He was wearing black gloves again, and I shivered remembering what they felt like when he touched me with them on.
He looked at where Kevin held me and tilted his head. The ferocity in his expression made my heart skip a beat.
This was my battle to fight, and I didn’t need anyone else getting hurt because of me.
This only works if I’m the only person at stake.
The Black Rose Auction was strictly enforced neutral ground for the entire three-day event, so as long as we were here, King couldn’t seriously harm me. Most importantly, he couldn’t kill me and get away with it. It would be tough to make it look like an accident here where so many eyes were watching.
I had three days when I was protected from his wrath—three days to force him to let me go.
I shifted my focus back to Kevin, who’d managed to put his civilized mask back into place.
“Juliet?” my father said threateningly, looking between Kevin and me. “Do we need to discuss something?”
Kevin puffed his chest. “She’s a King now, not a Bryson. We’ll handle this privately.”
He released my arm, and I fought to keep my hand steady as I took a sip of champagne. A headache was worth it if it steadied my nerves.
They carried on like nothing had happened because in this room it was a fatal mistake to show any kind of weakness. Everyone appeared absorbed in their own conversations, but they were all throwing glances over their shoulders, assessing allies and enemies. There was no chum in this room. Only sharks.
Moments later, a proprietary hand slid across my lower back, and I stiffened. Reaper’s long hair tickled my bare shoulder as he murmured in my ear, “We both know you don’t drink champagne, darling.”
My traitorous body wanted to melt against him. I hadn’t known I was strong enough to fight back until I thought it was Reaper in that cage. He brought out the sides of me that I’d buried my whole life. For this man, I’d burn the fucking world down.
The horrified look on my father’s face would’ve been funny if it weren’t me living this nightmare. This wasn’t part of my plan!
Reaper pried the champagne flute from my fingers and replaced it with the stem of a martini glass, handing the champagne to a passing server.
Then he brushed his gloved fingertips over the part of my arm Kevin had just bruised with his grip and looked straight at my husband. “Since it’s not your first time at my auction, I know you’re familiar with the rules. Give me a fucking reason to enforce them.”
King’s voice was ice-cold. “The rules are the only reason you’re still standing after touching my wife. Touch her again and I’ll have to inform the concierge you were fondling what doesn’t belong to you without permission.”
Reaper’s jaw clenched, but he schooled his expression into a bored smile. “If you’re planning to keep a pet, you should at least learn what she likes to drink. I hear wives can get restless if you don’t keep them satisfied.” He turned back to my father and said, “Isn’t that right, Nathaniel?”
What the hell does that mean?
King tugged me away from Reaper, gripping the exact spot he’d already bruised. “I’ll do as I damn well please with my wife . She likes it when I’m firm with her, don’t you, babe?”
I sucked in a breath but managed to keep my face relaxed as I nodded. This wasn’t the moment. He wasn’t going to hurt me enough in front of others to face execution, but if he got us kicked out for making a scene, I’d never get another shot at this.
King all but dragged me back towards the elevators, and I let him because it served my ends.
I dared a quick glance over my shoulder and met Reaper’s dark glare. He was simmering with rage. He tilted his chin in question, asking my permission to intervene.
I shook my head and followed King out of the ballroom.