Chapter 7 #2
Of all Thaddeus’s cousins, Valentino shared the most in looks with Laurel’s dad. He had the same greasy black hair and cold smile.
“I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure,” he said, extending a hand. “Welcome to my house. Valentino Fairchild, but please call me Val.”
“Shade,” I said, taking his hand and giving it a weak squeeze. “And my security, Hugo.”
Technically, Val had seen Hugo before. Anyone who had come to watch the fights at the Blood Well had.
Val barely spared Hugo a glance, and I relaxed.
In a suit, with his hair combed and beard trimmed, Hugo looked like a completely different person than the shaggy-haired, half-feral alpha he’d been in the ring.
“I did wonder if you would make it tonight,” Valentino was saying. “You’re a tricky person to meet.”
I laughed. “You’re right, I don’t usually come to this sort of thing. But you figured out how to convince me.” I winked at him. He’d bribed me with some very nice gifts.
“Well, I’d love to take the opportunity to talk with you in person, while we have you.”
“Buisness? I thought this was a party, Val?” I kept my voice light and amused.
Valentino leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “I don’t think you’ll want to miss this. It’s an exclusive offer that I’m only sharing with a few select people.”
I studied him for a second, pretending to consider. “You’ve caught my interest.”
I made sure my recording device was on, smoothing my dress. Hugo was tense beside me, and I hoped he’d be all right as Valentino led us down a corridor and into a private lounge. Two alphas rose as we entered.
“My packmates, Issac and Richie.”
“Drink?” offered Isaac.
“Please,” I said, trying to appear relaxed as I settled onto the sofa. Valentino sank down beside me, looking completely at ease.
“I didn’t think you’d be a girl,” Issac said.
Woman, I corrected him in my mind. Ugh.
Val set some drinks on the table, sliding one over to me. “We’re impressed that you’re so young, though. And beautiful.”
Hugo had remained standing behind me, and at that comment, he rested a hand on the couch so it brushed against my back.
“Compliments, compliments,” I mused, pretending to take a sip of my drink.
“No, it’s impressive, really. You’ve made a name for yourself.”
“Eh, I got lucky. I knew the right people, you know?”
Valentino returned my smile. Our knees brushed as he leaned forward. “Luck that is continuing, it would seem. I’m going to be opening a couple of new streams of revenue. I want to give you an opportunity to join me.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I already do, like, most of trading with your family.”
Valentino picked up his glass. “Of course. But it’s not a good idea to have all your eggs in one basket. It’s obvious my niece is inexperienced. My uncle has indulged her fantasy of being in charge, but her ultimate failure is inevitable.”
I took another faux sip of my drink, fighting not to roll my eyes at his snooty word choices.
Ooh, look at me, I’m Valentino Fairchild, and I use words with five syllables! I’m sooo smart.
I lowered my drink and gave them a crooked grin. “It’s not your niece you have to worry about. Isn’t your nephew going to get a Prince bond? Maybe I should be getting on his good side.”
Valentino’s face darkened. “Julius is a gold pack nothing,” he said coldly, “and that is not going to change. His delusional bid for power will end in disaster. My niece’s time pretending to be in charge is coming to an end.”
I raised my eyebrows. Well, then. Couldn’t really get clearer than that.
I looked back between Valentino and his pack, feigning consideration. Then I shrugged. “Sure. Assuming this deal comes with the right incentives where it counts.”
I was eager to get out of here, and they didn’t keep us much longer. Thank god. My head was getting itchy under the wig.
Hugo started toward the exit, but I stopped him. “Bathroom break,” I told him.
He reluctantly followed me to the powder room, where I relieved myself and made sure my disguise was still holding up. When I stepped back outside, Hugo was absent. Must have stepped away?
I folded my arms, leaning against the wall as I waited for him. I turned as someone approached, but it wasn’t Hugo.
“I’m surprised you showed up tonight,” Mord said, settling next to me. His cufflinks caught the light, a very expensive-looking glimmer that made my fingers itch. I wasn’t stupid enough to try and steal from Mord, though.
He folded his arms. “You haven’t taken a job in months.”
I shot him a grin, then fluttered my lashes. “What, did you miss me?”
He shrugged, his gaze turning heated as he looked at me. “You keep things interesting.” His unusual scent changed slightly, taking on those richer notes I’d smelled on him before. What even was it? Burnt and metallic.
I opened my mouth to tell him I wasn’t looking for a hookup, but I didn’t get a chance. I heard heavy footsteps rushing toward us, and then a crack that made Mord flinch.
Hugo stood in front of me, chest heaving. His hand was still curled into a fist. It took my brain a second to catch up.
He’d punched Mord.
He’d fucking punched Mord.
“What the fuck?” Mord straightened, clutching his nose. His aura had released at some point, and I needed to de-escalate this before things got messy. Of all people, why did it have to be Mord?
“Shit, I am so sorry!” I threw myself between them and raised my hands frantically. “He’s a bit, uh, territorial.”
Hugo growled and tried to step around me.
I turned and grabbed on to him, shooting Mord an apologetic glance. “Really! Nothing personal. I think we’ll probably head out now. Come on, Hugo.”
Hugo was still glaring at Mord, but he wrapped an arm around me and let me drag him to the nearest exit. Fuck. So much for maintaining my connections. I was gonna have to work real hard to smooth this over with Mord.
A glance at Hugo told me he was close to snapping; his eyes were wild and darted around the room, as if looking for other threats.
I stroked his arm. “Come on, this way.”
He could not go into a rut at Valentino’s party; we’d both be killed. I had to practically wrestle him into the passenger seat, and then he wouldn’t let me shut the door. I ended up having to clamber over him to get into the driver’s seat.
He was quiet as I started the car. He still seemed tense, so I slipped my hand into his.
?
I’d sent another apology to Mord, and now all I wanted was a nice hot shower. It was always the most exciting nights that were the most exhausting.
I swiped my key card at the front entrance of the apartment building and stepped inside. I’d only just moved back into my actual place.
I’d generously shared one of my other properties with Jewel, Casey, and Hugo after our escape from the Casino's fight pits. Now I was back here.
It was great.
I didn’t have to look at Jewel’s stupid, gorgeous face every day.
Or come out to the living room and see him lounging on the couch in nothing but silky pajama pants.
Or having him constantly “forget” to wear a towel after his shower.
Not gonna miss that.
No way.
Dammit.
I stepped into the elevator and pressed the second-floor button a little harder than necessary. Just as the doors were closing, a tall figure slipped inside, filling the space with his sweet perfume.
“What the fuck?” I said as Jewel settled against the wall opposite me.
Why did he have to smell so good? It made me want to grab his shirt and tug him closer to get even more. I was supposed to be mad at him, and instead, I wanted to lick him like a lollipop.
I swear he hadn't always smelled that sweet. When we'd found him in the bowels of the Crimson Palace, he'd smelled deeper—spiced plums steeped in merlot. Lush and dark, like velvet. Something that was so Jewel. A scent that wasn’t quite omega but not quite alpha, either.
Now, though, he smelled sugarplum sweet, and his notes of wine had brightened to a soft moscato. Definitely omega.
I glared up at him. “What are you still doing here?”
“Oh, you live here? What a coincidence,” he said airily, examining his nails.
I stepped toward him, pointing a finger right in his face. “Were you waiting for me to come home so you could trap me in the elevator with you?”
His nose did that cute wrinkle thing as he pouted. “Perhaps.”
“Jewel!” I hissed.
“You’ve been avoiding me.” A hint of a whine entered his voice. “I just wanted a little, teeny hit of your scent before I went home.”
“You’re psychotic,” I announced as the elevator doors opened. To my increasing irritation, he trailed me off the elevator like a lost puppy, keeping at my heels as I reached my door. “Stop following me.”
He levelled me with an unimpressed expression. “I’m not following you. Rude. I live here now.”
“What?”
He gave me a smug little grin that made my temper flare. “Apartment two-ten is all mine, neighbour,” he said, pointing to the door across from mine.
I gaped at him. “No, Mrs. Singh lives there.”
“Oh, right, was that her name? What a sweetheart. I swapped her for the penthouse suite.”
I grabbed a fistful of his shirt. “What the FUCK, Jewel?! What is your problem?”
A door opened down the hallway, and someone poked their head out to glare at us. Jewel gave them a little wave.
Right.
This was a fancy-as-shit building, and that meant people didn’t usually yell in the corridors.
I yanked open my door and went inside. Jewel barged past me before I could slam it in his face. “Hey! Get the fuck out!”
I turned to force him to leave, but my brain short-circuited instead. There was plenty of space for him to go; my entryway led right into the kitchen island, but he’d stayed by the door.
He was extremely close, dipping his face into my hair and inhaling. My breath caught in my lungs as he pressed against me before I came to my senses.
“Not appropriate,” I snapped, pushing his face away. “Why are you constantly messing around with my shit? Moving into my building, and all the bullshit flirting with Casey—”