Chapter 27
Sofia
Papa had a habit of ruining anything good for me, and my excitement at going to Exotique was no exception. Out of the blue, he contacted Miles and practically ordered us to attend a family dinner that evening in aid of introducing Rafe’s fiancèe to the family.
For whatever reason, Miles didn’t protest Papa’s demand and agreed we would be there. Needless to say, I wasn’t overjoyed at seeing Papa, and I was even less thrilled about coming face to face with Vanessa King.
Still, Miles had promised that as soon as dinner was over, we’d head to the club, so at least I had something to look forward to.
My knee bobbed nervously as Miles drove us across the border and into Forest Point, our usual entourage of security following us. I didn’t realize I was picking the skin around my nails until Miles reached over and clasped my hand in his, resting them on my knee and stopping it from bouncing.
“You nervous about dinner or going to the club after?” he asked, his concerned eyes flicking to me.
“I’m not nervous about the club, I can’t wait. I just wish we didn’t have to go to dinner first,” I replied glumly.
He squeezed my hand. “I won’t let your dad give you any shit, Jailbait. It won’t be like before, you’ve got me in your corner now.”
I gave him an appreciative smile as a warm, fuzzy feeling coursed through me. Rafe had been the only person in my corner for so long, but even then, his hands were tied. It felt good having Miles by my side.
“What if he asks about...you know, me getting pregnant?”
“I’ll handle it. I told him before, our sex life has got fuck all to do with him.”
I didn’t reply straight away. I wanted to believe that I could escape the evening without being questioned by Papa, but I knew he’d find a way to interrogate me away from Miles.
“It’s not just that,” I said, airing the other reason for my anxiety. “I’m not looking forward to meeting Vanessa.”
Miles threw me a sympathetic glance before returning his eyes to the road. “She’s the niece of the man who killed your mom, right?”
“Yeah.” A burst of sorrow hit me. How could Papa agree to Rafe marrying into the family that took Mama away from us? I would never forgive him for this.
“Do you know much about what happened? In the lead up to your mom’s death, I mean,” he said, his brows pulled together in thought.
I sighed. “Not really. Papa never liked to talk about it. All I know is that he once did business with Reagan and Rowan King, Vanessa’s father and uncle, but something went wrong, and they went their separate ways.
A lot of people took their business to Papa, and the Kings were pissed ‘cos they started to suffer financially. They wanted to get back at Papa, so Rowan kidnapped Mama and killed her. In return, Papa killed Rowan.”
My heart ached at recalling the only bit of information I had surrounding Mama’s death.
I had so many questions, but Papa refused to answer them.
I accepted long ago that I would never find out anything else, and as a way to find comfort in her death, I told myself that she died quickly and hadn’t suffered. I could only hope it was the truth.
Miles squeezed my hand again. “Maybe kids shouldn’t be blamed for their parents’ misdeeds.”
His words stumped me because he was right. Once upon a time, our great-grandfathers had killed each other’s family members. Yet, here we were, married, and building something incredible. I was being unfair toward Vanessa; she had no part in Mama’s death, maybe I needed to give her a chance.
And who knew. Maybe Rafe would find his happiness with her.
We spent the rest of the drive in a comfortable silence, my anxiety growing stronger as we drew closer to my old home. I’d forgotten how being in Papa’s vicinity made me feel, and I already couldn’t wait for the dinner to be over, just so I could get away from him.
Reaching the gates to the house, the guards stationed at the front waved us through without checking our car as they would do with any other guests. The same couldn’t be said for our entourage; like the only other time they’d followed us to my old home, they weren’t allowed onto the grounds.
My heart began to thud harder as we trundled along the never-ending drive, and when the house came into view with Papa waiting by the front door, checking his watch, I wanted to vomit where my nerves were gripping me.
“You’re okay, Jailbait. I’m right here with you,” Miles said, bringing the car to a stop.
The two of us got out, and he was by my side in an instant, taking my hand and clutching it in his. Papa’s gaze dropped to our hands as we walked the several steps to where he waited before a grin spread over his lips.
“Miles, wonderful to see you,” he said, offering his hand to Miles, who briefly shook it. Turning his assessing eyes to me, he opened his arms for me to step into his embrace. “Sofia, I see married life agrees with you.”
Trying to hide my shock at his rare display of affection, I stepped into his arms. “Hi, Papa. It’s good to see you.”
I should have been given an award for making my lie sound so truthful.
Behind him, movement caught my attention, and Rafe stepped out of the door. Wiggling free from Papa’s arms, I launched myself at my brother, who caught me with ease and spun me around.
“Missed you, Sofe,” Rafe said, the two of us grinning at each other.
“Do you often let women throw themselves at you?” a disapproving voice snarled from behind us. Rafe set me on my feet, grimacing before waving to the newcomer. “Sofe, this is Vanessa. Vanessa, this is my sister, Sofia.”
If it wasn’t for the sneer twisting her features, I would have said Vanessa was an attractive woman.
With long blonde hair that reached her waist, coupled with her long legs and tiny waist, any model would have been jealous.
Emerald green eyes glowered at me, framed by thick lashes and perfectly sculptured brows, and her blood red painted lips pursed as if she’d just sucked on a bitter lemon.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, doing my best not to judge a book by its cover.
She returned my smile with a fake one of her own, but as an arm slid around my waist, and the scent of Miles surrounded me, Vanessa’s mouth pulled into a genuine grin.
“And who might you be?” she purred, offering her hand to Miles as she fluttered her lashes.
Anger streaked through me at her blatant display of flirting, but before I could introduce him, Miles beat me to it. “I’m Sofia’s husband. And no disrespect, but the only woman I touch is my wife.”
He pulled me against him before tilting my chin up and brushing his lips against mine.
Smugness doused the spark of anger, and it took all my effort to not let it show when Miles pulled away and I returned my gaze to Vanessa, finding her watching us with narrowed eyes, while Rafe smirked from beside her.
“Right, well,” Papa said, clearing his throat. “Now that introductions are done, let’s go inside. Dinner will be in one hour, so we have time for a drink beforehand, and we can all get to know each other a little better.”
Miles tapped my ass, smirking at me when I mouthed, ‘Oh, yay,’ as we followed behind Papa, Rafe, and Vanessa, the latter dramatically swaying her hips as we walked inside.
If she was hoping Miles would be staring at her ass, she’d be sadly disappointed; his gaze was focused solely at the back of Papa’s head, and was sending daggers in his direction.
We made the short walk through the house to the drawing room, and I gazed around the hallway. Everything was exactly as it had been before, yet it felt different. Perhaps because I now lived somewhere that felt like home when my childhood house never had.
Waiting on the bar in the drawing room were five glasses of champagne flutes. As we walked in, Andrew, one of the household staff, popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and filled the flutes before Papa handed them out.
“To families coming together,” he said, raising his glass and beaming at each of us.
Following Miles’ lead, I lifted my glass, clinking it against Papa’s, and a bolt of fury shot through me at catching Vanessa staring at Miles, her eyes traveling over the length of his body before she finally followed everyone else and raised her glass.
“Why don’t you ladies discuss wedding plans while the men talk business?” Papa said, looking between Vanessa and me. “I’m sure you have lots of tips you can share, Sofia.”
Chauvinistic asshole.
Reminding myself that I only had to get through a few hours in Papa’s company, I smiled sweetly at him. “Of course.”
Not missing the eye roll from Vanessa, she followed behind me as I crossed to the open doors and looked out at the grounds where, not so long ago, my own wedding was held.
A small smile lifted my lips at seeing the gardens lit in the evening sky from thousands of twinkling lights, and still in pristine condition, just like Mama had always wanted.
“So, where are you and Rafe planning on getting married?” I asked as Vanessa came to stand by me.
She scoffed. “Not here, that’s for sure.”
“What…um…what’s wrong with here?” I replied, offended at her disgust.
She took a sip of her champagne, her long, manicured little finger sticking up.
“What’s right with it?” she muttered. “It’s dull, and far too small for all the guests I want to invite.
” Her nose wrinkled as she looked out into the garden, before adding under her breath, “Besides, I don’t want to get married where a slut once lived. ”
“Excuse me?” I blinked at her, not sure I heard her correctly.
“Oh, not you, sweetie,” she smirked, waving her free hand, the enormous diamond engagement ring on her finger glinting from the dazzling light of the chandelier. “I meant your whore of a mother.”
Slam!
I’d never so much as shoved anyone, let alone thrown a punch. Truthfully, I wasn’t even aware that I’d hit Vanessa until her champagne flute smashed on the floor, and her piercing scream penetrated the white noise rushing in my ears.
Vicious rage swirled deep inside me, and I raised my fist to hit her again, needing to hurt her for saying what she had about my mama, only to be stopped when hands grabbed me, took my glass, and pulled me away.
“You bitch!” she shrieked, her hands whipping up to cover her nose, and blood seeping through her fingers in a second. “You’ve broken my nose!”
“You deserved it!” I bellowed, trying to pull out of the grip holding me back. “I’m gonna fucking kill you!”
Hot angry tears cascaded down my face as I was lifted off the floor and carried several steps away from where Vanessa had tilted her head back, blood trickling from her nose and over her mouth and chin before dripping onto her sky-blue dress.
“What the hell is the meaning of this?” Papa roared, snapping me out of the red haze that had settled over my vision.
It took several seconds to realize that Miles had his arms around me in an iron-clad grip, Rafe was standing protectively in front of me, and Papa was by Vanessa’s side, attempting to stem her bleeding with his handkerchief.
“She called Mama a whore,” I sobbed, my anger subsiding, replaced by heartache.
“I did not!” Vanessa said. “She attacked me for no reason!”
The red haze returned in a beat. “You lying bitch!”
I had no idea how I managed it, but somehow, I broke free from Miles’ grasp, and managed at least two steps toward Vanessa when he caught me again, wrapping his arms around my waist and completely lifting me from the floor.
“Calm down, Sofe. This isn’t going to get you anywhere,” Miles urged.
But I continued to pull against his hold, determined to teach Vanessa a lesson she wouldn’t forget.
“Get her out of here, Miles,” Rafe ordered. Through the haze, I barely made out his concerned features. “I’ll deal with this.”