Chapter 14
WREN
The house had been quieter than a graveyard all day, and each time I walked past Seth’s study door, I could hear him talking on the phone. Who knew what kind of dealings his family was caught up in, but I knew it couldn’t be anything good.
Ripp and I started our workout right after breakfast, first hitting the heavy bags before moving onto the weight machines.
After a break for lunch, we went back into the gym to spar for hours until I was drenched in sweat and breathing like a racehorse.
I would’ve stayed in the gym longer, but I had to get ready for dinner with Seth and his mother.
We were going to K I hated him for it, too.
There was no more getting in the hot tub with him.
Hell, I didn’t need to be alone with him at all.
When I walked into my bedroom, a black dress was spread out on the bed, a shoebox containing black heels beside it. To the side, there was a note: For tonight.
The dress was A-line and flowy. It wasn’t something I would particularly wear, but it was beautiful.
After a quick shower, I rummaged through the makeup bag Kali gave me and used whatever I could find.
Time started to tick by, and I wanted to be ready before Seth’s mother arrived.
I slid into the dress and looked at myself in the mirror.
There were times I didn’t even recognize myself, and this was one of those times.
I’d felt lost ever since Parker was taken from me.
A change was about to happen, but I didn’t know if it would be good or bad.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then stepped into the heels; they were a perfect fit.
I walked out into the hall, the clanking of my heels echoing through the house.
When I got downstairs, Seth was waiting for me in the living room with a bottle of wine.
And, of course, he had to be dressed in one of his expensive dark gray suits, looking sexy as hell.
He poured me a glass of wine and handed it to me as his eyes wandered appreciatively down my body.
“You look exquisite, Wren. I’m glad the dress fit. I had it delivered this morning.”
I took a sip of the wine; it felt cool and refreshing against my throat.
“Thank you,” I replied truthfully. “You look handsome as well.” I raked my gaze over him. “Do you ever wear normal clothes?” I asked, waving a hand at his attire. “Like jeans, or T-shirts, or boxers?”
All his guys that patrolled around the house wore suits as well. They had to be miserable in the heat.
Seth glanced down at his suit and smiled at me. “Do you not like it?”
He lifted his brows amusingly, searching my eyes as if he could read my mind. I was never a good liar, so I always told the truth. And in my mind, I was thinking how hot it would be to see him out of the suit. I gulped down the whole glass of wine and sighed as I set the glass on the table.
“Okay, Mr. Fancy Pants, it’s obvious I find you attractive and like how you look in your suits. So, there’s no need to ask me questions about what I like and don’t like when it comes to you. You’re seriously going to start making me want to lie.”
He tilted his head to the side, his golden-hazel eyes twinkling mischievously. “I’m surprised you didn’t. I wonder what your friends would say if they knew you wanted to be with me.”
His glass of wine was still full, so I took it from him and gulped it down as he watched me hungrily. I had to look away to keep him from seeing the need in my eyes.
“Yeah, well, I said I found you attractive, not that I wanted you. And besides, wanting and doing are two different things. I don’t plan on acting on any of it.”
My heart pounded in my chest, but luckily, I was saved from having to meet Seth’s gaze when Benny strolled into the room.
“Your mother just arrived,” he announced, waiting for us to follow him.
We stood, and Seth moved closer to me, his deep voice by my ear. “We’ll continue this conversation later.” His warm breath tickled my earlobe, sending a pleasant shiver through me.
“I’ll pass,” I said as Benny opened the front door for us to walk out.
I stepped to the side so Seth could make his way out first. But instead, he held out his arm as an offer for me to take it with an amused grin on his face.
“Shall we?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re annoying, you know that?”
Actually, he was a gentleman, which surprised me. I took his arm and he grinned. “I’m just making it harder for you to resist me.”
That was for damn sure.
We walked outside together and in the driveway was a black limo. The driver got out and Seth leaned in close again, obviously loving how he tormented me.
“That’s Diego, one of my father’s most trusted men.”
Diego was a mountain of a man with muscular arms the width of my body. He was taller than Seth, with slicked-back black hair and a scowl that seemed permanently etched on his face. Diego acknowledged Seth and opened the door for us while Benny went to the passenger’s side and got in.
I held my breath as Seth’s mother came into view.
The first thing I noticed was her eyes; they were the same golden hazel as Seth’s.
She was wearing a long, emerald-colored, flowy dress and silver heels with her white hair pulled back in a sleek, sophisticated ponytail.
The woman had to be close to sixty, but she had a youthfulness to her that was almost ethereal.
I didn’t expect to see her face light up when she saw me.
Before I could say anything, Seth cleared his throat. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Wren Langston. Wren, this is my mom, Genevieve.”
“Wren, my dear, you are absolutely breathtaking,” she said, reaching her hands out to me as I slid into the limo.
“Thank you, Mrs. Michelson,” I replied, sitting across from her.
Inside, the limo was softly lit with luxurious bottles of wine and liquor lining both sides.
Seth moved in next to me and draped his arm over my shoulders.
If his mother weren’t staring at us with so much adoration in her eyes, I would’ve pushed him off.
It was clear she was excited to see him, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
A part of me envied Seth for what he had. I didn’t get the luxury of growing up with a mother and father who loved me.
“Please, call me Gen or Genevieve,” she advised me.
I smiled. “Genevieve, it is, then.”
She reached for Seth’s free hand and squeezed it. “It’s so good to see you, Seth. I’ve missed you.”
He kissed her hand and released it. “I’ve missed you, too.”
The affection in his voice made my heart flutter in my chest. I’d always been told you could tell a lot about a man by how he treated his mother. However, in this case, it didn’t matter. I wasn’t getting involved with Seth, no matter how he treated anyone.
“So, tell me about this hotel you acquired,” Genevieve prodded happily. “I’d love to take a tour.”
He rubbed his hand down my arm. “I’d be happy to show you around. Wren hasn’t been there, either. I could take you both. In fact, why don’t you check out of the Bellagio and stay in one of my penthouses.”
Genevieve’s face lit up and she gasped. “That would be lovely. I’m so happy to see you doing something for yourself. Don’t get me wrong, the family needs you in New York, but I understand you want to branch out, just like your brother.”
If only she knew how horrible Nikolai was. I highly doubted she’d be a doting mother.
“Have you spoken to him recently?” she asked.
Talking about him made my blood boil, but I sat there with a smile on my face. When Seth replied to her, there was no indication in his voice that things were awry with him and his brother.
“We’ve spoken briefly. He’s been very busy.”
Not for long.
Genevieve laughed softly. “Just like you. I’m hoping we can all get together for Christmas this year. Wouldn’t that be nice?” That would be hell. She looked at me and I tried to keep a grin on my face. “You could always join us too, dear. Have you ever been to New York?”
I shook my head. “Not yet.”
Her brows furrowed. “Where are you from?”
I glanced at Seth, and he also seemed to be curious by the way he waited expectantly for my answer.
“Virginia,” I said, meeting Genevieve’s hazel gaze.
Her face lit up. “Oh, I love Virginia. There’s so much history. Seth’s father took me around the state many years ago so I could visit some of the battlefields and museums. Have you been to Monticello?”
One of the foster families I stayed with lived not far from there, only they didn’t have the money to pay for the entrance tickets. “I never got the chance to go,” I informed her.
She gasped and patted a hand on Seth’s knee. “You should take her there. I bet she’d love it.”
Seth traced his thumb over my shoulder, and it drove me in-fucking-sane to have him touching me.
“I might just do that,” he murmured low.
Genevieve’s grin widened. “Great. So, where did you two meet?”
I was stumped on what to say about that one. Batting my eyelashes, I looked over at Seth. “Would you like to tell her that story?”
I was curious to see what he came up with.
Seth cleared his throat and smiled at his mother. “It just so happens that Wren is an MMA fighter.”
My stomach dropped and I stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. I thought I’d see disgust on his mother’s face, but she looked at me with fascination.
“Is that true? My son’s not pulling my leg?”
“No, he’s not,” I answered truthfully. “I am a fighter.”
“I watched one of her fights and was intrigued,” Seth added. “I knew I wanted to meet her, and it turns out we have some mutual friends. They introduced us and we’ve been getting closer ever since.”
Seth was good. He didn’t lie; he only left out the dark parts.
The driver pulled into the parking lot at K&B’s Bistro, and we all got out. Genevieve grabbed my arm before Seth could and linked it with hers. She pulled me toward the restaurant entryway, her voice full of wonder.
“I want to hear everything about you, Wren. You must be someone special for my son to introduce you to me.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I laughed coyly and continued walking with her.
Diego stepped in front of us and opened the restaurant door.
When I glanced back at Seth and Benny, they were deep in conversation.
Something was wrong and I knew what it was.
My spine prickled and I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
I always knew when danger was around . . . and it was here.