Chapter 37
Logan
My heart nearly stops when I see Serena enter the ballroom of the Courts hotel.
It’s a lavish building with embossed gold and gilded mirrors, a rich red carpeted floor, and chandeliers.
It’s the Carter & Jeffers Annual Christmas ball, which only reminds me that another year is almost over.
I refuse to go into the new one without Serena.
Knowing I had no choice but to call Viktor and go around Quentin has set my nerves on edge, but only because I’m afraid of Serena getting caught in the crossfire.
I can only hope that Rue will act fast if things go sideways and get my girl to safety.
I’m banking a lot on her, which makes me feel slightly sick, but I feel she is invested in her relationship with Serena.
She won’t throw her to the wolves to save herself.
I hope.
Aching to go to Serena and embrace her, finally kiss her before I take her upstairs to ravage her, I know I can’t.
There are things that need to happen first. Catching Viktor’s eye, he gestures with his head for me to move off to the side while Francesca commandeers her daughter and Serena, plying them with Champagne from the passing servers.
Giving Serena a last lingering look, my cock going hard at the sight of her in that dress and that sexy mask, I feel my anger flare up that every man in this room can see her delectable curves.
They will be imagining sliding their cocks between her luscious tits before plunging between her cherry red lips, visible below the black mask she is wearing that covers her eyes and nose.
So far, there has been no sign of Quentin, but Guy has eyes and ears everywhere, so I’m reassured for the moment that Serena is safe.
“Logan.” Viktor extends his hand for me to shake when we meet up on the other side of the ballroom. “Let’s walk.” He leads me through one of the archways out into the lobby of the hotel.
“I realize that Rue coming clean about your intentions was probably not what you had in mind, but you see my predicament.”
“I do. The girl is spectacular.”
Jealousy fires up, but his tone is bland. He is renowned for not having eyes for anyone but his wife, so I shouldn’t be jealous of his words about Serena.
“She is,” I murmur.
“This does bring forward the plans we were hoping for, but if you want the position, it’s yours.
You have impressed us for many years. You have been loyal, and your contributions to the Society have been greatly appreciated.
But more than that, I feel you were always destined for great things, Logan.
Your professional accomplishments are outstanding, and the Society will be lucky to have you as a high-ranking member.
The South-West Sector is in desperate need of new blood at the top. Tony has become complacent and lazy.”
His disgust at that makes me hide my smile, but his words have startled me.
Head of the South-West Sector is not what I was expecting.
That encompasses an extremely large area.
I expected to get one step above Quentin as Head of the Tri-City region of Grove City, Glenridge, and Sinnsfeld.
The area Viktor is talking about reaches as far south as Coe Bay and as north as Wicksend.
“You appear confused.”
“Slightly. I wasn’t aware I was in the running for a sector.”
He snickers. “Rue didn’t say?”
“I didn’t ask for the details, in all fairness.”
“Ah, well, yes. Tony is about to be canceled. He has made several errors in judgment recently, and we are not able to accept any more fuckups. So are you in?”
“Yes.” I don’t even have to think about it. If I get promoted over Quentin in his sector, that means I can have him canceled as well. It’s, and there’s that word again, perfect.
“Marvelous. I shall make the arrangements. You may stay here in Grove City as your base.”
“And Quen?”
“That is now for you to handle.” He holds his hand out for me again. Gripping it tightly, he places his other hand on my elbow. “No mess, no fuss, yes?”
“Yes.”
He nods, and with a slow, almost predatory smile, he backs away with a mock salute, filtering back into the crowd of the ballroom, leaving me to inhale deeply, close my eyes, and exhale slowly, opening my eyes again as reality strikes me between them.
This is more than I cared for, but I will do whatever it takes to make Serena mine and to remove any obstacle that prevents us from being together.
Striding back into the ballroom, I search for Serena but find no trace of her. Rue is with her mother, but Serena has vanished. Scouring the crowds almost frantically, I march over to Rue, pausing to give Francesca a quick double air kiss before I focus on Rue.
“Where is she?”
Rue frowns and glances nearby. “At the bar…” Her eyes narrow.
“You did not lose her!” I hiss.
“No, she was there literally a second before you came over. I saw her. I’m keeping an eye on her.”
“Why didn’t you go with her?” I grit out, scanning every inch of the ballroom for her.
“I wanted to. She said she needed a minute. I had eyes on her, I swear. Dammit. She’s a sneak. I should recruit her.”
Francesca looks between the two of us. “Do it,” she says. “She is wonderful. I love her to bits and pieces already. She would be an asset to us.”
“What?” Rue says, distracted momentarily, but I don’t have time for this.
Storming off, determined to find her, I forget about everything else except finding Serena. It is my only priority.