Chapter 40
FORTY
Tony
IF YOU’D ASKED ME FOR reasons why I might be required to wear a tuxedo someday, I might’ve joked that I’d already missed my high school prom, and I was highly unlikely to ever be recruited as anyone’s groomsman... much less a groom.
I would not have said that I might have to go to a black-tie gala recognizing the economic impact of regional leaders in international trade.
Because, up until recently, the closest ties I had to international trade involved ordering cheap electronics off of eBay and waiting weeks for them to arrive from China.
When Jez had told me that Knox wanted me to attend as part of the pack, I’d thought she was joking.
Spoiler alert—she hadn’t been joking.
“We’re going to be arm candy,” she’d told me solemnly, blinking huge gray eyes up at me in a way that completely failed to hide the devilish glint behind them. “That means we both have to dress up real pretty for the alphas.”
I’d blinked back at her, probably with much more of a ‘deer in the headlights’ expression than she was wearing. “Um... how pretty are we talking about? Will I have to find a tie to go with that expensive suit?”
The look she gave me as she patted my cheek had been pitying.
“Sure, something like that,” was all she’d said.
And so, once again, I’d found myself being measured and examined by a well-dressed store clerk with a tape measure literally hanging around his neck. But this time, I’d emerged from the store with a slim-cut black tux in a garment bag, complete with starched shirt and bow tie.
It was not what one would call a comfortable outfit.
And yet, somehow, I found that I was enjoying wearing it.
That might have been due to a poorly hidden teenage James Bond fantasy.
.. or it might have had more to do with the way Heath had been eyeing me like he wanted to tear the tux off my body with his teeth.
Gage had also been shooting me occasional admiring looks, and even Knox had whistled low when he saw me.
Still, when it came to arm candy, I was nothing compared to Jez.
I’d wavered for hours before finally gathering up my courage and applying a bit of subtle guyliner around my eyes.
Meanwhile, she’d spent an afternoon with some high-end stylist, having her hair and makeup professionally done.
With the addition of a stunning emerald mermaid gown that hugged her slender from bust to knees before flaring out in layers of tulle and lace that brushed the floor, she looked like visiting Nordic royalty.
When he wasn’t subtly checking me out, Gage had been staring at Jez like a love-struck puppy. Knox had also done a startled doubletake, while Heath looked like he was in danger of having a stroke.
None of this felt real. Not the limo ride from the pack house to the historic Greystone Hotel, where the ultra-rich hosted weddings and galas in an updated hundred-and-forty-year-old, four-story building with a view of the lake.
Not the bevy of waiters and attendants scurrying around us as we were seated at a table near the raised stage at the front of the banquet hall, or the glittering guests milling and chatting over the sounds of an honest-to-god string quartet.
Amazing food started arriving as soon as we were seated—plates of tiny appetizers and bottles of champagne, little bowls of chilled soup and fruit cut into intricate shapes.
Jez and I exchanged a glance, our lips pressed tightly together to keep from descending into stupid giggles as we eyed the dizzying array of different-sized forks set before us.
Still battling for control of my expression, I picked one up at random and speared a piece of shrimp rolled in a translucent wrap with greenery poking out of the ends.
Knox looked us over with faint amusement. “Enjoying yourselves?” he asked mildly.
I chewed and swallowed, gesturing at him with the fork tines. “I’m going to try every single food they have, and gain twenty pounds in a single sitting.”
Gage smirked.
“I like the music,” Jez said. “There was an old man who used to play violin near the Flat Iron building sometimes. Do you remember him, Tony? He used to play things like this.”
“Yeah.” An odd kind of nostalgia tugged at me. “I do remember him. I wonder if he’s still around?”
“We could go look for him sometime,” Gage said. “If you wanted.”
Across the table, Heath tensed. His eyes widened for a moment at something behind me, before his face went cold and stony.
“Oh, hell no,” he said, and I had a moment’s panic that he was angry for some reason about what Gage had said. Then he added stiffly, “You might have mentioned that the fucking Vozzinas were invited to this party, Knox.”
Knox followed his gaze, and despite myself, I craned around to look as well. Next to me, Jez went very still. I couldn’t tell who they were looking at, since there were a bunch of people in a group.
“I wasn’t provided with a full guest list,” Knox said, bringing his attention back to Heath. “It isn’t a huge surprise, though. Is that the omega? Lorenzo’s new mate?”
“That’s Adrian,” Jez said tightly.
“Paolo,” Heath growled. “His real name is Paolo Vozzina.”
A cold feeling spread through my stomach. “The guy who kidnapped you and tried to kill Knox is here? Should we leave? Or, I dunno... call the police or something?”
Knox raised an eyebrow. “He’s hardly going to attack us in the middle of a major society event. Let’s just say, I’ve already put legal wheels in motion when it comes to the Vozzinas.”
“You have?” Jez asked, her gaze flickering between Knox and the mystery omega behind me.
“I have,” he confirmed. “But the process has to happen in a somewhat roundabout way.”
Gage frowned. “Or else Jez’ll get dragged into the mess. Right.”
Heath had been gripping the edge of the table in such a way that suggested it might crack beneath the strain at any moment. At that, he pushed his chair away and stood up.
“I need some air,” he said.
On the stage, the emcee tapped her mic and began talking about the awards that would be handed out tonight to various businessmen, including Knox.
“Heath—” Knox began.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to wring his scrawny neck,” Heath said in a low monotone. “But I’m also not sitting here while that little snake and his alpha sugar daddy simper to the crowd.”
With that, he spun and stalked off.
I started to stand up as well. “I can go after him—”
But Jez raised a hand. “It’s okay, Tony. I’ll go. You’re enjoying this. So, keep enjoying it. I’ll talk to him.”
“You sure, kitten?” Gage asked.
Jez nodded. “Yes. Believe it or not, we don’t do too badly together, when it’s just him and me.”
“I don’t see any sign of Lorenzo,” Knox told her. “I don’t think he’s here... and even if he was, I sincerely doubt either he or Paolo would recognize you in that dress unless they got within scenting range. Even so, stay aware of your surroundings.”
“Right,” Jez said, tapping the side of her nose. “Remind the street kid to watch out for danger in unfamiliar surroundings. Got it.”
She headed after Heath, and I sank back into my chair.
“You really think she and Heath will be all right on their own?” I asked, unable to completely contain my worry.
“I think they’ll need to learn to be all right,” Knox said. “Under the circumstances.”
The emcee had been droning on throughout this exchange, but now, she gestured grandly toward the table the others had been watching.
“Our first award for outstanding community development goes to... Lorenzo Vozzina, of Vozzina Associates! Please come up to the stage and say a few words.”
There was a murmur among the guests as a slender omega stood, smoothing down his maroon tuxedo jacket and strutting toward the stage like a model on a runway.
His dark gaze fell on Knox as he approached, holding there for a moment too long.
The skin at the back of my neck prickled as he passed behind me.
“Smarmy little prick,” Gage muttered, hopefully too low to be heard by the smarmy little prick in question.
Paolo mounted the steps in three light strides and accepted a microphone, smiling widely at the audience.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlefolk! I know I’m not quite who you were expecting, but my dear mate had to beg off tonight thanks to a nasty flu bug.
We couldn’t have Chicago’s glitterati catching a virus, now could we?
However, I’m honored to accept this award on his behalf. ..”
Gage made quiet gagging noises as Paolo continued to enthuse to the crowd.
I stared at the slimeball who’d manipulated Jez into hurting Knox, and hurt both her and Heath so badly at the silos. An unfamiliar feeling that might have been hatred swelled in my chest.
“I could stick a foot out and trip him when he walks back to his table,” I suggested, only half-joking.
“No, you will not trip a rival pack’s omega in the middle of a charity gala,” Knox said sternly.
“As you know,” Paolo’s smug voice boomed through the sound system. “I was only recently mated to Lorenzo, and may I say what an incredible honor it is to be accepted such an illustrious pack. It’s gratifying to see the Vozzinas getting the recognition they deserve in this city, and...”
I turned to Gage, about to suggest bribing one of the waitstaff to smash a pie into the little twerp’s face or something, when a deafening boom rocked the building. The lights flickered for a moment and went out, instantly plunging the huge room into darkness as dust choked the air.
A terrible rumble vibrated my bones.
“Christ!” Knox’s curse barely penetrated past the ringing in my ears.
A heavy weight toppled me to the ground, knocking the remaining breath from my lungs.
I tried to gasp, the scent of citrus and yeasty bread surrounding me as a large body caged me in.
Panic gripped me... I still couldn’t see anything except blackness.
The sound of terrified screams felt distant, as though they were coming from across the length of a football field.
The floor was still vibrating, and the screams became punctuated with muffled crashing sounds.
A heavy impact jolted the body covering mine, pinning me beneath weight that made it impossible to breathe.
Another impact followed, and another, and another.
The blackness surrounding me closed in until there was nothing else, muffled sounds flattening into a low whine.
Something hard glanced against my temple, and even the whine disappeared into silence.