Chapter 30
THIRTY
KASHTON
Ihold Eve’s hand under the table, resting on her thigh. I can feel her crossed legs bounce.
She’s not used to getting out. Eve prefers to be in the dark cemetery or a smoky bar. She’s front and center here with me. A woman on display in the middle of a crowd. I might as well have tied her to this table and branded my name across her forehead.
Everyone keeps looking our way, staring at her. Probably trying to figure out who the fuck this gorgeous woman is.
Mine.
That’s all they need to fucking know. I saw her staring at the bruises that the handcuffs left, so I bought her something to cover them up.
It turns me on that we’re the only two who know they exist and how they got there.
Same goes for the ones on her thighs from the rubber bands.
No one knows my girl needs a little pain to get off, and I will keep it that way.
She sips her champagne, and I know she’s dying for a shot of vodka or whiskey.
“Anyone seen Tyson?” Saint asks the table.
“No,” Haidyn answers before turning to say something to his wife.
“They’re running a little late.” I feel Eve stiffen when Ashtyn speaks. “Lake messaged me twenty minutes ago.”
Adam told me that Eve was in Vegas helping him spy on Ashtyn, but Eve doesn’t know that I’m aware of that.
I know what I saw the few weeks that Saint and I were there spying on Ashtyn. It makes me wonder what Eve saw. Did she dance at Glass? Was she working as a Queen at Kingdom?
Adam is so deep in another world that I can’t help but think Eve was too.
Especially now that I know what she does for Adam.
He asked her if the guy the other night had raped her.
How many have succeeded? How close has she been to death because she’s willing to put her life on the line to take out one piece of shit?
She has to quit. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I love how fierce she is, but at some point, she’s got to step back. I can’t have her out here risking her life.
My wife will be at home, waiting for me to return from a long day of work. Not out and half naked in a run-down motel with another man who thinks he’s going to get lucky.
Call it sexist if you want; it is what it is. She’s fucking mine. I’ve claimed her, and I will take care of mine in every aspect of her life. I don’t want her sexting another Lord in hopes of setting him up so she can shoot the bastard.
“There you are,” Saint says, and I look up to see Tyson and Laikyn step up to the table.
“Sorry.” Lake gives a nervous smile, dropping her hand to her growing belly.
“What’s up, bitches?” Sin walks up to the table with Ellington, and I let go of Eve’s hand to greet him.
Elli glares at me like I’m still the most hated person on her long list. I introduce her to Eve when she says. “We’ve met.” Her voice is flat, but she smiles at Eve as they strike up a conversation about their dresses.
At least she likes her.
We’ve been here for over an hour. Bill made a toast to his wife and thanked us all for coming.
I kept my eyes on Sin the entire time. He seems to be accepting his new stepfather better than he was when he first found out.
Either he’s decided to kill the man in his sleep or he’s going to let his mother be happy. Only time will tell.
Everett gets my attention when she stands from her seat. I do the same, taking her hand. “Everything okay?”
She frowns but answers. “I need to use the restroom.”
“I’ll take you.” I escort her out of the ballroom and down the hallway.
“Kash, I know where the restroom is.” Eve gives a small laugh, and I ignore her.
She’s my girl. My responsibility. I’m not going to leave her alone here.
Or anywhere, for that matter. Bill kept it on the smaller side and only invited around a hundred Lords to the reception.
How many among those here have seen her on the Dollhouse videos that Adam and Bill are searching for?
How many have raped her that she doesn’t remember? I won’t take that chance.
Stopping in front of the door, I push it open for her.
She places her hands on my face and leans in, giving me a quick thank-you kiss, then disappears into the women’s restroom.
I don’t think she meant to do it, but I’ll take it. She’s coming around to the idea of us.
Leaning against the wall next to the door, I shove my hands into the pockets of my dress slacks. A Lord walks down the hallway and nods at me, and I do the same. His dark eyes slide to the women’s bathroom before he enters the door across from me for the men’s.
Everett exits and I push away. I take her hand, and we return to the ballroom in silence. The only people at our table are Saint and Ashtyn. They’re in their chairs facing one another and look like they are in a deep conversation.
I feel Eve slow down, and I decide to head to the dance floor instead. I don’t know anything about her and Ashtyn, but I want to keep them separated until I do. I’m going to defend my girl, no matter the situation between them.
“What are we doing?” she whispers in my ear.
Pulling her to the center, I turn to face her. “Dancing,” I answer.
She lets out a huff before her green eyes quickly scan the room.
EVERETT
“I Found” by Amber Run filters through the speakers in the ballroom as Kashton takes my hands.
I’m nervous. Afraid all eyes will be on us.
“Eyes on me, angel,” Kashton says softly in my ear.
Looking at him, a calmness washes over me. It shouldn’t be like this. Him and me. I tell myself I’m supposed to hate him, but even I know my past isn’t his fault.
Every woman here tonight is a Lord’s whore. Each one might church it up as a Lady, but she still belongs to him. He’ll decide tonight if his cock is the only one that fucks her.
I have to remind myself that I’m not Kashton’s Lady. I can walk away at any time if I want. This isn’t a death sentence. It’s fun and harmless.
For now.
How long until it turns deadly? Everything with the Lords does eventually. I’m not new to this.
“Eve?”
“Hmm?” I blink.
Kashton gives me a smile, pulling me closer with his arm tightening around my waist. Goose bumps break out along my exposed skin. “Let it go, angel,” he whispers in my ear. “Whatever it is…I’m right here.”
He reads me so well. I was never able to hide.
My face shows my emotions all too well. Is “I’m right here” supposed to mean something?
I can’t allow myself to let my guard down.
Not like he wants. It’s not who I am. Too many years of abuse and manipulation have taught me to never trust another person. No matter how much I crave that.
I’ve always wanted someone to put me first. To let me shut off my mind and lead me. But I know how that ends—me in chains and drugged. I’m an adult, so I have to step up and do it myself.
The song comes to an end, and he kisses my cheek before he pulls me off the dance floor. He strikes up a conversation with Sin while we make our way back to the table, but I spot my father. “I’ll be right there,” I announce and pull away from Kashton before he can stop me.
“Eve.” Bill smiles at me as I approach.
I walk right into his open arms and feel a knot form in my throat. They’re not all bad.
“Hello, Dad,” I say, pulling away. “Where is Janice?” I ask quickly, glancing around. I notice that Kashton didn’t return to the table. Instead, he’s standing right where I left him, still talking to Sin. His eyes on me.
“She went to the restroom.”
I frown. Must have just missed her.
“I know she’d love to speak to you,” he adds. “She also wants to get some photos of all of us together.”
Photos? I’ve never taken family photos before. It feels so weird to be a part of this. To be included in something so simple yet important at the same time. “Of course,” I tell him.
“I see you’re here with Kashton,” he says, looking over my shoulder at him behind me.
“Yeah,” I say nervously. Not like I can hide it. This is what Kash wanted to do—parade me around as his. Show me off.
Bill’s eyes find mine and his smile grows. “It’s okay to be happy, Eve.”
My pulse races at his words, but a man walks up behind him, and my dad turns to greet him.
“Father.” My body goes rigid at the sound of the voice, and I drop my eyes to the floor.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Bill growls softly, stepping in front of me.
“I’m assuming my invitation was lost in the mail.”
“You’re assuming wrong. Leave.”
“Hey, sis.” I look up at him as he sidesteps Bill. “It’s been too long.” The Lord goes to step toward me, but Bill places a hand on his chest, stopping him.
“Get the fuck out of here, or I’ll have you killed where you stand,” Bill threatens. When the Lord doesn’t respond, he adds, “We had a deal.”
I frown. What deal is he talking about?
His dark eyes go from mine to Bill’s before returning to mine. “I’ll be seeing you.” With that, he turns and walks off the dance floor.
Bill faces me, placing his hands on my upper arms, and I jump. He drops them immediately. “Eve, I didn’t know—”
“It’s fine,” I interrupt him. My dad has no clue that the Lord made an appearance at my house the other night, and I want to keep it that way.
Taking a quick look over my shoulder, I see Kashton heading straight for us. His eyes on the back of the Lord disappearing into the crowd. I look at my dad and speak quickly. “I need a favor.”
“Anything.”