31. Grey #2
“Was that planned?” Andre snagged a drink from one of the trays. His was an actual cocktail, but he swallowed it like a shot. “That was too rehearsed. A perfect excuse for why we would be safe with you.”
“It was discussed how we would handle it if you came to my side. You’re welcome, by the way.
Now you can mingle among the crowd without fear he’ll shoot you.
” He leaned down and grazed his nose along Amorette’s hair.
Matías was enjoying this too much. No matter what he said, this wasn’t all for show.
Amorette didn’t pay him any attention, though. She scanned the room constantly, and her gaze landed on Vicente more than a few times. What was Wicked Little Love up to?
“This is nice. The asshole who’s not even part of our group has his hands all over Little Love, and I can barely get the time of day from her.” Parker gripped the edge of the table as he also searched the room.
“Parker…” Amorette warned, now paying attention to our table.
“What? It’s true, isn’t it? I’ve tried to woo you the way a woman would appreciate, and you keep tossing my efforts back in my face.
Yet, this fuckwad,” Parker jerked his thumb at Matías, “he says he has to claim you at a party, and you ask no questions. You follow his lead blindly, even when he gropes your ass. Just tell me if you don’t want me.
I can take it.” He leaned so close their noses almost touched.
“Parker,” Andre barked, drawing a few people's eyes in the crowd. “Not here.”
“Why not here?” He turned to Andre, even with his face still close to hers. “If she doesn’t want me, then I should be able to do what I want, right?”
Matías looked uncomfortable but didn’t pull away from her. Instead, he pressed closer, like he could offer her some comfort to Parker being an ass.
Amorette’s mouth dropped open from shock. She hadn’t seen the obnoxious side of Parker. Only the crazy one, and that was somehow easier to stomach.
“I’ve practically been a saint waiting for her. If she doesn’t want me, then fuck it.”
With the worst timing, Mia pushed through the crowd with determined eyes set on Parker. He clocked her and chuckled under his breath as he pulled away.
“You know, I’ve never fucked Mia. She was my friend, and I didn’t want to do that to her. It seems she’s fucked everyone else. Did you know, Little Love, that my favorite thing is to get off in public?”
When Mia was within reaching distance, he caught her shoulders and started pushing her to the ground. She struggled at first but sighed and let him direct her. “This isn’t why I found you, Parker.”
“Isn’t it? You know what would make me forgive you? Suck me off, right here. Then I’ll let you fill my ears with lies like you’ve been dying to for weeks.” He used one hand to unbuckle his belt.
Amorette didn’t say anything to stop it, which was precisely what Parker wanted. He needed to know there was some kind of connection between them, and she wasn’t giving it to him.
Then again, he wasn’t looking at her. Her face was ashen and her hand trembled as she brought it to her mouth. Wicked Little Love was devastated by his idiocy but wouldn’t admit it.
Sighing, I cracked my fingers. I liked it much better when she was only mine.
"Is that what it’s going to take? A blow job?” Mia snapped. “Fine. What the fuck is a blow job? It’s nothing. Then you’re going to leave with me so I can tell you what I’ve found.” She reached for his zipper.
Were we really going to let this happen? Parker was the one who brought up the idea of sharing Amorette in the first place. Andre was just the fucker who beat him to it.
I moved away from the table to stop him, just as Lafe beat me to it. “Get the fuck out of here, Mia.” He shoved Parker so hard that he stumbled back a few steps. “You can come by tomorrow. Right now, we need you to leave. And you,” he stabbed a finger in Parker’s chest, “stop being a skitstovel.”
Mia made an ugly noise in the back of her throat and jumped to her feet.
“You are all ridiculous. I’ve been in your corner since we were kids.
Either learn to have a little trust or learn to die alone.
Because that’s what’s going to happen. You will all die.
” She stomped away, heading straight for the door.
“I need a few minutes,” Amorette said shakily, moving Matías back. He tried to follow her, but she shook her head. “We made enough of a spectacle that I should be safe for a few minutes, right?”
Andre and Matías exchanged a glance. Then Matías nodded. “If you stay in this room. Do not leave it. If someone grabs you, scream.”
She had the tracker, so we could find her no matter where she was taken.
“You have your phone?” I asked. That way she could find us if she needed to, not that I would be moving my ass from this spot. Tonight I refused to take any chances.
“Yes.” She patted her chest because she’d stuffed it between her tits. “I just need a breather.” With one last look at Parker, she turned and moved through the crowd. They didn’t part for her, but they didn’t stand in her way, either.
As soon as she was out of earshot, I turned to Parker. “What the fucking hell was that?”
He tried to walk off after Amorette, but Lafe caught his shoulders again. He shrugged him off and backed up a few steps. “I needed to know if she felt anything at all.”
“You mean you needed to stroke your pride since she’s bruised it.” Andre spun the empty glass on the table, scowling at the water print it left behind.
“Well, if she felt something, it will be a long time before she forgets the sight of you shoving Mia to her knees.” Lafe looked at Parker like he couldn’t believe he’d done that.
Hell, I could believe it.
“You wanted us to share her? You’re doing a hell of a job to convince her otherwise,” Andre continued to lecture him.
I turned to search for Amorette, but she wasn’t anywhere close by. Then I saw it.
“Oh, fuck.”
The others snapped their heads around, looking for whatever had me cursing. Amorette was being led up to the dais by one of the women. Vicente must have seen she was alone and sent someone for her.
As soon as her feet hit the steps, Vicente stood and motioned for her to follow him with another girl, one from the Gallery.
A rare shot of fear slithered up my spine. Amorette was tough. She’d survive whatever Vicente dished out at her. But I didn’t want her to have to. My feet started moving before I realized I was on my way to her.
My brothers were right there beside me.
“Like hell is he going to take her,” Andre growled.
“I’ll get her,” Matías said with just as much rage, but there was a thread of hesitance too. Had he ever gone up against Vicente? If he couldn’t, he needed to get the fuck out of the way.
They were gone before we got three steps into the crowd. We were all on Matías’ heels, racing toward the back door that Vicente had led Amorette through. I’d never been to this mansion, but I wouldn’t doubt there were rooms back there for men to take the girls when they wanted a quick fuck.
I palmed my knife as red clouded the edge of my vision. I’d brought the serrated one tonight. It didn’t matter what repercussions there would be. The number of guards who would try and defend him was inconsequential. Between my brothers and me, they were nothing. Wastes of space to cut down.
As soon as I was close enough, I would gut Vicente from the groin to neck for daring to touch what was mine.
Ours.
Feet from the dais and muted screams were just loud enough to be heard over the music. Then the girl he’d taken with Amorette burst through the door, blood drenching her skin.
“He’s dead! He’s dead! The girl killed him!” She held her hands out as tears streamed down her face.
Valentina shot to her feet, and the soldiers along the wall ran to the door. The girl could only mean Amorette.
But only some of the men went to the hall. Several began to surround us.
Not us, just me and my three brothers. They allowed Matías through.
We wouldn’t be able to make it to her before Vicente’s men took her.
I exchanged glances with my Andre, then Lafe and Parker. If they wanted a fight, they’d get one.
Raising my knife, I arced it down across a soldier’s chest.
Wicked Love, we’re coming for you.