Chapter Fifteen
We arrived at Nirvana Gallery and were met by a sea of faces. Most of them I didn’t recognize or want to be bothered interacting with. Evelyn had taken care of the guest list, with my only input being my brothers and Noah. The mass of people staring at us when we entered all blurred into one. There was no point trying to pinpoint a familiar friendly face as Evelyn’s friend and owner of the gallery worked alongside Olivia in announcing our arrival to the crowd.
Mr. and Mrs. Dade.
Cheers of excitement, looks of not-so-subtle doubt and suspicion, and flashes of cameras followed us for at least an hour before I couldn’t stick the feeling of my skin on fire and my own heartbeat violently thrumming in my ears.
There were too many people.
Too many voices.
And they all were pointed directly at me.
They all wanted to shake my hand, slap me on the back, and question me about the articles relating to Reynolds—as if the man sitting in a wheelchair struggling to breathe without equipment wasn’t proof enough.
Fucking hell, I hated events. I hated everything about them.
Everyone was fake. The smiles they plastered on their faces and the way they pretended to care about each other when the reality was they were simply waiting for each other’s failures.
Their fake sweet pretense left a sickening taste in my mouth.
If it weren’t for Evelyn at my side, I don’t believe I would have lasted as long as I did. Usually, my temper got the better of me in those situations. Evelyn, on the other hand, was a complete pro at talking to the guests, offering them the perfect close-lipped smile, nodding along as they spoke their horseshit, and turning a blind eye to those trying to see if there was a hidden baby bump under her dress.
She stood by my side, her arm intertwined with my arm, while she flourished before me.
If she noticed my disdain or lack of comfort she kept it to herself, opting to speak for us both and cleverly steering away any conversation that might require my input. A strange spark of warmth attempted to set ablaze in my chest as she acted like a barrier, my blockade from the constant questioning.
These people were like frenzied sharks, chomping at the bit to find out every detail about our hidden love affair, and why we married in secret.
It was public knowledge that I never wanted a marriage.
I never wanted a wife.
Yet here I was, standing beside the red-haired siren wearing my last name.
I found a perfect hiding spot, close to a painting that was a wash of black, white, and oozing red in the middle. The entire gallery was decorated with black backdrops, glistening floating lights to resemble consolations, and night star-filled skies projected on the ceilings.
Music flowed from the live musicians in a corner of the room, mixing with the general buzz of conversation—an assault to my senses. It’s amazing how easy it was to take silence for granted, but right now, I longed for it.
Hell, I’d take sitting in the house listening to that gray fluff-ball purr all day over all this.
A server dressed in all silver walked past with a tray of champagne and bourbon. Greedily, I snatched two bourbons and downed one without it touching the sides of my mouth.
I found little solace whenever my youngest brother found my hiding spot with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
“Hell must have finally frozen over.” Olivier clapped my shoulder. “Jax finally found a woman who can tolerate his constant scowls and broodiness long enough to convince her to marry him. How did you pull that one off?”
“Fuck off.”
“It’s good to see that stick Freddie wedged firmly up your ass is still there.” He nudged my shoulder. I was one second away from ripping my own limb off and bludgeoning him with it.
“Why are you here? I thought you were still traveling?”
“You really thought I’d give up my chance at getting my hands on free food and drink?” Olivier grinned. “I got back last week, wanted to make sure I got enrolled in my final year on time. Plus, it’s not like your big brother goes behind his family’s back and marries a woman none of us have met before every day of the week.”
I knocked back my other glass.
Of my three brothers, Olivier was the one I tolerated the most. He was the youngest, a mere baby when our maman died. Frederic was too consumed by his anger, and Elliott was busy being independent as always, so I felt it was my responsibility to take care of Olivier.
“Why didn’t I get an invite to the actual wedding?” Olivier grabbed another two glasses from a server. “I swear to god, if you tell me that Freddie was there and not me, I am going to lose my freaking mind.”
Another glass down the hatch. “He wasn’t there. No one was.”
His brow creased. “I get we aren’t the tightest of families, Jax, but you seriously went and got married without a single one of your brothers? Without even telling me? I had to find out through an invite your wife sent.” He pressed his lips flat. “I’m not going to lie, it stung.”
If we brothers were the seasons, Olivier was summer. He shone the brightest. His bubbly nature and positive attitude contrasted against the rest of us.
In my opinion, he was the best of us.
Seeing him upset was a blunt dagger between the ribs.
“It was an in-the-moment decision,” I lied. I spent my whole life shielding Olivier from our family’s ugliness and harsh truths. I wasn’t about to stop that now. “We were too wrapped up in ourselves to think about anyone else.”
Olivier hummed, lightness creeping back into his face. “Love will do that to you.” Running a hand across his hairless jaw, he nodded. “I’m happy for you, brother. You deserve to be happy. I was always worried spending all your time with Freddie was going to morph you into a massive douchebag like him.”
Frederic’s inability to show any emotion other than anger or indifference to those behind closed doors meant he only was able to maintain a connection with one of his brothers.
Lucky me.
“Speaking of.” Olivier’s gray eyes scanned the room. “Where is our emotionally stunted big brother?”
“In Monaco, handling that shit show of a situation he’s gotten himself in.”
“I see.” My brother frowned. “I’m guessing she won’t back down?”
I shook my head.
“Between me and you, do you really think she’s being unreasonable? Freddie is cold, like a deep arctic cold. I don’t think he is capable of looking after anyone but himself.”
“It’s not our problem.” My eyes instantly landed on Evelyn. She was making a piss poor attempt at pretending not to watch me while engaged in conversation with someone. “All you need to worry about is finishing your studies.”
My wife finally stopped pretending. Green eyes locking onto me, she mouthed the words ‘save me’ as the woman she talked to turned her back.
A rumble of a chuckle passed my lips.
“She’s way out of your league, Jax.” Olivier followed my gaze. “When are you going to introduce me to my new sister?”
Seizing the opportunity of Evelyn finally standing on her own, I guided Olivier to her, careful not to touch the shoulders of the passing bodies who’d taken to start dancing.
“Evelyn, this is mon frère, Olivier.”
A flash of green coated my sight as she awarded him a genuine grin.
The brightness and joy of her true smile rivaled the sun itself.
“All my friends call me Olly.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” she replied, offering him her hand. Another wave of eye-stabbing green rolled through me as Olivier pushed her hand away and threw his arms around her. She stood off guard for a beat before returning the embrace with a hearty giggle. “Well, aren’t you just the sweetest?”
They hugged as if they were fucking long-lost friends.
“Are your other brothers here?” she asked. “I’d love to say hello to them.”
I shook my head. “They sent their regards.”
“We don’t need them here, not when you have the best two Dade brothers right here. Now, bring it in, brother.” Olivier tried to loop his arm with mine. I stepped back, bumping into someone dancing, and instantly recoiled. Why did I agree to this party? Whose bright idea was it again?
I was so fucking on edge, I wanted to break something.
And more importantly, why the hell were the two of them still hugging?
“You don’t like crowds,” Evelyn stated, breaking away from Olivier.
“Not particularly,” I said tightly.
“Talk about an understatement,” Olivier chimed in. “Remember that time in school, the teacher made you try out for the rugby team? The second they all got into a scrum together, Jax lost it. Grand-mère lost her shit when they sent you home for getting into a fistfight with three of the boys.” Olivier shook his head, laughing. “Poor bastard came home with a broken nose that day.”
The slight bump in the bridge of my nose thrummed with the memory. “I was severely outnumbered.”
“Didn’t stop you trying to fight them all at once.” Olivier grinned. “Pretty sure the teacher said it took another four boys to pull you off one of them. And that, my dear new sister, was the last time Jax played any sports.”
Evelyn’s eyebrows flew up. “What age were you?”
My jaw clenched. “Twelve.”
“Not a team player kind of guy, huh?”
“I prefer the comfort and silence of solitude.”
“I get that. I never was any good at team sports either, or well, any sports for that matter,” she said. “Every time we had gym class, my period magically arrived.”
“None of your teachers thought to question you?”
She chuckled. “They couldn’t disprove it. I’d fake stomach cramps, headaches, you name it. Whatever it took to get out of any physical activity. Being sweaty and out of breath, it’s not for me.”
Images of her skin blotchy red, her chest rising and falling between whimpered moans, sweat coating her slender neck and dripping between her thighs sent my mind and cock into overdrive.
“What about now?” I chuckled at the confusion lacing her features. “Do you still avoid all physical activity?” I drew out the last words with an amused smirk.
“I’m sure there are some physical activities I could see myself enjoying.” A playfulness sparked to life in her gaze. “But it would have to be something worthwhile getting hot and sweaty for.”
“Dear god, get a room.” Olivier rolled his eyes with a smirk before vanishing into the crowd, seeking out the latest trays of food being served.
“Tell me.” She tapped her finger against her chin, the picture of false innocence. “Do you know of any activities that might be worth getting sweaty and out of breath for?”
I stepped toward her just as another dancing couple came close to brushing against me. Evelyn reacted by placing herself at my side and allowing them to graze against her exposed arm.
“Do you want to step outside?” She looked up with concern from between thick lashes. “Take a breather from all this?”
I shook my head despite being far away from the sounds and people being the only thing I truly wanted. Instead, I placed a hand on her lower back, the outline of her lace bodysuit teasing the tips of my fingers through her dress. “Non, I’m okay right here.”
Her teeth skimmed along her bottom lip as she fought back a smile. “I didn’t get the chance to say earlier, but you look quite handsome tonight.”
“Merci. You don’t look half bad yourself, douceur.”
Her blossoming smile betrayed her tone. “What did I tell you about calling me that?”
A flash of a camera created spots in my vision. A photographer from one of the many publications Evelyn and her father invited pointed a camera in our faces. “That’s a cracker shot.” The photographer grinned. “How about we get the prize-winning shot we’re all waiting for? Go on and give your wife a big old kiss. Don’t be scared to get your tongues involved.”
Annoyance washed over me like skin-burning acid.
“Tony, don’t be so damn rude.” Evelyn waved him off before I reacted. “Who even let you in here? It was invite-only, and I specifically didn’t invite you or whatever trash of a magazine you’re working for these days.”
Ah, of course. Tony Sherrin. Photographer for the celebrity gossip magazines that had little to no real factual information in them, only bullshit speculation and unflattering photos of the people he ambushed.
“I’m just here to do my job.” Tony grinned. “Now, where were we? Don’t be shy.”
Evelyn rolled her eyes. “I don’t have time for you. Enjoy the free shrimp, Tony.” She stepped away, my body tensing from the lack of her contact. “I’m going to go and check on my dad.”
We both watched her walk away. The allure of her hips and ass had me in some sort of trance. That dress, that lace underwear beneath it. It—non, she was driving me to insanity.
“Fucking hell, man.” Tony’s eyes were pinned on my wife’s ass. He was seconds away from having his eyeballs permanently removed from his skull. “You realize how lucky you are? She’s a tiger if you know what I mean?”
Red clouded my sight.
“We all thought she was on course to marry Laurence,” Tony, blind to my growing rage, continued. “He’s a good man, Laurence. One of my best pals. She was heartbroken when he called off their wedding.”
How bad would it be to ram his own camera down his worthless throat?
Tony finally stopped staring at Evelyn. “They were the perfect match. Blue-eyed wonder boy and stunning heiress. Picture perfect pairing.” He nudged his elbow with mine. “Laurence always did say she was a true redhead. Fiery temper on the streets and in the sheets.”
I had to stop myself from grabbing him by the throat as I gripped his wrist.
He winced.
The feel of his bones beneath my touch—it was too tempting not to break them.
He went to speak, but I twisted his wrist sharply. “Don’t make a sound. Just listen, or I’ll break it. You so much as look at my wife again, and I will enjoy cutting your shriveled dick off and feeding it to you.”
He swallowed loudly. “I didn’t…”
“Stop. I don’t want to hear you speak.” I silenced him with another twist. “You ever come near her again, and I’ll kill you. And trust me, I’ll take great pleasure in doing so. Do you understand?”
He nodded.
“Good,” I snarled, letting him go. “Get the fuck out of here before I shove that camera so far up your ass that your shits will have their own paparazzi.”
He ran away with his tail between his legs.
Silence fell over the room, everyone turning to the raised platform, where the silver and black frosted wedding cake sat, to watch Evelyn and Flynn wheel their father up.
“Time for the most important speech a father can make in his life,” Lexington’s voice echoed throughout the gallery. He sounded stronger. How much pain relief did they have to pump him with? “When Evelyn first told me…”
I stopped focusing, unable to look away from Evelyn standing at her father’s side. Tears frosted her eyes as she held his hand, her strong demeanor crumbling with each loving and doting word.
This was the moment I’d been waiting for. Lexington was about to relinquish total control to his daughter, and hand me everything I needed to take him down.
Yet, I couldn’t think straight.
Curiosity was a killer of a thing. It worked its way under my skin and buried itself deep into my ribcage so that with each breath, all I could feel was the stabbing of another man’s name.
Laurence.
I knew she was engaged before I came into her life, but I was unaware what transpired between them. Was she still in love with him? Was she truly heartbroken when she married me? Did she not realize that the wedding ring on her hand now meant she was mine?
More importantly, why did I care so fucking much?