68. Cassandra Walker
Imade sure we arrived at the venue fashionably late. My hope was that by the time we got there, most of the higher-profile guests would have already been inside, and we’d be less likely to be swarmed by the press as we entered.
As much as I wanted the whole world to see Theo on my arm, I didn’t want to overwhelm her, and I wasn’t sure how she would react to being mobbed by the media.
Theodora was an introvert and a homebody. When she wasn’t training, she was more than happy to just chill in our condo playing her games all day until I came home, so I was worried she’d balk at all the attention I knew she would draw just by showing up as my partner.
I needn’t have worried.
As we stepped out of the car I’d ordered to take us to the event, Theo casually slipped her hands into her pockets and flashed that sexy, lazy grin she used on me all the time when we first met.
Christ.
She was just so fucking… cool.
This was how she always used to be with me before she’d moved in. Which is why I’d been so surprised to find that deep down, Theo had more demons than I fucking did.
She’d always come off as this smooth, calm, unbothered person before I’d really had the chance to get to know her, and I realized with a start that this was her version of a mask.
That suave, lazy smirk of hers and the calm, confident swagger that seemed to come as naturally to her as breathing… It was all a show.
It was a form of armor, and the fact that I hadn’t seen this version of her in weeks meant that she felt safe enough to show me who she really was underneath all that practiced confidence.
Theo had dropped her mask with me a long time ago, and I hadn’t even noticed.
As the realization rolled through me, I felt my breath catch.
It felt like a privilege.
An honor, and something I was desperate to never fuck up.
Cameras flashed, and reporters shoved recording devices and microphones over the roped-off barricade that lined the literal red carpet Alyssa had ordered to line the entrance to the venue.
Theo smiled easily at the shouting mob of reporters, leaning in close to the ones she deemed worthy of engagement.
I stood, dazzled, as she answered questions with short, pithy answers that had reporters literally laughing out loud.
Every time she winked at someone, I watched stars shoot from their eyes, and a twinge of jealousy nipped through my chest at how quickly she had everyone eating out of her palm.
She didn’t just look like a movie star, she was acting like one too… and it was so fucking hot.
The problem was, I wasn’t the only one who thought so, and it was pissing me the fuck off.
It was so clear to me as I watched her that almost every person behind the barricade wanted her, and if they didn’t, they wanted to be her.
Irritation stirred in my gut, and I forgot for a moment that I was surrounded by dozens of cameras, and I needed to fix my face.
‘No need to be jealous, little killer. She is ours. And after this, the whole world will know if they didn’t already.’
Forcing myself to outwardly smile, I told my monster to shut up as I stalked over to take my place next to Theo. Shamelessly, I tucked my arm around her elbow and flashed a bright, confident smile for the cameras.
“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” I crooned, and the reporters all chattered in agreement, barking more questions at us as we posed so they could take their pictures.
“Yes. She’s amazing, and all mine.” I shot them all a lethal grin before turning to Theo and kissing her firmly on the lips.
Theo’s eyes widened in surprise before she smiled against me and melted into it, making it clear to everyone watching who it was she belonged to.
The crowd went wild, and there was a flurry of clicks and flashes as they all tried to capture the moment before it was over.
Mine.
All. Fucking. Mine.