Page 77 of Sinner's Storm
“Then why is everyone dressed in either black or white?”
“Because it’s a black and white affair.”
“I’m wearing red, Jason.”
“I know.” He smirked.
“I’m going to stand out.”
“Exactly.”
“Take me home. I don’t want to be here.”
Pocketing his phone, he turned to me. “Delany, you are my wife. The mother of my daughter. I wouldn’t change a single thing about what you are wearing, and if this stuffy crowd can’t take the heat, then they need to get the fuck out of the fire. ‘Cause, babe, you are fucking hot in that damn dress.”
“Everyone is going to stare at me.”
“Let them. These cockroaches wouldn’t know genuine beauty if it slapped them in their face. All they care about is their money. Not you. Never you. You have more self-respect, more class in your pinky than these vultures.”
The car stopped.
It was our turn.
Kissing my hands, Jason winked at me before exiting the vehicle as a wave of blinding light blanketed the car. Scooting over, I looked up to find his hand. Taking it, I allowed Jason to help me from the vehicle. Expecting the same bombardment, I was surprised when all I heard was silence and a few gasps. Looking up, I saw everyone staring at me in awe. Then the deluge of cameras roared to life as people screamed, shouted, and called out questions. Ignoring them all, Jason held my hand as he wrapped his other arm around my waist, escorting me up the steps.
By the time we were inside the museum, I found myself surrounded by several men, all dressed in black tuxedos. Seeing a familiar face, I finally took a deep breath.
“Damn, Delany, that is some dress,” Mercy said, leaning close to kiss my cheek as his wife Largo winked at me, raising a glass of champagne in salute.
“Gonna have the city talking about that dress for years.” Fury grinned, while he took his time looking me up and down.
When Jason told me about the event, I told him I didn’t know anything about buying a dress for a high society event. So he told me he would take care of it. Trusting him, I was a bit taken back when the dress arrived the next day, couriered over from one of the city’s most famous designers. However, when I saw the dress itself, I thought Jason was joking. I’d never worn anything so revealing before. Fire-engine red and made of one hundred percent silk, the dress was open in the back, with two straps crisscrossed over my shoulders, allowing the fabric to drape extremely low against my back, hovering just about an inch from my ass. The front was just as revealing as the straps widened only enough to cover my chest, dipping down to my navel. The dress spoke for itself and didn’t need any flashy adornments. I chose to wear a simple pair of diamond studs in my ears and my wedding ring. My long hair was artfully twisted and coiffed up top my head, letting everyone get the full experience of the red dress.
Looking at Jason, he smirked. “What? I like the color red.”
“We know,” several of the brothers groaned.
Taking my arm, Jason led me into the ballroom with a smile on his face.
The ballroom was enormous.
The entryway, adorned in fake foliage with twinkling lights, gave the place a whimsical look, almost like I was walking into some fantasyland.
And in a way, I was.
Because this reality was nothing like the world I lived in. Walking into the room, I noticed the high, mirrored ceilings, darkened as if I was staring directly at the night sky, making the room feel as if I were in some enchanted forest, instead of a museum. Everything about the room gave off the illusion of a dreamy, starry night.
Kids ran around laughing and giggling as bubbles floated around them and parents watched on happily.
“I didn’t know there would be kids here.”
Largo smiled, standing next to me. “Just until the opening ceremony. A lot of surviving parents can’t afford childcare, so the charity provides a child-friendly party for the kids upstairs, so the adults can enjoy themselves. This night is about them, too. They just don’t need to be reminded of what they lost. Right now, they just need to be kids.”
“That’s nice.” I grinned when a little boy ran past, chasing another boy.
“Come on, sweetie, let’s go find our seats.”
Nodding, I walked arm in arm with Largo as Jason and Mercy followed, talking amongst themselves.