Page 80 of Shattered Veil
But I’m not rude to women. I gently take the hand off my shoulder and after a squeeze, I return it at her side to remind her: Do. Not. Fucking. Touch. Me.
Not sure why she thought a gala would change that.
“Balor.” She bats jet-black fake eyelashes at me. “It’s been so long.”
And there’s a reason for that. I wasn’t short of female company since the last time we were together. I don’t go back for seconds, and she wasn’t enough for me to break that exception.
Only Ella was.
“I’ve been busy,” I say with a sting in my voice.
Lachlan chuckles under his breath and strolls away, gliding like a goddamn panther. Impressive for his size.
Petra doesn’t give him a second glance, playing her cards perfectly. Women can’t help but stare at Lach, whether it’s fear, lust, or some sick combination of both. He kept many beds warm for years until he developed a thing for Katya. A fascination we never knew about until he crashed her wedding and killed the groom.
“I’ll be done with Ares Zervas at the end of this month,” Petra tells me.
Ares’ name gives me pause. The head of the Greek Mafia strolled in here earlier, but I hadn’t noticed Petra on his arm.
And the way she saysdonemakes me sick. I’m well aware the women I screwed had dicks in them right before and right after me. It was part of the kink, the filthy side of me that I indulged for way too long.
I just got fucking lazy.
Paid sex brought temporary relief to the constant tightness in my chest, and I was always planning my next hooker fix. Until my last ‘lady of the night,’ who turned out to be a complete fabrication, but completely banished that loneliness. Now, all I want is Ella.
I lean in close to Petra and her breath hitches, likely hoping I’ll also break the no-kissing rule for her. “Listen to me and take my advice carefully. When you’re done with Ares, I suggest you stay the fuck away from him.”
Zervas is a brutal psychopath. I don’t like Petra, but I don’t hate her. She played her part and doesn’t deserve to be killed sucking Ares’ dick when someone retaliates for his crimes.
“I’m always careful. In fact, I—”
“I’m done talking to you. Walk away and have a good evening.” I level a glare at her.
Stunned, and her throat bobbing in embarrassment, she strides toward Ares, who doesn’t acknowledge her. I’m surprised he’d bring a... Whore... I almost finished the thought, but what does that say about me?
Petra doesn’t take Ares’ hint and loops her arm in his.
Ares may not object to her touching, but the expressions of the men around him change in her presence. It’s subtle as fuck, but I see it.
And it sickens me to think if anyone saw me with Petra or any woman like her, that was how they looked at me when I didn’t notice.
With the cocktail hour winding down, the flow of guests slows to a trickle from the entrance. A shock of dark hair and a thick white beard catches my eyes and Ismirk.
Corvin took the bait. Not bait in the way that I plan to out him, but he’s soaking up the royal treatment. I’m laying it on thick to get him comfortable, so he lets his guard down.
I briefed my brothers that I sent him an invite and passed around a photo of what he looked like. I asked them kindly to not only hide the shock of seeing him on their faces, but also not to lunge for the guy.
That request was directed at Lachlan mostly and my exact words were:Don’t shoot the fucker on sight.
They have to trust me. Shane’s specialty team is tracking everything he does. If Shane, who’s as good as me, maybe even better in some areas, is making sure this guy doesn’t fuck with anything of ours, I sleep better at night.
Not that I’m sleeping again. Despite what I take. It’s torture dragging my ass out of bed because Ella isn’t there. I’ve grown so reliant on her.
The best I’ve felt and the most productive I’ve been recently was waking up every day to her gentle nudges on my shoulders. The instant shot of energy made me soar every morning—but along with that, I had the burning need to pull her into bed and fuck her.
One day this week, my housekeeper found me passed out in my bed at noon. Which startled the fuck out of me, and her, because the sheets were gone. I was naked and hard.
I’m ready to greet Corvin when I spot a slender figure in a pale green satin gown on his arm.