CHAPTER THIRTY
Everly descends the stairs, a vision in a black dress that clings to her like second skin. Her hair flows over her shoulders and down her back in loose curls. She smiles at me, confident, yet a bit shy.
Honestly, I’m surprised she’s smiling at all with the way I behaved this afternoon.
“You look beautiful,” I say, holding my hand out to her. She takes it and joins me. I brush my lips over her knuckles, wishing I had jewelry to give her. “I can’t imagine there will be anyone at this event that could rival you.”
Pursing her lips a little, she raises a brow. “Putting it on a little thick to make up for earlier?”
“Am I that transparent?”
“Now you are.” She fiddles with my bow tie.
“Earlier, I was not myself,” I admit.
“No, you were every man that’s ever been grumpy, hungry, and tired all at the same time,” she replies playfully. Standing on her toes, she bites my earlobe. “And very, very jealous.”
Automatically, I turn my head to give her better access. “Tell me how I can make it up to you?”
“Good God. Would the two of you behave like adults?” Ben says, walking into the foyer. We break apart, like illicit lovers caught in the act. “You can kiss and make babies after the charity event.”
“Do you forgive me?” I ask her, gazing into her eyes.
She smiles and kisses me softly, paying Ben’s fake groans of outrage no mind. “Yes.”
Turning, I pick up the folded silk shawl from a nearby table. “I know it’s not jewels, but I thought you would like to wear this shawl to the party tonight.”
“It’s beautiful,” she breathes, as I drape it around her bare shoulders. She touches the fringe that is shot through with gold thread. “But when did you have time to buy it?”
I rub the back of my neck. “While I was working out some issues, I ran into town.” Literally ran to the nearest town, as in, on foot.
“Isn’t this special,” Ben says, stepping between us and tucking Everly’s hand into the crook of his elbow. “So very special and dear that I just can’t wait to hear every single detail in the car.”
Everly casts an amused glance over her shoulder. But while I allow him to run his mouth, I will not allow him to escort my woman.
I grab Ben’s shoulder and squeeze. “Perhaps Everly should walk with me. I would hate it if she tripped and you got your arse kicked.” Winking at Everly, I take her from Ben and put her where she belongs. Right by my side.
The charity event is in full swing by the time we arrive. Millionaires, billionaires, oil moguls, Hollywood elite, and politicians mingle with local entrepreneurs.
“Is he here?” I murmur to Ben, taking a glass of champagne from a passing server’s tray and handing it to Everly.
“My sources say that he is.”
“As did mine, but things have changed.”
“Sebastian is notoriously punctual. Or is that annoyingly punctual?”
“Holy crap,” Everly says, excited. She downs her drink in one gulp and nearly does a dance. “Ian Romanov is here. Do you think Zoe is, too? I totally want her autograph. Can we deviate from the plan so I can fangirl over her?”
I look across the room, finding the man Everly has mistaken as his brother. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that is not the movie star. It’s his twin brother.”
She pouts a little, adorably so. Then her face grows serious. “His family is rumored to be in the mafia.” Her eyes widen, the black liner making them seem impossibly huge. “Y’all are related, aren’t you?”
“We are.”
“Cousin? Uncle?”
“Grandfather,” Ben supplies with a snort. As discreetly as possible, I step on his shoe and put all my weight on it. “Son of a bitch!”
“I believe you had some reconnaissance to do.”
“Not if my toe’s broken. Damn it, Kolya, grow a sense of humor,” he growls, limping away.
With a slight smile, I turn my attention back to the woman beside me. “Sebastian and Christian are my half-brothers. Only a handful of people, not including them, are aware of this. They both think me their cousin, the son of Vladimir’s middle brother.”
Understanding dawns. “Your own dad wants to kill you?”
“So it seems.”
“Then why are we here, instead of kicking his butt?” She sticks out her leg and lifts the hem of her already short dress. “I’m packing heat. Ben gave me a leg holster and a smaller gun.”
My bloodthirsty, sexy little American. I think I’ll keep you. “Because there is a hit on his son as well, and I need to warn him.”
“Why do you need to do that?” she asks, her breasts rising and falling rapidly. She’s nervous, excited, and afraid. “Can’t Ben send him an email, and we can go home?”
“Remember what I told you about my policy of only killing the bad guys?”
She nods.
“I am the one who has been sent to kill him, yet he is entirely innocent. A bit shady in his dealings, but a blight on mankind—hardly.”
“Can’t you just say no?”
“I did.”
“Why didn’t the financier call it off? Why are we here instead of…instead of…oh God, it’s because of me, isn’t it?”
Silently, I nod. She laces her hand in mine, holding my fingers in a death grip. Her eyes scan the room over and over, like she’s expecting a man with a gun to jump out at us at any moment.
“Everly, we must warn Sebastian. Tonight. Time is running out, and I have no idea if another person has been contacted. Ben is currently in Sebastian’s hotel room, hacking into his laptop for more information.”
“What are you waiting for?” She sets down her empty glass and fluffs her hair. “Introduce me to your cousin.”
Weaving our way through the packed ballroom of the hotel, we finally arrive where Sebastian is sitting. Alone, nursing a drink. Odd considering his reputation with women.
He stares out the open French doors, obviously deep in thought. Everly clears her throat and he turns his pale eyes on us. “Can I help—oh, it’s you. What have I done this time?” he asks, completely unsurprised to see me.
“You haven’t met me, that’s what,” Everly says.
Sebastian sits up a little, leaning forward slightly. “You would be correct.” He stands and takes Everly’s hand. “Are you my present for tonight?”
“Uh…no. Sorry.” Everly smiles, looks up at me for help, and then slowly pulls her hand out of his. “I’m his present.”
His gaze rakes over her. He is very interested in my Everly. “How much?”
“Pardon?” Does he really think she’s an escort?
“How much? I’m happy to compensate her for her time.” He tilts his head to one side. “Is the accent real or affected?”
“Everything about me is real,” Everly snaps.
He laughs. “God, yes. You will do for tonight. Perhaps for longer, since I can’t have her.”
“You can’t have me either.” Everly turns her nose into the air.
Undeterred, Sebastian reaches out and gently grabs a thick lock of hair. “The color’s wrong, but in the dark…” He shakes his head. “What am I thinking, no one could ever be her. No one could ever be Daisy.”
He’s mooning over a damn flower? Just as I am about to break every bone in his hand, Everly smacks it away. “Can I shoot him? I don’t have the same policy as you.”
Forcing down a laugh, I shake my head. “Not this time.”
He sways slightly. “You’ve been sent to kill me? Can I call Daisy first? I need to tell her I’m in love. Me, Sebastian, not Jules. The bastard.”
Shit, he’s drunk, and over a woman named Daisy who’s in love with a bloke named Jules. I’ve seen the same signs of desperation in myself. “No, but you can come with us. There are some things I have to discuss with you.”
“I’d rather you kill me.”
I take him by the arm, forcing him to follow along. “Then it’s a good thing I don’t give a shit about what you would rather have happen.”
Ben meets us in the parking lot of the hotel, his limp coming back as soon as he spots us. “You owe me, Romanov.”
“Get in line,” Sebastian slurs. “Benji.”
Everly opens the door. “Get in the car.”
He briefly touches her cheek. “I hope Nikolai killed the man who did this to you.” It is strange to think that even in his drunken state, Sebastian knows I would avenge her. Stranger still for him to assume I did not put my hands on her. The times Sebastian and his brother have visited… They were not under the best of circumstances.
“He did.”
“Good.” He nearly falls inside Ben’s car. “Drive me to Holland Springs, please. I need to see some cupcakes about a woman.”
“Not quite how I remembered him,” Ben says, sliding into the driver’s seat. I put Everly in the front and sit in the back with Sebastian, in case he decides to get personal with her again, and she decides to shoot him.
“His attitude has actually improved since the last time,” I say, pushing his head off my shoulder. “Move your arse over, Romanov. Let’s take him to your place, Benji, shall we?”
“The dungeon’s quite nice this time of year,” he says.
“Take us to Hotel Majestic,” Everly says. “He can stay in our room.”
“I can live with that,” Ben says, and heads for the heart of the city.