Page 142 of Scars Run Deep

The only sign I could see that he hated every moment of it was the twitching of his eye, which he hadn’t been able to school when his father had wrapped his arm around him to pose with the photographers outside by the entrance, or whenever he’d brushed his shoulder or laid even a finger on him.

We’d been told to come with some element of gold in our tailored suits.

Asher had broken up his black-on-black look just a little with a tie that was checkered gold and black, the rest of him in a black suit and a black shirt. Well, he’d still followed the rule… barely.

Jonah had pushed it in another way, going way out there with a baroque golden suit jacket, a white shirt beneath with a gold tie too, and a pair of gray dress pants. It completely clashed with the bright blue streaks in his spiky hair and it had been exactly what had been needed to give us all a laugh before walking into the lion’s den tonight.

I guess because I’d been so used to doing it, that it was still automatic… I’d followed the rules. Properly. I had on a navy blue suit with a white and gold shirt and a gold cravat. Maybe it had been a little something to do with not embarrassing my mom either. My father did that enough as it was, the fucker constantly humiliating her at every viable opportunity just to put her down further.

I tensed as Carson led Ash away from the press and through the atrium on the way to the banquet hall.

Right toward where I was sipping at my drink, while trying to be casual about waiting and worrying about Jonah after Reed Keller had pulled him away earlier about some enforcer business.

I’d texted Ash, but he hadn’t been able to react more than quickly texting me back.

Ash: Jonah can handle himself with the best.

I saw him catch my eye, the brief spark of worry there that I’d lose my cool and fuck up everything.

Nah, I could keep things on the inside too. I’d been forced to for fucking ages. I could certainly give a callback to that and bring it now, rising to the occasion.

“Killian, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Carson greeted as he and Asher stopped in front of me.

He was an older version of Asher with the inky black hair, just his was longer, brushing the edge of his collar and set with every strand in perfect place by a whole lot of expensive products. Those silver eyes so much like his son’s burned into mine. He had a couple of inches on Asher, reaching pretty much Jonah’s height. He was in a tailored suit, a blend of white and the mandatory gold for the event.

“It’s been too long,” I responded with a winning smile.

“Indeed,” he returned, shaking my hand in that bone-crushing way, that had me wanting to shake out my fingers afterward.

But I didn’t.

I swallowed it down like I was swallowing everything else right now. It would be a sign of weakness otherwise, and Carson Monroe didn’t respond well to that.

“I do hope that unfortunate difference of opinion with your father hasn’t impacted your passion for your football career.” His eyes darkened, making that fake pleasant smile he had plastered on turn sinister. “We are all invested in your potential.”

Asher’s expression didn’t change, but I saw him discreetly fingering his beaded bracelet.

“Of course not,” I managed. “Big leagues here I come.”

“Excellent,” Carson responded, that darkness retreating. Somewhat.

“Speaking of, have you seen my father? I haven’t laid eyes on him yet.”

“He will be here shortly. He had to run a last-minute errand.”

An errand? What errand?

I carefully eyed Asher.

He was frowning, obviously having picked up on something from Carson.

I didn’t know how, because the guy was harder to read than his son, and that was really saying something. But it somehow hadn’t escaped Asher’s notice. He’d picked up on a tell that I couldn’t see for the life of me.

I nodded my understanding and acceptance at Carson.

Something caught his eye, then he was gesturing through the crowds. “Not to worry, I’m sure you’ll be content with your other parent in the meantime.”

I followed his gesturing to see someone weaving in and out through the crowds.

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