Page 120 of The Last Promise You Made

Chapter Thirty-nine

Gia

BLACKOUT

Performed by Danielle Bradbery

The extravagance of the decorations in Laredo’s ballroom was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Sitting on each table was an ice sculpture posed on a silver pedestal, each carved to resemble a famous statue. Scattered around the carving were black and white gems I wasn’t entirely sure weren’t real. Secured to the center of the ceiling was another large sculpture of marble and flowers from which ropes of pearls, crystals, and fairy lights trailed in glimmering chains to the far corners of the room. Rivulets of what looked like champagne poured down from the statue like magic rain, pooling in a fountain glistening with lily pads fashioned from gemstones. The heavily waxed, black marble floors acted like mirrors, casting the lights from above in all directions in a dizzying display.

The orchestra members sat on a raised platform dressed all in black, playing instruments made of white and silver. There were no colors in the room except for a handful of gowns and the random colored vest peeking from a tuxedo jacket. Vaguely, I recalled Laredo’s invitation had requested the guests wear white and black evening wear. It was pure chance the champagne dress from Phil’s attic had worked.

As I scanned the crowd, I realized there wasn’t even a redhead in the room, as if Laredo had purposefully only invited those whose hair color would fit in with his vision.

Extreme control.

Extreme decadence.

Wealth and power on display.

It was deadly clear that this was much more to Laredo than a simple charity event.

At the head of the room, on a dais, Laredo stood next to a table with only two settings. Beside him was an actual living and breathing jaguar with fur so light its bold black spots stood out, blending with the man’s tuxedo.

My nerves went up another notch, and I wondered again if my solo-spy routine was going to get me killed. If I was going to wind up looking like Ravyn with slashes down my torso. Worse, if I’d get Ryder and his precious daughter hurt as well. But just the thought of them being harmed steeled my resolve, forcing back the flutter of doubts.

I could do this.

I just had to pick at that control Laredo craved and felt he had a right to. Pick at it enough for it to unravel. To make him act in haste.

Then, Ravyn would do the rest.

As we entered the ballroom, we were stopped for a picture. A woman with a microphone and a cameraman asked us our names and impressions of the estate and the ballroom as if we were celebrities at some red-carpet event.

As soon as we made it past the camera, a woman in a diaphanous dress similar to the one who’d shown us to the ballroom appeared at our side. “Mr. Laredo has requested your presence.”

She led us through the tables to the raised platform, the shimmer of her gauzy dress and the stones that clad the bikini she wore underneath it making her seem like an apparition, as if breathing on her would make her disappear.

She left us at the base of the dais with Laredo looking down upon us. He looped the handle of the jaguar’s leash over the knob of the chair and then moved down the two steps with a smooth confidence. He greeted Ryder with a brief handshake before turning to me. I instantly wanted to cover myself from the hunger and the barely restrained fury that lived in his gaze.

He kissed my cheek, and my entire body revolted. A shiver slithered down my spine.

“You’re late,” Laredo said to Ryder, and the rebuke in his tone was clear. “Your punishment is relinquishing this beautiful woman to sit at my table with me.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I looked over to see Ryder’s jaw clench. I quickly looked away. This was the plan. This was how we wanted the night to go, but it made me nervous that it was happening so fast. That this man had the same plan with a different ending in mind. I managed a flirtatious smile as I asked, “Won’t your date be insulted?”

He raised a brow. “I didn’t invite a date.”

A flash of confusion crossed over Ryder’s face, but I understood immediately. He’d always intended to steal me away—or if it hadn’t been Ryder’s date, it would have been one of the other guest’s companions. It was just another display of power. It said, I can take whomever I want and make them mine.

But he’d never have me.

He’d try. He’d try to take me either by smooth charm or by force, but I’d never be his.

“You’ll sit at the table to my left,” Laredo said, not even looking at Ryder but waving to a table beside the dais. Four other guests were already there. Ryder would be sitting next to a vacant spot because Laredo had claimed his date. Another message—one hand-delivered not only to Ryder but to the rest of the room.

I squeezed Ryder’s hand, trying to convey confidence and calm, reminding him with my eyes that this was the plan.

We just had to go with it. Get through it until Laredo took me away from the gala.

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