Page 79 of Darkest Deception

Like a lover’s touch.

Tender. Soft. Patient.

“You look like….” he starts, his rumbling voice making my own heart tremble in need.

Why do I feel this way?

Where is the hate I always carry around with me?

“I don’t want to hear it. Where is Aurora?” I look behind him to see her walking towards me, her chestnut hair bouncing.

“Move out of the way, Helia. I do not want any fights or arguments today” With a simple push from her, Helia turns and walks away but not before glancing over his shoulder at me.

His eyes are so deep and so achingly beautiful that it feels like they are physically calling out to me. I can feel his maddening eyes on me each time we are in a room together. I can see the antagonising way his eyes always do a slow sweep of my body.

“Ambrose,” Aurora murmurs, a small soft smile on her face. “Welcome.” She steps aside, and I finally take the first step inside her home, just like I am entering her heart.

Walking up to her, I hand her the pink roses. Her eyes fall upon them, and they light up. She looks up, and her lower lip trembles ever so slightly.

“Don’t. Please don’t cry,” I whisper. I lift my hand to her cheek but stop mid-way.

I drop it, and her eyes mirror the pain in my heart. This is exactly what it feels like to rip out a piece of your heart and watch it sit still as a stone and lose life bit by bit.

“This way.” She leads me through her home. A staircase to my right leads up to the second floor, and I spot blue accents all around the home as we pass a living room on my left. We pass another living room, but this one has a small little library on one of its walls.

At the end of the hallway, there is a wide door that opens to reveal a grand kitchen. Only the best of the best, the largest and most expensive things for Remo Cainn, after all.

He is the very epitome of the Elite. There is not a single powerful person that passes through London, that works in London, that Remo isn’t aware of.

You cannot escape him. At all.

Despite there being a mayor, a head deputy mayor—Talia’s father—Remo has his hands in everything. No wonder Dad wanted to get off his blacklist. To be blacklisted by Remo means to be removed from every connection, every tie, and everything you own.

“My friends are here. I promise they won’t bother you. They are pretty easy-going.”

I nod wordlessly as I follow her into the kitchen.

Navy-blue counter tops with white cupboards line the back and black stools surround the kitchen island. There is a dining table to the right of the wide kitchen, with sliding doors towards the back, covered by curtains.

I spot Remo amongst everyone. Standing tall with his arms crossed, leaning against the counter on the far end of the kitchen. His eyes follow everyone around the counter with a small frown on his face. Aurora walks up to him, and instantly his expression melts and he gathers her in his arms. His tall figure almost engulfs her whole, his thick arms going around her small back.

She giggles, but that is drowned out by the sudden shouts of her friends.

Kamari is here and so is Ruel, as well as another brunette woman I haven’t met yet. Helia is nowhere to be found despite walking this way.

But that doesn’t mean I’m looking for him. No. I’m not.

“Everyone! Ambrose is here,” Aurora shouts, and silence engulfs the room.

All eyes are on me, and I stand there. Unmoving.

“Don’t be awkward, Ambrose. We will be making pizzas to eat while we watch a movie in the living room afterwards, though the vote is still out on what we will be watching.” Aurora easily slides in to save me.

“Right. Do you need help?” I ask as I remove my scarf and go over to the dining table to put down my bag, scarf, and coat.

“Actually…” Kamari starts off, pushing Ruel out of her way and walking towards the middle of the kitchen and standing in front of me.

With long, luscious, curly hair, eyes hinting at the perfect honey colour, flared jeans that hug her hips, and a black jumper with the top few buttons popped open, Kamari looks like a dream.

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