Page 98 of The Silencer

“Hello,” I interrupt, and Anthony and the taller man’s conversation tapers off.

“Hello,” he says and then extends his hand. “I’m Matty. Anthony was just telling us all about you, Tatum.” He has a British accent much like Kingston’s, and I wonder if they know one another.

I turn my gaze up to the man we’re speaking about and scowl. The taller man chuckles and runs a hand over his beard.

“Seems you have a firecracker on your hands,” the man says, also with a British accent, and then nods toward me. “I’m Sebastian LeClerc. Nice to meet you, Mr. Barlowe.”

I nod and then wave my hand among them. “And how do you know Anthony?”

Sebastian rolls his lips between his teeth and then answers, “We’re old friends. We wouldn’t have come, but we were in the area when Anthony called. Matty insisted we stop by.”

“Because it’s polite,” Matty chides him.

“If you say so.” His stern expression softens as he gazes at his husband. “But yes, Anthony and I have had some business together in the past.”

Matty snorts, and I meet his sparkling gaze.

“Yes, but all business is above board now, right?” Matty asks.

Sebastian leans toward his partner, the one he clearly adores and caresses his cheek. “Of course, my love.”

I can feel the adoration radiating off of them both, and I scowl once more at Anthony. Even if Sebastian is a bit rude, he clearly worships the ground that Matty walks on. This is what Angel should be marrying into. Not some Russian man who is avoiding his intended at all costs and barely even glances at him.

He is not the man Angel described to me earlier. Mikhail doesn’t seem to care a lick about Angel and isn’t shy about letting that be known.

“Come on, Tatum,” Matty says. “This conversation is a little bit boring to me. If I hear the word knife one more time, I’m going to run away.”

Sebastian scoffs, and I nod in agreement. “Yes, they’re both terribly old and boring.”

I reach up and casually stroke my cheek with my middle finger, making sure it’s aimed right at Anthony. I can feel his frown as I link my arm with Matty’s and pull him away.

Sebastian starts to follow, but Matty stops him.

“I’ll just be right over here. I’ll be fine.”

Sebastian grumbles but does as Matty asks. As soon as we’re out of range, Matty leans toward me and asks lowly, “So, tell me all the gossip. Sebastian said this is an arranged marriage? I didn’t know those were still a thing.”

I frown and then nod. “I know we don’t know one another, but you seem like someone I can trust and I have a lot to bitch about. No one else cares to listen.”

“Oh, I know all about keeping secrets, and I’m a great listener,” he says, grinning at me. Something is open and kind about his face, and I can totally see how he bagged a man as dangerous as Sebastian looks.

“Do these secrets have anything to do with your man?”

“Oh yes.” He pretends to zip his mouth and then gestures for me to continue on.

“Alright…” I begin, dropping my voice even lower as we move toward the gardens. The ceremony is set to start in an hour so we have plenty of time. “Let me tell you everything…”

Angel looks beautiful standing in front of all of the guests, his hands clasped in Mikhail’s. He’s smiling beautifully, his eyes a little wet while Mikhail stands there stoic and unmoving. But Angel doesn’t seem bothered by the lack of affection.

I am though.

I am furious.

My hands are clasped tightly in my lap, and I force my face to remain neutral when all I really want to do is pull my friend away from that awful man and hide him away.

I can’t, though. I’m sure Angel wouldn’t appreciate the scene that would make.

I let my gaze wander over to Bane, who is sitting a few seats down, and he waggles his fingers at me, Kingston seated next to him, that eyeball pendant dangling from his neck.

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