Page 32 of Seeds of Sorrow

Peyton smiled, holding up her champagne flute. “There’s beautiful artwork and champagne—I’m having thebesttime!”

Piper’s answering chuckle calmed Peyton slightly. “I need to go and say hello to some more guests, but I’ll try to catch up to you soon. Check out room eight. I think it’ll be your favorite.”

As Piper was pulled away to talk to the state governor and his wife, who looked to be twenty years his junior with a scowl etched into her face, Peyton caught sight of Zellie and groaned. Catching her gaze, Zellie grinned predatorily. Then the eldest Adis sister marched over, grabbed Peyton by the elbow, and tugged her into the next room, away from Don and Piper’s watchful eyes.

“Peyton.” Letting go of her arm, Zellie took a step back and looked Peyton up and down. “So nice of you to come to my sister’s event. Pray tell, why are you here?”

Peyton stuttered and dipped her head under the cold glare of Zellie’s eyes. “Piper invited me.”

Zellie scoffed. “Piper always has been kind to the point of foolishness. She’s too polite for her own good. So, let me be the one to tell you that you are most definitely not welcome here. Why don’t you hurry along to whatever backward Podunk town you come from?”

“Excuse me?” Peyton surprised herself, the alcohol in her system fueling the rage she normally quelled, as she replied, “I was invited here by your sister herself, so I very much think I am welcome. And besides, I don’t come from anyPodunktown, so kindly refrain from making assumptions. What a vile thing to say.”

Zellie seethed, stepping into Peyton’s personal space. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, or how you’ve wormed your way into both of my sisters’ heads, but I’m not fooled by your innocent, naïve little act. I will kill anyone before I let them fuck with my family.”

“I’m not up to anything! I like your family and I’d never do anything to harm any of you!” Peyton hissed back, trying to communicate her sincerity.

“I don’t believe you.No te creo, pendeja vengativaand I won’t let you hurt Piper,” Zellie said. Before Peyton could move, Zellie had a fistful of her hair in an agonizing grip. She used her free hand to press a gun—Peyton didn’t even know where she had pulled it from—into Peyton’s hip. “I’m going to show you to the exit and then I want you to go home, pack your shit, and get the hell out of Papi’s house before we return.”

Peyton opened her mouth to respond, but a voice interrupted her before she could utter a word.

“I don’t think that will be necessary, Zelina,” Hadina said, walking into view. “I’d very much appreciate it if you let my date go, put your weapon away before anyone sees, and slither back into your den of snakes before I have to remind you what respect and decorum look like.”

Zellie growled but released Peyton, who stumbled forward. Hadina caught her before she fell on her face, maintaining a comforting hold on her arms to keep her steady. She looked at Peyton with furrowed brows, concern swirling in her eyes. “Are you okay?”

Nodding, Peyton stepped closer to Hadina. Her eyes welled up and she couldn’t find the words to express how grateful she was to see her. “I’m all right.”

“Te creía más inteligente para andar cojiéndote a las sirvientas,Hadina.”

Hadina lurched forward and Peyton grabbed at her arm, using all of her strength to pull her back. “What the fuck does that mean?”

Zellie smiled cruelly. “I’m just telling my sister that fucking the help isn’t her finest move.”

Hadina tried to rush forward again but Peyton stepped in front of her, placing her hands on Hadina’s shoulders. “Hadi, stop. Ignore her.”

“I can’t ignore her.Eres una puta irrespetuosaand I won’t have her talking about you like that.”

Ignoring the way it made her core contract to hear Hadina wanting to defend her honor, Peyton shook her head. “This is Piper’s event, Hadi. You can deal with this tomorrow, but let your little sister enjoy her night, huh?”

Throwing a glare over her shoulder at Zellie’s retreating figure, Hadina let out a sigh and Peyton felt some of the tension leave her body. A moment passed, and another, before Hadina finally looked Peyton in the eyes. The darkness swirling there was anger mixed with hunger, making Peyton want to cause a different kind of scene right in the middle of the room.

“I didn’t think you were coming,” she breathed.

Hadina smirked, taking Peyton’s hand in hers. “Work can wait. It seems I was going to be missing out otherwise. I have far more pressing matters to deal with.”

Peyton grinned as Hadina pulled her by the waist, closing the small distance between them. Leaning down, Hadi caught Peyton’s lips in a tender kiss and the fear she had felt before was quickly forgotten. She was suddenly extra grateful to Kaira for gifting her such a wonderful, exposing dress.

“Temptation herself,” Hadina whispered against Peyton’s lips before pulling her through the gallery. Wherever Hadina was taking her, Peyton would willingly follow.

Chapter23

HADINA

The rage boilingbeneath her skin was eclipsed only by the need to devour hertentadora. Seeing Zellie’s hands on Peyton, her gun pressed to her girl’s hip, made Hadina blindingly furious. Had there not been so many witnesses, she wasn’t sure that she wouldn’t have put a bullet in her sister the moment she saw the scene unfold.

“Where are we going?” Peyton asked, trailing along beside her.

Hadina flashed a grin and winked, loving the way Peyton’s pupils dilated in response. “Somewhere private.”

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