Page 66 of Under His Control

“You have to admit we’re opposites. I’ve come from nothing and you’re…”

“A spoiled, bratty slut?” I teased, reminding him of when we were last at an event like this one.

His responding grin was slow and sexy. “Wanna go find a closet?”

“Behave,” I teased.Thatwould really get attention. Too much attention. I didn’t want to steal the night from the bride and groom, even if this was his third marriage and her second.

“Liam.” Franco approached. He nodded at me too.

“Oh, want to cut in?” he asked, stepping back to let Franco take over.

He didn’t. He held his hand up to show that he wasn’t coming close to dance with me. The serious expression on his face didn’t match one I’d expect on someone having a good time.

“What’s wrong?” I asked in unison with Liam. We were that in sync, so quick to read Franco in the same moment.

“Rumors are running rife that Stefan is going to try to cause some trouble tonight.”

I frowned, shaking my head. “But he’s not here.”

“He’s still being a coward and hiding,” Liam said. Only the Devil’s Brothers showed themselves. Not here. No bikers would ever be here. Someone like Stefan Giovanni would’ve otherwisemade it on to the guestlist for this wedding and reception, but the bastard was lying low after he tried to kidnap Nina and Tessa.”

“True, butshewas spotted ten minutes ago at the entrance.” Franco turned and pointed out that woman. The tall redhead who’d shown up at the mansion and tried to claim she was Olivia’s aunt.

“Fuck,” Liam whispered, scowling immediately.

I narrowed my eyes. “You suspect she’s working for the Giovannis?” I asked Franco.

“We figured she had to be working for Stefan or Reaper,” Franco replied. “But one of the guards overheard her near the entrance just a minute ago. She’s reporting to Stefan.”

Liam shook his head. “What does this mean, then? She showed up trying to take Olivia…”

“Because she knows I value her,” I said. “They know she’s been living in the house. That’s all Stefan needs to know—that she matters and is important to us.”

Franco agreed, nodding and tracking the redhead through the crowd. Two Constella men followed her from a distance, not letting her out of their sight.

“Which means they’ll see that she’s not with us tonight,” Liam said. “Here.”

“No one brought children,” Franco pointed out. “But I don’t like this. Seeing that woman. If she’s an indirect connection to Stefan, she can’t be here simply to party.”

I couldn’t swallow down this uneasiness. It spread through me, almost like panic descending over me and taking control of my mind.

“I don’t like this,” I told Liam.

He held my hand, nodding. “The house is guarded,” he reminded me unnecessarily.

“It is,” Franco said. “But maybe if you’re done with this party scene, it would give us all a better peace of mind if some of us headed home to watch over her.”

We all stood by the Constella forces. But Olivia was just a baby, a precious innocent.

“I’m calling Danicia,” I said, pulling out my phone from my clutch.

Liam nodded, and both men stood with me and waited for the doctor to pick up. She’d volunteered to babysit tonight. She was capable. So were the many guards at the house. But this was still a vulnerable setup—us being here and her at home.

“She’s not answering.” Liam grimaced at Franco.

He swore. “Fuck. We can’t take chances. It could be nothing but?—”

“Let’s go.” Liam was still holding my hand, and I was grateful for his grip. We didn’t delay, rushing through the throngs of people in the crowd, urgently hurrying home.

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