Page 131 of All Your Hate

“You’re lucky I’m here. Willow got so horny seeing me like this,” he says smugly as he licks his lips and gets this dreamy look on his face. “She passed out riding my face. Thought I was gonna asphyxiate.”

I’m distracted from the rest of their conversation by the stunning white marble and gold-trimmed hallway we’ve entered.

All the other guests are wearing black to commemorate Tommaso’s passing and I realize I stick out like an actual sore thumb in my blood red dress.

It’s perfect.

With my head held high, I hook my gloved hand tighter through Noah’s arm and we head through to the main hall.

We get a lot of stares and a few people come up to greet Noah. He palms them off with a quick hello.

“You ready for this?” Noah asks me quietly.

“For the millionth time, yes.”

I know he doesn’t want me to be on the front lines tonight, not when there are so many reminders of my torture around me. But I’ve got this. I’m not going to break.

We stop off at one of the refreshment tables and grab a drink. Surprisingly none of us goes for the alcoholic options.

Dean raises an eyebrow at Noah’s glass and he shrugs in response. “What? I need a clear head.”

We make our way around the room, keeping a close eye out for Dmitri. He doesn’t seem to be here yet.

“I’m gonna check out the other exits,” Dean says before abruptly walking off.

“Is he always like that?” I ask Noah.

“You’ll get used to him.”

I spot Daniella talking to a small group of guests not that far away from us. She’s wearing a black gown with matching gloves,but she hardly looks like a grieving widow. I suppose she has to save face tonight.

She catches me looking at her and her eyes widen like she’s seen a ghost. When she takes in the glass of orange juice in my hand a warm smile appears on her face. She gives me a wink. I’m not sure what she’s getting at until she presses her hand to her own stomach.

Goddammit. Noah had to make her think I was pregnant. It’s going to be awkward as hell if I ever have to say I’m not, especially after what she told us about her own fertility woes. At least after tonight, I’ll never have to see her again.

“It feels wrong all these people grieving Tommaso, celebrating his life without having a clue what he was really like,” I say gravely as we continue to weave through the guests.

“If it makes you feel any better I don’t think a single one of these fucks actually gave a shit about him when he was alive.”

I suppose he’s right. I’m surprised Daniella’s still hosting after all the news reports. Then again, how many of these people would actually care about a girl like Evie.

We’ve spent hours hacking into the police database and any local news networks, trying to find more information on Evie. Other than her body being found on the property that’s it. Daniella wrote a statement claiming to have no idea what happened and there's proof of her being away at some yoga retreat around the suspected time of Evie's death.

Everything’s been covered up and it makes me sure that it’s because of Dmitri. If he had taken and sold her to Tommaso then he wouldn’t want his involvement being found out. I doubt he would get his own hands dirty so he probably made Tommaso dispose of Evie himself. The perfect way to do that would be to send his wife away.

“There’s your father.” I point Gregory out on the other side of the room. He’s talking with Janine and a few other faces I’ve come to recognize from his office.

We head over to him and he cuts his conversation short when he sees us.

“Father. We need to talk.”

“Noah, Wynter. I’m surprised to see you both here.” Noah has told me about how he used to spend these events. He’d show his face for as long as was necessary then he’d find a room upstairs to party in. “It’s good to see you. Both of you. I’m glad you came.”

“We need to talk. I’m sure you can spare five minutes for your son.”

Gregory looks around at the guests then nods. “Five minutes.”

We head into an unused dining hall for privacy. “What do you want to—” Gregory starts to say.

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