Page 67 of His Daggered Heart

“What was that about?” I whisper to Kohen.

“Rich people shit,” is all he says and I laugh.

The doors open as we approach and we pass a huge fountain surrounded by beautiful greenery and flowers. It smells amazing. I glance up and see the stars through the ceiling. I look over my shoulder at Cora and she wiggles her eyebrows. I wink back at her and then look at Levi and Kohen, who don’t seem one bit phased by any of this. We come up to a second set of doors that are blacked out from the area we just came through. We can’t see inside until they are opened, and as soon as they are, voices flood the space. Suddenly, I feel overwhelmed by all the sounds, and we are immediately greeted by the hostess.

“Mr. Ventura,” she bows. “Your father and his guest have been waiting for you, right this way.” His guest? Why would he have a guest?

She walks us through the restaurant. My heels catch on a piece of the black carpet and Kohen steadies me. “You okay, angel?” he asks, rubbing my arm with his thumb.

“I’m fine.” I can feel uneasiness crawling through me. The overstimulation overtakes my fight or flight.

The color scheme of this place is making me dizzy. Some walls are white with the fleur-de-lis embedded within it. The other walls are jet black with red accents and my brain cannot put it all together.

“Breathe, sweetness,” Levi says behind me. I try to do just that. Can everyone tell how uncomfortable I am? Why am I? Then it hits me. I had a lot of big things happen this weekend and although they are happy things, I’m about to sit across the table from the one person who doesn’t approve of me or any of those things.

Emotions surge through me. I feel like I’m about to spiral and then I see Mr. Ventura’s guest.

Erica.

Chapter 44

Alex

It’sasifmysubconscious has reeled everything in all at once. I will not look weak in front of this stupid bitch. How dare he invite her here.

“Son,” he says, standing up for a handshake. Kohen ignores the handshake and pulls my seat out for me instead.

“Father,” Kohen says, simply taking the seat of his own. “Cora, Levi, this is my father Raymond. Father, this is my family. You already know Alex,” he says coldly.

His father sits back down slowly, ignoring Levi’s extended hand as he glares at Kohen. “I’m assuming everyone knows Erica?” his father asks.

To my surprise, Cora speaks up. “Yes, we know the little wench.” Her stare is fixed on Erica. No fear. I have never been more proud of my best friend than I am right now. Okay, mama bear!

Erica scoffs and I shoot a glare at her before she can even speak. She grabs her glass of wine and takes a sip, her eyes moving to Kohen. I feel a surge of jealousy but rein it in because she can’t take him from me. He doesn’t want her. That’s why she sits there like an idiot.

“What is your game here, father?” Kohen asks.

“No game. Erica was a part of your life for a long time. Our families are friends so I saw it fitting to have her here tonight to celebrate you.”

“Me?” Kohen laughs. “Celebrate me? Father, may we speak in private please?” He scoots out of his chair so fast that it topples over and his father jolts after him. Levi rushes to pick it up and then rubs my arm.

“Such a handsome gentleman,” Erica coos at Levi.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but please do not address me in front of my girlfriend that way.”

Erica spits her wine out, shocked at the respectful way that Levi just checked her. He doesn’t stop there either.

“You have to be a fowl, insecure woman to show up here with Kohen’s father where you knew his fiancée would be. Have a little bit of dignity and respect for yourself and leave.” He says it so calmly and respectfully that her mouth is wide open.

“Close your mouth, Erica. It probably reeks of old dick and red wine,” I say, taking a sip of my water. Cora giggles and thank god the waitress approaches. Kohen isn’t back yet and I don’t want to order without him.

“I would like to order a drink for my ex. It seems congratulations are in order,” Erica says. She rattles off what she’s eating and then Levi and Cora order. We begin to chat, waiting for Kohen and his father to come back to the table. The waitress brings the appetizers and drinks to the table. Instead of putting the one Erica ordered for Kohen in front of his seat, she hands it to Erica. I look at her, raising an eyebrow and she laughs.

“What? I want to hand it to him and congratulate him on the engagement.”

“You already knew about the engagement. We told you at the Knight party,” I say, rolling my eyes.

She laughs even louder now. “I thought he was joking.” She places her clutch on the table and looks around. “Aren’t you going to find Kohen? Poor guy, maybe I’ll go.”

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