Page 78 of Demise

“You’re fucking delusional. You’ve already made her cry enough for one day, for a lifetime. Stay the fuck away from my wife,” he seethes as the song ends, and he weaves through the crowd to collect Skyla.

A white manicured hand slides up my arm, digging in as she forces my attention to her.

“Better?” she asks.

My eyes roam over her out of obligation as I give a stiff nod. She seems to preen under my approval, which is fucked up since I didn’t even give her so much as a compliment. My indifference must be all she needs to feel valued. Poor girl has no idea what it’s like to truly be appreciated. Or maybe she doesn’t care either way.

I notice the moment she sees Skyla. Her mouth purses and her eyebrows raise as her eyes roam over Skyla from top to bottom. My shoulder pushes into hers, reminding her to fix her face, and like the good little daughter of the Brethren, she does.

“So good to see you. Thank you for coming to celebrate us.” She smiles at Skyla, resting her head against my chest.

Skyla’s eyes remain on her, a perfectly practiced smile on her face as she nods.

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Are you having a good evening?”

“The best. How could I not with this amazing man by my side?” Annie says as she looks up at me, batting her eyelashes dramatically.

“We’re so happy to have you join the family, Annie.” Christopher smiles, that wolfish grin spreading across his face.

She smiles demurely at him, though you’d have to be stupid not to clock the suggestive gaze she gives him in return. Maybe she’ll decide to hell with me and go for my brother instead. It would save me a lot of pain and heartache if she did.

“I couldn’t imagine life getting any more perfect now,” she says, winding her arms around my neck and dragging my mouth to hers.

I resist for a moment but remember all of the eyes on me. The one pair I care about most is reason enough to rip myself away, but I know it’s not the right move.

Skyla, forgive me.

Annie’s lips are thin and cold. She presses our faces close together to the point where it’s uncomfortable. A turning in my stomach spreads to every inch of my body, and when she finally allows me to pull away, I discreetly wipe my mouth.

However, when I look up, I see Asher watching with unrestrained rage, Christopher with approval, and Skyla gone. My head whips around to see the hem of her dress slipping around the corner. I feel myself take a step towards her before I take a breath. Chasing after your nephew’s wife at your engagement party is the exact thing I shouldn’t be doing. So, I find an out.

“Annie, have you been given a tour of the art room at the manor?” I ask, knowing it’s one of Christopher’s favorite things to boast about.

Predictably so, his face lights up, and he slides up beside her.

“I’d be happy to show you. The Putnam family has been collecting for over three hundred and fifty years.”

She gives me a tight smile before it melts into something more convincing, her arm slipping in the crook of Christopher’s.

“I’d be delighted.”

“This way, beautiful,” he says, his eyes taking extra time on her cleavage as he leads her up the stairs and down the hall.

As soon as they are out of sight, I head after Skyla. I only make it a few steps before Asher catches my arm.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

“I need to talk to her,” I say.

“No, you need to leave her the fuck alone. Don’t you see how hard this is for her? You chasing after her is only going to make it worse.”

I shake my head. “I need to apologize, Asher. Explain…I don’t know. I have to do something.”

Asher stares at me for several seconds before letting go of my arm reluctantly. It’s not exactly his acceptance, but I know it’s the closest I’ll get from him. Turning around the corner Skyla disappeared behind, I peek my head in each room as I pass by, all coming up empty.

When I come to the back door, I hesitate for a moment before looking outside. My feet move across the concrete patio, the rustling of the maze bushes catching my attention.

Of course.

---