Page 28 of Believe In Us

“Follow me Wolfe,” Ruby says, as she turns and leads Stella and I toward the bar.

When we reach the full-service bar set up on the outdoor deck surrounding the large pool, a fucked-up realization hits me like an ice-cold bucket of water. I can’t fucking drink. I may not know much about pregnancy or having a kid, but I’m quite sure rule number one is no fucking liquor. Fuck. How is an alcoholic like me, who isn’t ever without a drink in my hand, supposed to hide the fact that I'm not consuming any liquor?

“Jade, hello?” Ruby snickers, waving her hand in my face. I must have looked off in a daze, consumed by my thoughts and ignored her calling my name.

“What sorry,” I say, looking between her and a worried Stella.

“The bartender asked what you wanted to drink. God Wolfe, what's wrong with you today?” Ruby sneers, rolling her eyes obviously irritated.

And I’m not sure why but something in me snaps, and I take all my anger out on my undeserving friend. “I don’t know Ruby, maybe the fact that my father’s dead, my brother killed him, and my sister knew and didn’t tell me,” I blurt out, fury taking over my common sense. The bartender blankly stares at us knowing better than to react to my remark. I’m sure working parties like this he’s either sworn to secrecy or forced to sign some NDA agreement of sorts. To be a fly on the wall here in Hillcrest Hills must be something.

“Fuck someone’s touchy, you on your period or something?” she asks and I know she’s not expecting an actual response. “I was just saying you seem off your usual no fucks given attitude and seem all emotional and shit. No need for your dramatics,” she scoffs, grabbing the drink the bartender placed on the countertop and giving him a flirtatious wink, “Thanks darling,” she adds, sensually licking the drops of the fruity cocktail of her bright red lips.

“I'll just have a gin and tonic,” I say, turning to the bartender who looks slightly amused at our interaction, his cheeks go bright red as he watches Ruby swirl the straw in her cup with her tongue. I’ll have to get Ruby and Stella drunk if I want them not to notice that I'll be babysitting this drink all night, “And another of whatever bubble gum concoction these two are drinking.” He nods his head walking away and grabbing the bottles of liquor and glasses from behind him.

“With an ass like that, I can only imagine the tips he’ll be getting tonight,” Ruby mutters, standing on her tippy toes and biting her lip as she watches him bend over to grab the ice from the freezer under the back counter.

“Do I smell trouble in paradise Ruby?” I ask, turning the conversation on her, and the lack thereof Jaxon Wylde on her arm.

“He’s around here somewhere,” she answers, not adding anything further and I think I’ve struck a nerve.

As if he heard us summon his name, Jax appear with Drake and Kai looking like fucking sex with their bad boy tattooed selves.

“Well, well if it isn’t the infamous Jade Wolfe,” Kai says, coming up behind me and wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I take their arrival like a fucking blessing and easy distraction from having to gulp down the drink in my hand.

“In the flesh babe,” I answer jokingly, placing a soft kiss upon his cheek hoping Sebastian is somewhere watching from behind a bush or something. Kai and I have always had an easy relationship. Although I’m not as close to him as Scar is or was, since recentevents seem to have strained that relationship, we’ve always been the ones causing trouble together. I mean I can’t deny he’s fucking gorgeous and more times than not have our classmates back in Pleasant Hills thought we were an item, but Kai’s always been a brother to me, filling in the empty hole Roman left when he disappeared.

“Where’d you run off too Jade?” Jax asks, not moving to stand near Ruby further making me suspect something’s going on there. Those two are the king and queen of PDA. “Oh and why?”

I’m not sure how much they all know about what went down the night I saw Roman again and since then, but Ruby didn’t sound so surprised when I blurted it out earlier, so I figure they’ve been filled in.

“Just went back home for a visit,” I answer, shrugging out of Kai’s arms as I look up to Stella who’s staring at us with a solemn look in her eyes. She knows my relationship with Kai is nothing but platonic, one between a brother and a sister, but I’m sure it still feels weird to her seeing him so comfortable around me when she’s been crushing so hard on him.

“How are mommy and mommy?” Jax asks,

“They’re fine,” I mutter, not interested in taking this conversation any further.

“Well someone’s chatty,” Jax huffs out mockingly, turning to Ruby and receiving a murderous glare.

“Yeah Jade, what’s up you seem, I don’t know off?” Kai mutters from beside me, while Drake who’s been standing there in his usual broody mood scoffs, turning to me as he pats Kai on the back.

“Well brother, that’s because you don’t understand what it’s like to be betrayed by Scarlett Steele,” Drake says, giving me a knowing glance before he turns and walks away disappearing into the crowd.

“Well I’m glad he doesn’t hold grudges,” Jax blurts out, “I thought he’d forgiven Scar and swept everything under the rugafter she went and almost got herself blown up,” he adds, and it surprises me how easily Jaxon forgave and forgot when just weeks ago he was the one acting like Scarlett had broken his heart and betrayed him.

“Some things aren’t so easily swept under Jax,” I say, my gaze shifting from him to Sebastian, as I spot him heading inside his father’s house, his eyes connecting with me for a passing moment before he disappears inside. “Excuse me,” I mutter, walking away without giving them any further explanation. Although I’m already feeling sick to my stomach, I know I have to follow Bass, we have a hell of a lot of unfinished business.

Deep breath.Inhale in, exhale out. Repeat.

I manage to calm the queasiness in my stomach as I march across the elegantly decorated lawn complete with ice sculptures and twinkling lights, toward the back entrance of the mansion where I saw Bass enter through. I can hear the whispers and snickers of the partygoers, all dressed in semi formal attire as I strut past them in my leather pants and midriff baring top. At least I wore heels. I quicken my pace, my heart skipping a beat as I anticipate my meeting with Sebastian after what he whispered in my ear earlier.You better make sure to never run away from me again, because if you run Little Wolf, you can be sure as fuck I will catch you.

Just thinking about those promising words sends an equally exhilarating yet fearful shiver through me filling me with a daunting arousal just like when he said them just moments ago. The blazing desire in his gaze and the gravel yet confident rasp of his voice oozing sex appeal, made me want him to just wrap his hands around my ass and kiss me stupid for all to see. I step forward almost at the back door entrance, but just as I am about to cross the threshold into the mansion, I’m stopped. Long, thin fingers, covered in chrome and silver rings, with calloused tipswrap around my arm gently applying pressure as a silky voice coos my name, “Miss Wolfe,” he says, smoothly and ever-so-slightly supercilious, “I see my son has kept you around.”

I turn around slowly and fearfully, coming face to face with the daunting reflection of Stephan Silver. His tall stature is unnerving even in my stiletto heels, his raven black hair not a strand out of place, and those mesmerizing slate eyes watch me carefully and meticulously. I inhale a deep breath, the queasiness and nausea I had just managed to contain threatening to resurface.

“Mr. Silver,” I manage to finally say after blankly staring at him for what seems like hours. “It’s a pleasure to see you again,” I add, trying to inconspicuously pull out of his grasp. Seems like he’s just as domineering as his son.

“The pleasure is all mine my dear,” he says, emphasizing on the word pleasure far too long for my liking, “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight, it was my understanding you and my son were currently how should I put it, not on the best of terms,” he adds, bringing a glass of amber liquor held tightly in his free hand to his lips. After a small sip, his hand still holding my arm releases me, “You know after the unfortunate ordeal with your brother Roman.”

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