Page 94 of Winter's End

All of my men were my ultimate weakness.

Cam was somewhere close by—again, for what purpose, I didn’t know. Kellan was moving his ignorant pawns around the FBI chessboard tonight. I had to hope he knew what he was doing. If he played chess at my skill level, we were all fucked.

Drew and Shane had stayed at Hill’s condo, where we were all supposed to meet up after the event. Both men had huggedand kissed me roughly a thousand times before we left the building, but I couldn’t fault them. If we had to trade places tonight, I would climb the walls until they were back in my arms, safe and sound.

The four of us stood off to the side, observing the masses from the safety of the wings. Hillary and Logan took turns respectfully answering questions from family friends and business associates while Travis and I hung back, nursing our champagne and keeping a watchful eye on Georgio.

A pair of identical men entered the room to our left and their long and easy strides took them to Georgio’s side. These must be Kellan and Georgio—and Cam’s—brothers. I discreetly assessed them; dark short hair and chiseled cheekbones. They had the stunning features of South American models. Whereas Georgio wielded his unassuming charms and Kellan used his size and presence, these men exuded a masculinity that intimidated through hard edges and dark scowls. Their molded bodies and imposing stature couldn’t hide the dangerous energy, like a testosterone-infused Venus Fly Trap.

Where was Kellan? Did he know they were coming tonight? My nervous energy was gesticulating with unadulterated dread.

Georgio greeted them with a wide smile and introduced them to Janet through a round of handshaking and forced pleasantries. At least, that’s what a little lip reading and limited body language knowledge was telling me.

Georgio looked up and made direct eye contact with us, as if he knew we were there the entire time. He beckoned us over with a slight hand gesture.

Travis squeezed my hand and pulled me toward them; we didn’t have a choice but to play Georgio’s social games tonight. I could only hope it would be enough to appease him while Kellan kept up his end of the bargain.

Janet slipped away before we said hello and I crossed my fingers that was a good thing. Perhaps Kellan was waiting to get her out of the ballroom at this very moment.

This night was exhausting. How Kellan had played this double life for sixteen years was unthinkable.

“Travis, nephew!” Georgio’s smile looked every bit the genuine warmth of a doting uncle. “I thought you might want to meet your uncles. Kellan is around here somewhere, but allow me to introduce you to the Carlos twins.” He turned to the imposing men standing in front of us, their dangerous air far more potent at close range. “Jonah, Mical—Matteo’s son has finally come home.”

I forced my neutral mask to stay in place as the three brothers crossed their hearts in that ‘Hail Mary’ Catholic cross thing in what I could only guess was in recognition of their deceased brother. I wondered how a murderous family justified their actions for weekly confession?

A thought experiment for another time.

The men gruffly shook hands with the mafia version of a bro nod. Travis switched on his trademark charm and acted as if meeting them was truly an honor. He even threw in another thank you to Georgio for inviting us to this event—stroking the don’s ego just a little more.

“One day, this will be yours.” Georgio leaned in with a wink, the slightest hint of his true nature peeking through his well-honed facade. “And I have a surprise for you later.”

Fuck me. No more surprises. I was going to need an entire tub of Tums to make it through the rest of the night.

Georgio tugged Travis away from me by his elbow and forced him to move in the opposite direction. “Come, I have people for you to meet.”

Travis gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and shot me a look of apology as his demon uncle hauled him away. I took one look at the twins, who eyed me with amused disinterest and, to my utter embarrassment, a terrified squeak escaped. Before I could do anything else to attract their attention, I muttered out a weak excuse and darted away to find Logan and Hillary again.

“Winter!” Mom waved me over as I pressed my way through the Chanel-scented throng.

Eager for a familiar face at the Great Gatsby party, I made my way over to their corner. Dad turned around; his face contorted into a pained grimace before smoothly covering it with a welcoming grin.

He could try to hide it like he had my whole life, but Dad knew I shouldn’t be here, and was upset that I was.

Yeah, you and me both, Daddy-O.

Still, I was relieved to see the pair of them, dressed to impress and with what I believed were genuine smiles. Mom was wearing a beautiful royal blue gown that made her look at least ten years younger, and Dad held the same youthful glow in his black suit with a tie to match Mom’s dress. The couple they had been speaking to looked up, and I was surprised to recognize Marcie.

Duh, Winter. We’re in the middle of an FBI sting operation.

Of course, she was here. Where the fuck was that bottle of Tums?

A round of hugs was shared while everyone gushed about each other’s wardrobe choices.

“Winter, this is my husband, Oliver,” Marcie simpered.

The tall and reed-thin bespectacled man looked like he belonged in a NASA testing department with a pocket protector and sensible shoes. Was he another lover in the open square my parents had going on? Was he an FBI agent, too?

It didn’t matter. I couldn’t keep killing my brain-cells trying to figure out everyone’s secret identity. Oliver was just going to be Oliver. Cool.

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