Page 93 of Winter's End

“Cam?”

“Yes, Little Violet?”

She interlaced our fingers under the warm blanket and lightly squeezed.

“I love you.”

My heart stuttered at the three words; I had uttered them in a public declaration months ago, but had never uttered them again. This woman loved me. She loved me, despite so many other good men showering her with affection and care.

I was included in the group of men who held her heart. My chest expanded so much; my ribs felt like they might break under my elation.

“I love you too, Winter.”

I gripped her chin with my thumb and tilted her head up to meet mine. I kissed her slowly, pressing all of my love and devotion into it; I needed this woman to be mine more than I’d needed anything or anyone in my life. More than the pull to find Darlene, or the need to quash my violent soul, or the desire to build a future Momma and Pop would be proud of.

Maybe I could have everything; maybe it could all be possible with her and her men—my brothers—at our sides.

When we broke apart, Winter flashed a wide smile in the moonlight.

“Let’s piss Logan off by making popcorn and having sex on his couch while he’s gone.”

She leaped out of bed and scampered out the bedroom door to the living room with a high-pitched giggle. I chuckled and followed her; I would forever take advantage of an opportunity to piss off the arrogant part of our forever-family.

I shook my head as a sense of purpose and contentment flooded my soul. Our forever-family. I really liked the sound of that.

CHAPTER 25

WINTER

The Gold Gala was a night of exorbitant wealth and extravagance. I’d had the audacity to think Hillary’s wedding was opulent, but this – this dinner for Sequoia County’s elite was the congregation of our tiny corner of the world’s one percent.

I hadn’t realized so many rich people lived in our fair state. It wasn’t just the uber-wealthy business magnates, although they made up most of the guest list. In attendance were politicians, the children of founding families, university deans, and the named partners of several professional firms, including WAQ and Eccles Engineering. Every guest was dressed in finery and drinking champagne from flutes even more ornate than Hillary’s wedding favors.

Travis stood beside me in a fitted black suit, one Georgio had tailored for him, and it hugged his shoulders and trim waist in the way only expensive suits could. He looked so handsome; the dark waves of his hair fell over his bright green eyes in a sexy styled bed-head tousle. Only the plugs in his ears and enticing lip ring separated him from the very conservative crowd.

We were both on edge, not knowing our place among a group so far removed from our lives and lifestyles. Georgio had made Travis bring a gun, and that demand on its own made the acid in my stomach burn its way up to my throat every few minutes. Even if we made it through tonight with just a belly filled with caviar and a light buzz from expensive bubbles, the anxiety of not knowing the purpose of our inclusion was enough to kill the whole evening.

We were surrounded by people in the main ballroom and had been making polite conversation with a tech mogul and his husband. Mom and Dad were over by the front entrance, speaking to a man and a woman I didn’t recognize, although I could only see their backs. Emmett and Amelia had been invited as well, but I hadn’t come across them in the sea of talking heads.

I had glimpsed Kellan when we’d come in, but he’d been absent ever since. Georgio was busy charming the group that surrounded him. My mouth dropped seeing Janet Lindross by his side in a beautiful fire-engine red dress that fell to the floor in flowy waves. She looked stunning, but her appearance here wasn’t a good sign.

Travis had brought me up to speed that her double-agent status might be compromised when he’d fitted me with our trackers this morning. Mine was in a tiny silver pendant that hung from a long silver chain—the perfect accompaniment to my dress’s neckline.

His hand lingered at the base of my spine and his thumb gently stroked the exposed skin of my back in a tender gesture of possession.

“There’s Logan and Hillary,” he murmured quietly into my ear. He lightly pushed me in their direction as we excused ourselves from a particularly dry discussion.

“You look gorgeous, Sweets.”

Hillary wrapped her arms around me, bathing me in the scent of her floral perfume. Her mermaid-style shimmery gold dress with rhinestone spaghetti straps complimented the décor beautifully, as if she herself were throwing this party.

“So do you.” She was radiant, embodying every bit of her heiress title. All that was missing was a diamond tiara, and I was pretty sure she owned one.

Logan drew me into his arms in a friendly but professional hug. His lips hovered over my ear. “I can’t wait to take this off you later, Princess. But I’ll enjoy watching you from afar tonight.”

He pulled back with a subtle wink and released me from his hold.

He wore a suit similar to the one from his wedding, only it was a lighter shade of navy that brought out the gold in his eyes. His thick brown hair was swept back from his face, aristocratic features on display. His air of power and dominance—the same air that had made me want to poke his eyeballs out in the past—was now fast becoming my ultimate weakness.

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