Page 58 of Vicious Addictions

“Better safe than sorry,” Remus retorts, exchanging a silent look with Rolo that beckons him to add another knife to the artillery.

My stomach coils, but I school my features to keep my expression as blank as possible.

I can’t afford room for doubt or insecurity to enter my mind right now.

Not tonight.

Tonight, I can’t justlookit—I have tobefearless.

Still my mind can’t help but wander to my father and how he’s dealing with tonight’s big event.

“Rolo, you’ve been downstairs, right? How’s my father taking all of this?”

“So far, so good. But he’s on his fifth gin, so…” He shrugs, leaving the rest unsaid.

My father isn’t one to drink heavily in front of his men.

I can only assume that he’s drinking to maintain an aloof composure amongst his guests.

“Not to make you nervous or anything, but the house is packed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this manymade menunder one roof. Even the retired dinosaurs have come out of their caves to watch the show tonight,” Rolo adds, unamused.

That’s because they want to see me fail.

My lips part open to say just that, but then I decide it’s best to keep my mouth shut.

Both Remus and Rolo are more than aware of what’s at stake tonight. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have spent countless hours getting me ready. They know as well as I do that most of tonight’s guests are bursting at the seams to see me bleed.

But like hell, I’ll give them the satisfaction.

Amid the numerous faceless enemies flashing before my eyes, one person stands out in my mind—one who I hope wants to see me succeed, even if he might still be a little mad at me.

Instead of brushing my fingers over my lips, I run them over my pendant before hiding it away under my suit.

I want to ask my cousins about Jude.

If either of them have seen him tonight.

If he knows what’s coming.

But I don’t.

Saying his name out loud would only confirm what they already suspect—that my teenage crush has long since turned into something far more dangerous.

Hell, if they knew I kissed him, he’d be a dead man walking.

Argh.

I should have warned him last night and told him tonight’s party wouldn’t be like the others. I shouldn’t have left him thinking that tonight would be just another extravagant birthday party where my father got to display his immense wealth, influence, and power amongst his friends.

If my father hasn’t told him the truth by now, I’m sure he’s already pieced it together. The guest list wasn’t filled with the usual names of London’s elite but comprised of the city’s underbelly.

They were more than happy to accept the invite, attending for one reason only—to witness whether the boss’s daughter is truly worthy of being inducted into The Firm.

Neither Rolo nor Remus had this much of a spectacle when they were inducted last year.

But I’m not them.

The stakes for me are far, far higher.

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