Page 69 of The Devil's Hunt

"When I was a wee boy, I always knew I was different. I liked to play with Barbies and dolls, styling their hair and painting their nails. I always loved beauty. Unfortunately, when you're born into a life ofluxury, you are expected to present a certain appearance, and my father was not a kind man. He was quite cruel, and he loved the sound his belt made on my skin. My mother tried to stop my father, but he would turn his wrath onto her. One day, my father was in a particularly foul mood. He had pissed off The Brotherhood by participating in some uncouth business activities, and he knew that they would come to collect his head. He sold me to a particularly nasty Russian human trafficking ring to make quick cash so he could flee before The Brotherhood came for him. Do you know how much a gay fourteen-year-old boy sells for?"

I shook my head, my eyes filling with tears.

"A gay fourteen-year-old boy that comes from a rich family is like gold in our world." He paused, and his expression became distant. "Fifty million dollars can get you almost anywhere."

"I'm so sorry, Laurent," I gasped, touching the hand he had rested on my shoulder unknowingly.

"I was kept in a cellar for six months before I was found. My mother died from the grief of losing me. She made The Brotherhood promise to find me. I'll never forget the day they came for me. I thought I was imagining my rescue. I hadn't seen the light for so long. And this dark-haired boy with the brightest green eyes and the most heavenly voice was speaking to me. I thought I had died, and this was an angel welcoming me to heaven. He held my hand the entire flight to America, reassuring me that everything would be okay. My life was forever changed because of him."

"The boy was Archer?" I asked, remembering how Laurent looked at Archer when I entered the closet.

Tears brimmed in Laurent's eyes as he confirmed my suspicions. A wave of conflicting emotions crashed over me—shock, disbelief, and a newfound understanding of the man I loved.

"You love him," I stated, feeling a pang of heartache for Laurent's unrequited feelings.

A hint of sadness crept into his voice as he replied, "I will always be grateful for him. But I am no fool. I know he does not love me in that way. And now he has you."

I reached out and took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We can both love him."

Laurent's eyes softened, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I can see why he loves you, Ms. Grey."

"Please call me Mila."

"Mila," he repeated, my name rolling off his tongue like a sad song. "A fitting name for such a beautiful and kind-hearted human."

"I'm sorry for what you went through," I said sincerely, feeling a strong sense of empathy toward this sweet man who had endured so much pain. "But I am happy that Archer found you."

He nodded gratefully, the weight of his past slowly lifting off his shoulders. "You know, I don't think I've ever spoken about that night to anyone since it happened. Thank you for giving me a safe space to talk about it."

I couldn't help but smile softly, feeling warm affection for this man who had been through so much. As Laurent continued to do my hair and makeup, I thought about Archer and realized there was still so much I didn't know about him or his life. I had more questions than answers and wanted to know everything about the man.

Laurent's skilled hands crafted a look for me that exuded romance and sensuality. My long hair cascaded in loose waves, framing my face perfectly. The glamorous makeup he applied accentuated my features, with bold red lipstick that matched the stunning dress Archer had chosen for me. As I slipped into the elegant ball gown, I felt like a movie star and a powerful seductress. As I stared at myself in the mirror, I couldn't deny the intense rush of excitement and intimacy that stirred within me. This wasn't just any dress. Hell, I had worn my fair share of ball gowns in my life. But this was the dress he specifically picked for me—a symbol of his desire. Every part of the dress had his touch on it, and I clenched my thighs thinking about going to this event with him on my arm.

Laurent handed me a pair of elegant heels that perfectly matched the dress with ties that wrapped around my calves. Once I was fully dressed and ready to go, he gave me a small clutch purse that held allmy essentials. "You're ready to make your grand entrance, Cinderella," he declared with satisfaction.

"Laurent, you have outdone yourself."

"I only accentuated your natural beauty."

I turned toward him and wrapped my arms around him. "Thank you," I whispered, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. Laurent was tense at first but seemed to loosen in my embrace, savoring a hug that I knew he desperately needed, and somehow, I knew that he hadn't had often.

"Shall we?" Laurent offered his arm, and I gladly took it as he guided me toward the stairwell. We stopped at the top, and I looked down to the front room, where the sound of voices caught my attention. Archer, Kai, Theo, and about half a dozen bodyguards dressed in tuxedos stood waiting, deep in conversation with each other, adjusting their vests and checking their weapons before sliding them into the holsters hidden in their jackets. I suddenly felt nervous, and Laurent could sense it.

"You are a queen, Mila. Own it," he whispered.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and held tightly to his arm as he escorted me down the stairs. My eyes drifted upward, searching for Archer, and when they found him, my heart skipped a beat. The intensity in his stare was like a warm and fiery flame, engulfing me wholly in its essence. It was as if the world around us disappeared, and it was just him and me. I could see the love and the longing in his eyes, which made me stronger.

As I descended the stairs, the room went silent, and everyone turned to look at me. Their eyes locked onto me, and mouths hung open in awe. It was a moment straight out of a movie, where all eyes were on the leading lady, and I felt just like her. Laurent's arm kept me steady and grounded. When we reached the bottom, Archer strode forward with a slow smile.

"You look stunning," he said as he reached us, his voice low and intense.

"Thank you," I managed, feeling my cheeks heat up. "So do you."

His tuxedo was sleek, jet black, and fit him like a glove, accentuatinghis physique. A vibrant red bow tie and cufflinks coordinated perfectly with the crimson hue of my dress. A single red rose peeked out from his jacket pocket, adding to his charming appearance. His dark hair was neatly combed over to the side and held in place with gel, giving him a dapper appearance and highlighting his piercing green eyes.

"Wow, Mila. You are going to steal the show tonight," Theo smiled, straightening his bow tie and flashing me his pearly white teeth.

"I second that," Kai chimed in, tucking his gun into his waistband.

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