Page 12 of Hell Hath No Fury

It’s also shocking how many questionable deals arise at parties. Everyone’s there to schmooze and have a good time, but in the back rooms, some outlandish transactions go down.

And, just to add to the allure, I think I’ve killed more people at parties than I have at any other event, though it’s probably safe to assume this won’t be one of those killing parties.

But then again, with this crew of fuck-around miscreants, you never really know what’s going to happen.

Camilla and Agatha decide to attend the event. Lilith, due to her notorious background, will be stuck in a van, though I know she prefers it that way.

Matt and Tony will attend, though Camilla will work her magic on them to ensure no one actually recognizes who they are.Declan checked in, intent on cutting his series of charity concerts short, but then listened to reason when Matt explained that it would be a huge red flag to anyone keeping tabs on Darius Hughes’s brother.

For a moment, I thought Declan was going to argue; however, his wife, Issa, managed to make him listen to reason, especially given their series will be wrapping up in a day or two anyway.

I’ve opted to join Lilith in the van under the ruse that I’m the contingency plan for when Darius undoubtedly shows up to make trouble. Even if he isn’t intent on making trouble, the odds that the big man will be able to keep his shit together if this Dmitri shows his face are slim to none.

It’s laughable, really, the idea that I might be able to stop the Beast if he comes unleashed, but I sure as fuck will do my damnedest to get the situation under control.

It’s also quite likely he’ll manage to sneak in before we even set eyes on him. In which case, we’ll have to do some scurrying and hope to keep the damage to a minimum.

Lilith and I have mainly been focused on the screens in front of us. It makes for a much easier silence than usual, and I’m quite glad there isn’t any real leeway for us to talk about the past.

Agatha’s correct when she said I probably know the least about what happened so many decades ago. That doesn’t change the fact that no matter which way you cut it, I was an adult and somehow ended up having relations with a minor. The shame of that fact has not even begun to dull over the years, and I fear it’s the kind of shame I will take to my grave.

Lilith glances over at me, and I quickly look away, suddenly embarrassed that she caught me staring. But she smirks cooly, turning her gaze back to the screen as she teases, “You can take a picture, and it will last longer.”

“Oh, I know,” I retort, surprising myself with my blatantly sly response.

Her gaze shoots back to me, and I grin as her eyes narrow, but then she shakes her head, turns her focus back to the screens again. “I don’t even want to know.”

I chuckle lightly, one-hundred percent certain that she doesn’t want to know. If she had even one iota of the deep level of obsession I’ve had for her over the years, she’d likely off me herself just out of principle.

Some commotion at the entrance catches my eye, and I lean close and jump to my feet. “Oh, fuck my life.” Because, sure enough, there’s Darius fucking Hughes entering the ballroom.

I take off out of the van, not even bothering to close the doors as I race to the building entrance. Having already paid off the men at the door, I’m able to enter easily, knowing that Lilith will communicate to the guys inside to keep an eye out for him.

I follow the direction I last saw him walking, and, sure enough, within moments, he comes into view. I scan the ballroom, locating Camilla and Agatha standing with Antoinette, the three of them deep in conversation.

I continue walking toward Darius, knowing the exact moment he sees them from the tension in his body and the clenching of his jaw. He’s only managed to take two steps in their direction when I block his path, and I’m knocked back a couple steps from the force of him walking into me.

I place my hands on his chest, immediately stepping right into him, my face almost touching his. “Don’t do it.”

He doesn’t flinch or turn away; he doesn’t even look at me as he grits out, “Get out of my way.”

“Not a fucking chance,” I reply firmly.

He continues to stare across the room, and after a few beats, he shifts his gaze to mine. I step back slightly so my interference isn’t as obvious to anyone who might be watching. I put my hand out, and after a pause, he takes it, managing a small smile as weshake hands and attempt some fake fucking greeting for the sake of everyone else.

He releases my hand and then stuffs both of his hands in his pockets as he says, “Whoever this fucking Dmitri is, if he’s at all related to the Dmitri Antoinette blew up, he’s going to take one look at Agatha and know we’re onto him.”

“Yes, and we feel that’s exactly his intent.”

Darius frowns. “But why?”

I shrug, shake my head as I say, “I don’t fucking know. But there’s only one reason he would have her tucked away, hidden from everyone, and then dump her in our laps.”

Darius frowns, his lips pressing together as he thinks over my words, and then he sighs as he says, “He wants us on the offensive.”

“That’s right,” I say much more calmly than I feel. “Or someone he’s working with.”

Confident the urgency has passed, I shift to stand beside Darius so I can watch the three women the same as he is. “Obviously, you can go over there if you can keep your eye on the ball. She’s already met you, so it’s not like it’s a big shock at this point, and as far as we can tell, this Dmitri is not here.”

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