Page 28 of Ink Deep Devotion

He can see in my eyes the trauma, misery, and fury; what I hate the most is the happiness that Dash is alive, as well as the confusion and suspense. He knows I want to push up on my tiptoes and dance until I reach him again. He wants me to perform, beg, and plead for him to tell me what he meant.

“Good evening, everyone.” The crowd turns to watch my father as he makes his way up the grand staircase to give his speech. Marcus’s eyes slowly peel off me, allowing me a moment to breathe. That or die of cardiac arrest. I’m still too close to him, so I slink back five large steps, merging my way into the crowd like a fish trying to outrun a shark.

Relief and hate flood me, consume me, seep from my pores, and replace my shattered soul.

Dash is alive. Maybe it was all a game.

Is he fucking other girls?

Did he replace me as fast as I did him? Is he hurt?

Does he even think about me?

I clutch my stomach, stumbling on my feet as whispers meet my ears. I’m still being watched, and now I’m causing a scene.

“You need to hide it better.”Dash’s words from the past echo in my ears.

“What?”

“Everything.”

Inhale. Exhale. Straighten your spine, that’s it. Stand tall. Blink away your tears and uncurl your fist. Be the doll you need to be. People expect scared animals to run. Don’t show your cards, Mila.

Tipping my chin high, I look towards my father, but I hear nothing. For all I know, he could be speaking English or Valyrian, but finally, everyone’s attention is on him and not me.

Marcus steps onto the stairs, causing my father to hesitate before covering it with a practiced grin.

What is happening?

Marcus smirks, a smile so graceful God himself would weep over its beauty. He touches my father’s shoulder, then takes a predator’s advantage and stands two steps higher than him.

This is a reminder, folks: your name might be on the deed, but Marcus owns the world. He can move the plate tectonics your little mansion sits on. He controls the seas, and he will wipe your existence from this earth all for the fun of the sport.

“Thank you for having us, Greg,” Marcus announces as the room waits with bated breath so loud you can feel the beating of the frantic hearts bounce off your skin. At the bottom of the stairs, Marcus’s guards stand like sentinels, but it’s the guard to the right who has his eyes glued to my direction, as if he can see my short body through the crowd. I move, but his eyes still follow me.

How the hell is he doing that?

I glance up and see a scattering of body guards on the second floor balcony of the ballroom. At least four dozen men are armed and trained to be faithful to their bosses below. I find another set of eyes standing near the top of the stairs, watching me, his lips moving, no doubt telling the guard below where I’m at.

Why though?

I offended Marcus, and now he’s going to publicly execute me! That’s what is happening.

“I hope you don’t mind, but well,”Your daughter touched my arm, and now she must die!Marcus looks out over the ground and chuckles,“I just thought what a perfect moment to tell everyone the news.” Sharp eyes look down at my father, giving him no choice but to agree.

Marcus pats dad’s shoulder again.“Greg and I are thrilled to announce the engagement of my son Dash to his beautifuldaughter Mila.” Time doesn’t stop; it accelerates so fast I can’t interpret everything else Marcus says.

I don’t hear the gasps and applause from the crowd, nor do I feel the gentle touches of happiness that press against my back.

I feel one thing: a new presence behind me, a warm breath seeping over my shoulder like a blanket trying to warm my numb soul. It’s too late. I’m frostbitten. Wounded.

My nerves are altered. They don’t know what love is or if this is reality or a twisted dream merged with a nightmare.

“Dash and Mila, come up here and join us.”

Hands turn and gently shove me towards the stairs, causing me to stumble. For the first time in weeks, I feel a throbbing pain in my ankle return. “Ouch!” I gasp.

A growl of warning makes them step back, creating an open runway for me to walk down. But that sound affects me differently.

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