Page 95 of Pride
The rest of the Lazarus family and their mates milled about, dispersed at random intervals. There was a tension only select people felt. Alice kept checking doors and wished she’d brought at least one Sinner with her, but this was her life now. Every time she looked at Parker, she couldn’t exactly complain.
There was one thing to say for him choosing this location, his complete and utter control of the security system. AIMI scanned and recorded each individual as they arrived. She could lock down the entire building if she needed, or open the front door to guests. The only way out would be to fly off the roof, and as Parker had already told her, landing a helicopter was difficult.
So he was right. No one would be leaving in a body bag. They were all too smug and prideful to start trouble. They truly wanted to see Parker lose everything because the Lazarus family had taken so much from them. That’s all this night was for. Gloating.
You trust me, don’t you?
Her nails dug into her palms again.
“Tough crowd, huh?” Flint asked, coming up next to Alice. His glass of champagne remained untouched. Without his usual baseball cap, his silver streaked hair, trim beard, and suit looked rather dapper. It hadn’t struck Alice before how similar that beard was to Parker’s. Short, trimmed, and razored in a way that accentuated their jaw.
This was the first time Alice had seen Flint since she’d found out the news about their history. She’d passed it off as unimportant, but suddenly seeing his face now compounded the memory of the man in the principal’s office all those years ago. Her childhood longing rushed to the surface.
“You get used to it,” Flint said.
“What?”
“Them.” He nodded toward Tony and Parker as they told a boisterous story a few feet away to some avid businessmen. “Their act.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about that.” Alice knew Parker put on airs and sometimes frivolity for his cover identity to steer the conversation away from the possibility of him being a vigilante. Misdirection at its finest.
Flint glanced at Alice’s empty glass and asked if she wanted another. Her throat was suddenly parched. She nodded gratefully, and he flagged down the barman. When the drink returned, Flint handed it to Alice and stared at her.Here it comes.
“Alice, I want to say something to you and I hope I’m not being too forward or inappropriate.”
“Flint,” she said, heading off the conversation. “You don’t have to. Mary explained.”
“I want to.” He took her hand, pain echoing in his brown eyes. “I have to apologize for what happened. For leaving you to fend for yourself as a child. It’s not an excuse, but I thought the money I left you had actually gone to you. I had no idea your family was so greedy.”
“It’s water under the bridge. You never owed me anything.”
“If I had known the Sisterhood—”
“Flint. Please.” She smiled gently and squeezed his hand. “A wise person recently told me to stop looking back and start looking forward. Who I am today is because of what happened in the past. I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful I am a woman who can stand by Parker’s side with my head held high.” Her throat tightened. “I’m also grateful this family has welcomed me.”
His eyes turned glossy, and he nodded.
The truth of Alice’s words rang through her. She wasn’t sure if she’d believed it before, but now, saying it aloud, she lifted her chin. A few months ago, she didn’t believe she was worthy of being in this relationship. But now she had the love of an incredible man. Alice searched the room for Parker and found him already looking at her. She smiled fondly. The concern in his eyes turned to affection. Her diamond dress felt lighter, like it fit.
“Two,” said a man to Alice’s left.
When she caught his profile, she stilled.Julius. He’d come.
His face was haggard, his suit hung off his tall frame as though he’d lost weight, and chunks of white hair had been hacked from his head. Alice glanced down and found why—he’d tied a lock of pale hair around his index finger.Weird. Warning bells rang in her gut.
This man was deranged.
Flint cursed next to Alice and shifted closer to her, as if to protect her.
Next to Julius was another face she recognized. A handsome, tall man with short hair. Unlike Julius, whose expensive suit swam on his frame, this one’s muscles threatened to split the thrift shop seams. Large brown eyes surrounded by thick black lashes she might be a little envious of. He was the Faithful who’d attacked her at the cathedral, the one controlling the replicates. And the only Faithful who’d escaped.
Was he Julius’s protection? A bodyguard?
Alice’s grip tightened around her champagne flute, and she calculated the time it would take to smash and stab into Julius’s carotid.
“Ms. Montgomery,” Julius drawled, accepting his champagne from the bartender. “I’m surprised to see you. Alive.”
Her brow arched. The tall companion’s lips flattened in what looked like frustration.
