Page 14 of The Clash of the Damned
I run up the stairs to my open plan bedroom and bathroom ensuite and make quick work of showering while Silva and Jude wait for me below. “Where are we going tonight?” I yell out.
“A rooftop party that will benefit a charity. It will be good for us to be seen there as anyone who is important will also be in attendance. It will help reassure the public that we’re not the monsters that the cult is making us out to be.”
I towel my hair and decide to let it air dry while I add a thin layer of make up and grab the first dress that Jude offered me. A little black number, classic Luca. When I’m done getting ready and join them downstairs again, Jude smiles at my newly improved appearance.
“If there was one thing I can agree with Amelia on, I have been a poor friend to you. I hope you can forgive me as we try again?”
I notice the sparkling rock on her finger that wasn’t there before. “Damn, that diamond nearly blinded me.” My lame joke doesn’t soundnearly as funny as it did in my head. “When did he officially propose? If I missed this, maybe I’m not a great friend either.” She waves at me, dismissing my thought.
“He did good. It’s almost three carats, a yellow diamond. He picked that, knowing it was my favorite. I catch myself staring every now and then because I can’t believe it’s real.” Jude grabs me in a hug and adds, “Maybe we’re all just trying our best, but we aren’t perfect, and sometimes, that’s okay.”
***
Silva seems to be relieved to get back to Tao as Jude and I drive to the rooftop party in her convertible. Shaking off my despair, I catch up on what I’ve missed. “How did Jayden propose?”
Jude smiles, but never takes her eyes off the road, and I wonder if something more could grow between them. “He kept it between us, just like I wanted, and he also understood I wanted a girl’s night with you. I can see how things could be good with him.
“My turn,” Jude continues. “In case we’re asked tonight, how did you explain your mom’s death, because I still don’t know.”
I swallow the emotion building in my throat. It would be inconvenient to cry now. “She’s retired and gone on an extended cruise.” I pause, collecting myself. “I’m hoping this gives me a bit more time to come up with something solid because right now, I’ve got nothing.
“If Eden is there tonight, be careful, okay? She has come for my family already and is far more dangerous than she appears. While now is not the time to go into details, I just need you to be careful, please. I can’t lose youtoo.” Squeezing her free hand, I assure Jude she won’t. We park at the event and are immediately greeted with an unwelcome sign.
“The Vance Family Welcomes You?” I read out loud. “We can leave right now. No one will ever know we were here,” I tell Jude.
She bites her lip as she deliberates, then pushes the button on the elevator. “We’ve come this far. I don’t run anymore; that was the old me. May as well show our faces.” The elevator takes us to the rooftop, and the perfect summer evening greets us with a no-expenses-spared party and a champagne shower at the entrance.
We both grab a glass of champagne as we adjust to our new situation. It doesn’t take long before unwelcome company finds us. “Jude, Luca, I would like you to meet my fiancé, Sloane.” I can’t very well kill Dom in public, and he knows it. But I do placate myself with the idea of it. I can think of three different ways to kill him, slowly and painfully in the time we’ve arrived at the party. Which is why the coward is cornering us here. They look like the perfect power couple, him in his signature three piece suit, and her with her stunning red hair; I just don’t care.
“Charmed,” I respond before turning on my heel and grabbing Jude’s arm, dragging her to the bar with me. Champagne isn’t going to cut it; I need something stronger. I signal to the bar tender for two shots of tequila, and without needing any prompting, Jude chases the bitter liquid with me. When we turn back towards the event, I finally see the dreaded Eden in real life. She looks smaller, less harmless in person. It’s not the first time we’ve had issues with religious groups, and I doubt it will be the last. Eden makes eye contact with me, and she doesn’t back down from our stare off until someone asks her something. Not wanting to be rude, she turns away from me.
“I didn’t think he would go through with it,” Jude whispers.
“Who?” I ask and follow her eye line to the brunette laughing with every man and woman that stares at her impressive cleavage, accentuated by her jade green, cut out dress. She looks up, her smile lighting the room, and every eye follows her as she makes her way to the bar. Shortly after, she is joined by Sebastian. With his signature vest, tailored slacks, and leather jacket combo, he still looks every bit the bad boy I remember. He locks eyes with Jude, and I decide this is what it must feel like to be caught in the middle of a train wreck.
“Jude, this is my…fiancé. Giada. Giada, this is Jude…The heir to the Druid empire.” I can see the jealousy written all over Jude, and I know Sebastian can too.
“It’s amazing how you declare your love for me one week, and then you have a fiancé the next,” Jude says without missing a beat.
If Giada is taken aback by her statement, she doesn’t show it. Kissing Sebastian on his cheek, she says in a husky tone, “I’ll give you a moment,” before she leaves us at the bar.
An agitated Sebastian turns to Jude. “I thought you were mad at me because of the sitdown. Now, you’re jealous? Can you pick a lane and stick to it?”
“I’m not doing this with you here, Sebastian. You’re making a scene.”
“Well, as much as I would love a quick fuck in the closet for you to get your jealousy out of your system, you’ve made it clear you don’t want me. You would know that tonight was my engagement party if you answered your fucking phone. Unless you’ve had a change of heart and you’re ready to admit how you feel, deal with it. I’m done being your fuck boy.”
Sebastian finally acknowledges me with a head tilt before he stalks after his new fiancé, and the whispers about us increase. If we wanted to fly under the radar tonight and dispel Eden’s rumour mill, well, we failed. We got people talking more than normal, and I’m not sure how that can be a good thing.
Chapter 11 | What A Time To Be Alive
Dominic
“My name is Ricky, and I will be your server this evening. What can I get you?” Ricky is probably a college student, focusing on sports, judging by his athletic build. He must be new to the bistro because I recognize most people that work here.
“Whisky, please, two blocks of ice, while I wait for my guests.” I motion to the empty table in front of me, giving him my best smile.
“Right away, sir.” Ricky’s blonde head bobs across the crowd as he fetches my order. Unbuttoning my waist coat, I hang it on the chair behind me.
