Page 84 of Pretty Pink Poison
“Or your head will end up on the shelf like the rest of them.”
Bianca squealed. “I knew it would sound good.”
It was official. I’d lost my mind.
CHAPTER 26
PINK
“I knowthat’s not the dress he sent you,” Bane growled when I answered the door for him. He’d pulled at his neck and looked toward the ceiling before walking in.
“Your brother sent methatdress for tonight.” I pointed to the one I wasn’t wearing. Instead, I had a bright-pink strapless number on that shimmered like stars in the night. I’d matched it with thigh-high chunky boots that almost looked combat. I loved that they weren’t too girlie but sexy at the same time. Paired with my cat eye pink makeup and my pink bob growing out a bit, I felt fierce and maybe a little off-kilter.
We didn’t go to large events like this often. And never ones where I had to stand beside a man who’d bedded me without my consent and didn’t see it as wrong because, to him, I was going to be his property.
I reminded myself though that I’d at least had my fun here for years. I’d at least made friends and got a piece of the love I longed for.
Tonight would still be harder than most nights though. I wouldn’t have Kee there because her residency had ended and she’d taken over a record label in Tennessee. Olive had hunkered down in her hometown right outside of Chicago where it seemedshe had syndicate ties too. She was making a life there with Dimitri and about to have a baby.
A miniature version of the love they shared with one another.
A Franny. A child who seemed happy rather than full of fear.
It was poetic and beautiful and also downright depressing because I looked at Bane and knew we’d never have that.
“You should wear the other dress,” he said, but didn’t take his eyes off where the hem of my dress ended.
“I think not,” I told him, crossing my arms. “This one is much more me.”
I saw him open and close the fist at his side three times, the tattoos on his forearms flexing each time before he nodded. “Fine.”
Fuck, that man was stubborn. He acted like this was normal, like it was all fine. Healwayspretended that nothing I did affected him now. Even when I practically screwed men I didn’t care about in front of him.
I avoided the actual deed, sure, but still. Had he told me I got to sleep with him that night, I’d have been totally on board. And I’d been happy with where we were at over the past two years after burning my dad’s house down, but every day was a day closer to me leaving him and going to stand beside a man I didn’t know.
And now he was pawning me off on that very man tonight.
“So, you’re okay with this?” I pried as I smoothed the dress down and turned to look at one of the mirrors for the last time.
“It’s a phenomenal dress, Pink.”
I whirled on him. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“What are you talking about then?” he asked and then glanced at his watch like he couldn’t be bothered to be late.
“Oh my God. Do you not care at all that I’m going down to the ballroom with you tonight and you’re then just handing me off to him?”
“That was always the plan,” he stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Was it?”
He nodded, “You can lead the way, or I can.” He rocked back on his loafers. Damn, he looked good tonight in all black too. So good I wanted to stab him.
I considered the syringe I’d used long ago to drug him and wondered if I could somehow do it again. Get him to stay here with me instead of going out there to flaunt how much we didn’t give a shit about a real love connection. Instead, we were going to hook arms with people we didn’t care at all about and smile for our legacies.
I glanced on last time at our reflection and then waved it off before grabbing a clutch and walking out of into the living area. “So you just don’t care? It doesn’t matter that I’m about to live in a damn prison alongside him, doing his bidding for the rest of my life?”
He followed right behind me. “Hardly, Bianca. You’re not marrying him tonight. And for the past year I’ve been more than a good friend to you. I’ve allowed you to have your fun with every guy that steps into the Vault and experience everything life can throw at you.”
