Page 63 of Make Me A Sinner
So... here goes nothing.
I push open the door to return to the party, knowing every damn eye is on me.
thirty
-Serena-
Right on the verge of a heart attack, I slip out of the bathroom while no one’s paying attention, and rejoin the party looking for Set. Not that he’s so hard to miss. He’s already got the usual circle of businessmen buzzing around him, all fighting for his attention, along with their dates, who also seem to be drooling over him.
I push through the crowd and slip in beside him, only to realize he’s not talking to a businessman. He’s too relaxed, his tone too casual, like he’s not preparing to chop this man’s head off right the next second. That makes me believe he’s a friend.
Does Set even have friends?
And if he does, they’re ridiculously attractive. The guy I’m looking at has to be at least six feet four, built like damn Hercules, hazel, almost honey eyes, black hair pulled back into a warrior knot with Viking style braids trailing down from the side, a square jaw and the perfect defined small beard… he sure is competing with Set for the good looks award. But my man’s got no real match in that department. Which reminds me I should stop staring before he notices and kills everyone.
And did I just call him my man?
I’m seriously messed up.And since I haven't had nearly enough to drink tonight, I blame it on the lack of alcohol. I need to fix that—ASAP.
I’ve barely spend two seconds beside Set, when I’m just about to excuse myself to chase down a waiter carrying a tray full of booze. But Set grabs my hand before I can move, keeping me in place.“Serena, this is my brother, Ares,” he says, nodding toward the attractive guy he’d been talking to.
Well, that explains it. Damn, their family genes are something else.
I make a slight bow as the man kisses my hand.
Very good manners on this one.
“Ares. Oh, like the Greek God of War,” I say, surprised by his unusual name, but I can’t deny it suits him a little too well. He does look like a modern-day Ares. If Ares had access to designer tuxes and a six-figure skincare routine.
“You know your gods,” the man says with a smile, looking at me, like I just landed from the moon.
Did I say something stupid?
“Ahem,” Set cuts in through the awkward pause. “I’m pretty sure your sister is waving at you.”
My eyes slide over to where she’s standing. “Well, this feels like some kind of weird family reunion. I should probably go talk to her, especially after whatI just found out earlier.”
“Don’t go too far,” Set warns, like he still doesn’t trust me.
Like, go where?I bet I have a GPS up my ass. Plus, there’s basically a hit sign taped to my forehead, so if he won’t kill me, someone else will.
I don’t answer, just shoot him a glare and head for my sister, who looks like she’s dying for some company. Well, she’s not gonna like my company, that’s for sure. “Where’d Gregory vanish to?” I ask, since I don’t see him around, and I don’t wantto say something stupid, only to have him magically appear from nowhere behind me—as it usually happens to me.
“He’s upstairs with some colleagues, doctors, plastic surgeons, whatever. I was just going to the bar to get a drink when I saw you with Set, and since he seems to be involved in a conversation, I decided to steal you away from him for a couple of minutes.”
“Well, that drink sounds like a plan.” We walk to the bar while Christina seems to be scanning the room. Even after we order drinks, she’s still doing it—like she’s looking for someone. And I can’t pretend not to notice, especially after what Set told me about Gregory. “Chris, everything okay?”
“Yeah, why? Why? Why wouldn’t it be?” She tries to sound casual, but I can spot the lie from a mile away.
“Well, I mean, is everything okay between you and Gregory?”
“Why? Did you hear something? Or… see something?” The doubt in her voice confirms it—Set really can read minds. The thought unsettles me because...what the actual fuck? How is that even possible?And if that’s possible, then it means he was right about theother thingas well. She wants to fuck him. Now, honestly—who in their right mind wouldn’t?
“No, what could I possibly hear?” I try to tune back into the conversation and ignore theparallelone still playing in my head. “Is everything okay between you two?” I push, arching an eyebrow, just enough to let her know I’m onto something, without spelling it out.
“Yeah, everything is… actually no. I don’t know where Gregory is. I haven’t seen him for half an hour. I don’t want to seem paranoid, but things aren’t as great between us as I might’ve made them seem. All this fame and beautiful women, it’s gone straight to his head.”
“Youare a beautiful woman,” I point out before she lists all her husband's affairs because I can feel that’s where this is heading.
