Page 107 of Unorthodox
I know she knows there’s no escape here. Some of the men in this room make me look like fucking Father Christmas. Even still, she takes the drink from a man she doesn’t know, and I want to kill her, my fingers tightening around the glass in my hand.
I don’t recognize the man, but he’s at Luca’s. He can’t be up to any fucking good.
There are a dozen women here who are obviously slaves, many of them whose owners would gladly share them, and yet Charcoal Suit Guy has to go for my fucking girl.
I shrug out of Evora’s hand, head straight for Addison and the dumb fuck.
For all I know, he’s her buyer’s guy, and he could try to snatch her out from under me.
He could fucking cost me my brother.
Yeah. That’s not going to happen.
But as I get closer, someone blocks my way, sidestepping me and nearly making me spill my goddamn drink. I instinctively reach for my gun but registering Luca’s dark eyes stops me.
“What the fuck?” I growl. He’s got a hand on my chest, but he drops it quickly, taking a step back.
He glances over his shoulder at Addison, who’s standing closer to the guy, and I can see her drink is nearly empty.
Idiot. She’s a fucking idiot. I’m going to kill her.
“Calm down,” Luca says under his breath, turning back to me. He glances around his party, and I feel my eyes nearly bug out of my head at his words. I don’t care that it’s his house. That’smy fucking property.
“Get out of my way.” I set the drink on a high table next to us, where a few other discarded glasses are. Fisting my hands, I go to step around Luca again. We’re nearly the same height, and he’s a little thicker than me, but I will deck him if he doesn’t fucking move.
“I said,calm down.”His voice turns darker, his eyes on mine. “People are watching you.”
I don’t move my eyes from his, not wanting to see who he’s talking about. “What’s your point?” I glance over his shoulder again, and Charcoal Suit has his hand on Addison’s low back. She’s leaning over the bar, sipping her drink from a straw, and then she flashes him a drunken smile. The bartender made that drink, but I wonder if he put something in it. No way she’s that drunk that fast, and Addison isn’t the kind of girl to be smiling about a party like this.
Or maybe she is.
So long as she’snot with me.
“Don’t make her a target.” Luca’s words make me pause, and I force myself to look at him instead of her. “You act overeager to protect her?” He glances around the room. “These people will want to find out why. They know she’s leverage. Don’t bring any more attention to her than necessary.”
“Who is she with?” I demand, knowing Luca’s speaking the truth. These may be people he invited into his home, but they’re all sharks. Every single one of us are. And I don’t know how to separate the ones that want Addison’s blood from the ones that just want her screams.
“Zeke,” Luca says easily. “He’s harmless.”
I run my tongue over my teeth as I stare at Luca, waiting for him to explain. We both know no one here isharmless.
“He’s a runner. He doesn’t deal with women. He’s twenty, probably why he’s talking to her.”
That doesn’t make me feel any better.
“My bartender won’t let her get drugged,” Luca assures me, clapping me on the shoulder.
I narrow my eyes, and again, he drops his hand. He glances around the room, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Happy birthday to me,”he mutters, rolling his eyes. Before I can say anything, he keeps talking. “I already saw Christopher’s guy. He’s been making glances at her since you two walked in. I think you’ve made your point.” His eyes shift back to me. “As for your buyer’s man? I don’t know who he is, but I’ve got a pretty good idea.”
I don’t bother looking for her father’s man. I don’t give a fuck about him. He’s not ever getting her back.
Instead, I turn where Luca is looking, and I know he’s right.
That’s her buyer’s man.
He’s the only one in here with face tattoos, a few under each eye. He’s in a suit, his dark hair cut close, hands in his pockets as he stands against a wall.
He’s staring past me, right at Addison.
