Page 60 of Thorns of Deceit
Athena excused herself to go get a drink, while I continued dancing.
Letting my hands glide through my hair, I soaked in the attention. I never gave the men more than a lingering look, but it made me feel carefree and desirable. There was no harm in a little innocent flirting.
My gaze flicked around to the next male victim. My breath caught and my body froze as my gaze locked with ocean depths that stared back at me darkly.
Aiden Callahan.
I blinked, then blinked again, convinced he was a figment of my imagination. I closed my eyes again, counted to five and opened them, but the image of my husband refused to fade away. He stood there like a dark cloud, threatening to swallow me among the crowd of people.
Before I could process what was happening, the tall, dark-haired figure strode toward me. My brain kicked into gear too late.
I turned on my heel and barely took two steps in the opposite direction when a strong hand wrapped around my wrist.
“I see dead people,wife.”
Panic gripped my chest, but I bit the inside of my cheek and squared my shoulders. There was only one thing left to do: feign ignorance. There’d be time to fall apart later.
I turned to face him ever so slowly while I schooled my face.
To Aiden Callahan, I’d been buried five years ago along with the ashes of my mother.
I’d left those ashes behind, and from death and destruction rose someone else entirely. A new Raven. I had a new passport. New past. The money I’d taken from Aiden helped. So did the distance.
I lived in Paris, mostly keeping out of the spotlight over the years. Of course, some events, like gallery shows with my own work exhibits were impossible to avoid.
Every day had been a delicate balance of staying invisible while pretending to live freely. I’d built walls out of art, a seemingly easy life, and the women who became my family. The four girls who’d always have my back, just as I had theirs. And surrounded by my friends, I was hiding in plain sight.
This fashion show was one such example. It wasn’t a large event, but small and privately funded thanks to an associate of Reina’s father.
“You have some serious explaining to do.” Aiden’s voice crackled with rage, and the storm in his eyes matched the thunder in his tone.
“I’m not sure who you are,” I said coolly, my heart pounding against my rib cage like a hammer, “but I assure you, sir, I’m not your wife.”
His jaw ticced. “Bullshit, Raven.”
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” I replied, forcing a light, practiced laugh. “It happens when men drink too much. Faces blur.”
He stepped closer, his achingly familiar scent seeping into my lungs and almost making my knees buckle.
“You think you can fool me?” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “After putting me through hell for the past five years of letting me believe you’re dead? A cruel fucking deceit.”
I met his gaze defiantly. “You’re hallucinating.”
He chuckled, the sound devoid of the warmth that I remembered. “Maybe, but if that’s the case, you’re going to hallucinate with me because I’m keeping you. And, Raven, be warned”—his hand brushed my arm, sending a jolt straight through me—“I have five years’ worth of rage and abstinence to make up for.”
I swallowed hard, the air and meaning of his words between us crackling. Did he really mean… I shook my head. No, it couldn’t be.
“Please, you’re… mistaken.”
I gulped while the music thumped around us, oblivious to the war waging between the two of us.
I struggled to maintain the mask of indifference between us, and his nearness wasn’t helping. Then his grip loosened and I yanked my hand away from him, desperately needing space between us.
Jesus Christ, I forgot how beautiful—and terrifying—his face was.
His dark hair fell across his piercing blue eyes, but it wasn’t their unique color that I found fascinating. It was how intensely he watched me, almost as if he were peering into my soul. And I didn’t dare glimpse his full, sensual mouth—one I knew could bring a world of pleasure.
There was something bewitching about his sharp jawline. The curves and edges of his face were ruthless. Between those cutthroat cheekbones and square chin was a mouth that could say so many filthy things.
