Page 56 of Cruel God

Lilith batted her eyelashes, pouting her blood-red lips as she placed her unwelcome palms on my chest. “Come now, Rex. What’s the use of attending the party if you don’t plan on taking part in the festivities?”

Unamused, I reached for her hands and tore them from my chest while disgust bubbled inside my gut. “As I said, I’m not here to socialize. Is Anatoli here or not?”

She rolled her green eyes and grabbed a glass of champagne off a tray as a naked waiter with a ball gag in his mouth walked past.That poor bastard will have a locked jaw by the end of the night.

Lilith took a sip of her champagne. “Yes, he’s here. He arrived an hour ago.”

“Where is he?”

She flipped her straight black hair over her shoulder, the scent of her perfume much too strong as it assaulted my nostrils. “He requested you meet with him in one of the entertainment rooms.”

“Which one?”

“You know, I can’t figure out what’s the deal between you and the fat Russian.”

“You don’t have to figure it out because it’s none of your goddamn business.”

“Excuse me.” She raised a brow. “This is my party. This is my house. Whatever happens here tonight is most definitely my business.”

I stepped up and squared my shoulders, glaring down at her, making sure she knew now was not the time to fuck with me. “Where is he, Lilith?”

She bit her lip, her leering gaze settling on my lips. “I do miss spending time with you, little Rex.”

I hated when she called me that.

“I bet your cock is much bigger now than it was when you were a teenage boy.” Her tongue dragged along her bottom lip. “How about you join me in my bedroom and show me all the tricks you’ve learned over the years, and then we tend to business afterward.”

“I don’t—”

“Or you could just fuck me right here.”

I scoffed and licked my lips, looking to the side as I wiped my thumb across my chin. “You know, Lilith.” I inched closer, her eyes flashing with lust and greed. “I would gladly go on my knees, wet my lips and palm my dick—”

“Oh, you have my attention.”

“—and suck that fat Russian’s cock before I ever fuck you again.”

The way her expression fell with shock and disbelief was enough to make my entire fucking year. And once this night was over, and I had finally dealt with the nightmare that lay ahead, I would sip on a glass of bourbon and remember the look on this bitch’s face with a goddamn smile as wide as Texas on my face.

“Fuck you, Rex.”

“Never again, Lilith. Never. Again.”

She pulled her top lip into a snarl, her heavy makeup cracking at the corners of her mouth. “Get the hell out of my house.”

I smoothed my fingers down the lapels of my tuxedo jacket, not feeling the least bit intimidated by her. “I’ll leave once I’ve done what I came here to do. And you’d be wise not to get in my way tonight, Lilith. Just give me half a reason to ruin you, and I will. Now tell me…in which. Room?”

Her nostrils flared, and her jaw ticked. I could practically hear all the murderous thoughts she had toward me. I bet she was fantasizing about riding my cock while she slit my throat.

She cleared her throat. “Top floor. Second door to the left.”

A simple nod was the only thank you she got from me, and I turned to face Piper. “Wait for me by the staircase. Do not, under any circumstances, move without my say so.”

“Yes, sir.”

I took Hope’s hand, her gaze downcast, not looking anyone in the eye. But I felt her discomfort as if it slithered from her skin to mine. For someone who had lived in solitude for so long, all this had to be too much for her. The crowd, the music, the voices—I could only imagine how it had to gnaw at her sanity.

With every step I took, I clutched her hand tighter in mine. My insides burned, and my chest felt like it was being drilled in half over what I was about to do. But it was the only fucking way. It had to be done.

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