Page 75 of Iris' Lying Eyes

“I’ll take that as a no.”

Slowly shaking my head, I say, “Nope, free of battle-axes these days.”

Serena tips her head back and laughs. I can’t help my wide smile until Bastion grabs my thigh under the table while the man beside her sighs.

We chat through dinner while I avoid Parker and his wife. Every once in a while, I feel her stare and wonder if maybe she knows more than she should.

When I glance her way, she’s frowning at her husband. Inexplicably, my heart shrinks, and I drop my head to my plate. This whole shame thing is so anathema to the girl I am now that I don’t know how to process it.

I’ve always justified everything I did, but now I wonder just how much I lied to myself. Harry Parker wasn’t going to save me, but fucking him sure did send a message to John.

Feeling queasy, I push back from the table and mutter, “I need to pe-um, go to the bathroom.”

Bastion doesn’t comment, merely raising a brow, and I escape past the tables, ignoring the burning stares that follow, although it’s possible I’m just being paranoid.

Once inside the restroom, I hide in a stall and laugh as I lean my forehead against the door. How many times did I harass someone in the same place?

Wow. Now it’s me hiding from the world. And I guess karma didn’t hit me hard enough because, of course, the deep tone of Senator Harrison says through the door, “Open up.”

“I’m busy,” I mutter, but he just slams his hand against the door.

“Open.”

With a sigh, I undo the latch and step back. Harrison surveys me coolly before pulling me out by my arm.

Wrenching away, I bare my teeth, but he just sighs. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Raising a brow, I inspect my fingernails. “It’s a party, no?”

Once again, he grabs me up, and I bite my lip to hold back the whimper. Guys like this think they own the world. Hell, some of them actually do.

“Stop fucking around. What’s going on?” He says.

“Relax. Everything is fine.”

His scowl deepens, and he shakes me. “It’s not fine. Why are you here?”

“I’m with my boyfriend. Chill out,” I hiss.

He pushes me away, and I rebound off the door, rubbing my arm. Asshole.

“If I find out if you’ve said a goddamn thing,” he growls.

“You’re being a paranoid fucking idiot. I’m not here for any reason but to act like a brainless bimbo while my man mingles with the morons out there.”

“Your man? Bastion Bruno is your man?” He sneers.

“What are you saying?”

“That he’d be better off picking up a whore on the side of the road. Keep my business to yourself. You think that dick’s a threat? Wait till you meet my fucking guns.”

Averting my gaze, I mumble, “Whatever.”

He cocks his head, and I stretch my lips into a smile. I may be freaked the fuck out, but I’ll never back down.

Huffing, he spins to the door. “You’ve been warned.”

After he goes, I turn to the mirror and stare at my reflection. A red-haired bitch looks back at me, but behind the thousand-yard stare, I see my end, and it only fits that she smiles.

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