Page 9 of The Burnt Heart

“Keep walking, only a few more steps,” Lara coaxed. She kept a smile plastered on her face as she wove me bodily through the crowds. Her fingers dug into my arm, and I welcomed the sting.

That asshole.

Briar must have known how I would react to seeing him bringNicoleas his date. I focused on my breathing, grasping for the rampant hurt that skittered through my veins. I forced it down into a box to be dealt with later. My heart still pounded in my chest and tongue felt thick in my mouth. Perhaps I was wrong, this wasn’t a charade my men had planned to appease an investor. Maybe this break up was real. It had been easier to believe they were being led by a man who had ulterior motives. One’s that were significantly improved by me being single.

“Why would he bring her?” I muttered, and Lara made a soothing noise, not able to give me a reason.

“Because he’s a complete moron who doesn’t understand how easily he could lose you,” Lara let go as she delivered me to the bar on the other side of the room. She ordered us a Shiraz and looked around like she was my security detail instead of Jonah, who was lurking about somewhere. I’d spotted Logan and Jesse when I walked in, gratified to see someone clearly hired their dates. I didn’t recognize their faces and while they looked like lovely girls, it was clear they were being paid to be there. They had thousand-mile stares, too busy whispering to each other because Logan and Jesse weren’t paying them a lick of attention. Logan had almost combusted on seeing me, which had plumped my bruised ego. His mouth had fallen open, and he’d almost dropped the beer he was holding. Then his throat bobbed as his gaze burned me up, smoldering and possessive. I had shivered, wondering if he might break this charade, snatch me up, and fail at their farce of leaving me. I’d brushed past them without so much as a glance, hoping the rejection stung.

That was before I saw Briar and Nicole. He had been whispering in her ear, laughing and smiling like he hadn’t smashed my heart into a million pieces. It was clear they were there together. Nicole had driven that home like a sledgehammer when she’d put her hands all over him.

Bry. He let her call him that?

The small action burned my heart like an inferno. Briar hated nicknames, had a visceral reaction to all pet names the entire time we’d been together. Him letting her call him that hurt. And if this was part of the charade, why would he rub the girl who I’d felt uneasy about in my face? Briar didn’t believe me, but I’d walked in on them once, late at night, when he’d messaged to say he was working late at the twenty-four-hour gym they used to all work at. I’d delivered him sushi and had found Nicole perchedup on the reception desk while he typed away on his laptop. She’d been feeding him dumplings, holding out her chopsticks and letting him nibble off them. Of course, Nicole jumped off as soon as I arrived, irritated rather than flustered. Why had she been there? I’d asked as soon as she cleared out. Briar had rubbed his forehead and waved his hand.

“She’s just helping Adelaide. I’m working on the projected finances for our business proposal. She knew I was here and thought to drop some food off for me.”

End of discussion. His gaze kept drifting back to the excel spreadsheet, and I’d given up trying to get through to him. But it wasn’t enough to soothe the blaring intuition that said she was trouble. I had been welcoming initially. She had grown up with my guys, I wanted to know all about how they were before they met me. Nicole had shut down any effort to be my friend. Her tiny nose would drift up in the air, followed by snide remarks about spoiled, wealthy people. If she knew what I was capable of, she wouldn’t be so pointed with her insults. But she was Briar’s friend and I let it slide.

She knew I knew. Certain comments and micro expressions flew straight over my guys’ heads, even Logan and Jesse, who were determined to dislike her for my sake. I recognized the look in Nicole’s eyes when she thought no-one was watching. She loved Briar. But he wouldn’t believe me.

And now he was here with her. She’d wasted no time glaring at me like she was staking a claim.

“Forget him. This is your night, babe.” Lara clinked her glass against mine. I took a sip, letting the notes of oak sink into my tongue.

“May I offer my congratulations?” A voice cut through my shattered thoughts, and I looked to the side, straightening, as I realized it was Harold Donato. The head of the Donato family was an unassuming man. Tall and wiry, his face deeply creased,framed by thick salt and pepper eyebrows. They inched upwards as he turned a well-practiced smile on me. Behind him lurked his son, Raimondo. The softness of youth erased and hardened into striking sharp lines. Pitch-black hair glinted under the light. A thin smile graced his face, as well practiced as his father. He stepped around Harold and held out his hand. I let it hover in the air for a moment but relented out of curiosity, surprised by the callouses.

“Adelaide Orazio, you are the most beautiful woman in the room,” he purred.

Lara snorted under her breath as he pressed a soft kiss to the top of my hand. Harold huffed at being put to the side, but I didn’t miss the satisfied gleam in his eyes. I’d long since moved past the embarrassing rejection, simply pleased that our two families could exist in relative peace. This was everything he needed, and it was obvious he felt his plans were going to bear priceless fruit. The older man stepped forward and pressed a kiss to my hand as well.

“My son speaks the truth, Miss Orazio. You are truly mesmerizing tonight.”

“Mr. Donato, Raimondo, it’s been some time since I’ve seen you.” I answered with a mocking grin. My body and soul were aching from the machinations of this man, and I was unwilling to play his precious pawn. Harold’s lips thinned, like this comment grieved him.

“Too long, and you’ve been a living angel for the Orazio family. The foundation is a wonderful contribution to Greenich Bay. Where is your father tonight?”

If I didn’t know what he was angling at, I might have basked a bit more. The Orazio Foundation was the only reason my father wasn’t in prison. The new police chief had shaken our relationship with the force in Greenich Bay. Chief Goldman had replaced someone who had been on our payroll. Slowly, all ourbought police had been foisted out, and I knew it was only a matter of time before they turned their eyes on the cause of their corruption. Quietly, I had worked to better conceal any illegal activities and turn the focus on my philanthropic activities. When the inevitable sweep went through, the Orazios were untouchable. Tonight, they nominated me for my charity work. It was almost laughable, except that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“So kind. My father is floating around here somewhere.” I’d told him to find a quiet place and stay put, not to engage with my guys if they turned up. Now, I was glad I’d given him the warning. I looked at Lara as she touched my arm.

“I need to touch base with Duncan about the project we talked about. Are you sure you want to go ahead with it? I’ll only be a moment,” she assured me, and I waved her away with a false sense of confidence. I wanted to clutch her back, hold her against me like a shield. But I was a big girl. I could handle this myself.

“I’m leaning toward yes, but don’t feel the need to hurry.” A curt nod let her know I was okay, and she reluctantly melted into the crowd. I couldn’t help but look across the room, cursing my weakness. Briar was where I had left him. Jesse and Logan had joined him at the bar, and they were chatting easily together. Nicole was still plastered to Briar’s side while the other two dates had taken up stools and were scrolling through their phones. I turned, so I wasn’t facing them. Embarrassment shot through me like a full body flush.

“Ahh, I must speak with him. I’ll leave you two young ones to catch up. Miss Orazio, a pleasure as always.” Harold said, with a coy tilt to his lips. Ray pressed his back against the bar, crossing his long legs in a languid show of confidence. His eyes followed Lara’s behind as she wound through the crowd.

“So, how much do you know?” I asked him, enjoying the flare of surprise in his dark eyes.

“No pleasantries, Adelaide?” he drawled, and I arched an eyebrow at him.

“Last time we spoke you declared me a butterball in front of all those I loved and respected. Forgive me if I am not inclined to reminisce with you.”

Ray winced and took a sip of his drink. He tapped the side of it with his finger, his silver rings making a tinkling sound.

“See, I told dear papa that you would not forgive me for that. I’m under strict instructions to charm you tonight. Apparently, he’s paved the way for me to woo you. For what purpose? Not for me to know. I assume that should I be successful in seducing you, he will give me more information.”

His tone was brutally honest, and he shrugged at the flicker of amusement that tugged at my lips. Casually discussing how Harold had systematically dismantled a five-year relationship should have chilled me. But the casual slump in his shoulders told me he didn’t know the depths his papa had gone to.

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