People continue to watch us, and I’m thankful no one has tried to put a stop to this. I want to soak up any touch, breath, or look Liam gifts me—even if it’s laced with malice and hatred.
“Just leave, Officer,” I growl, my tone sharp and filled with ice.
Liam steps back, a smirk tugging at the corner of his full lips. Once again, I’m cursing the masks for denying me the ability to see all of his handsome face.
“We aren’t done talking,” Liam promises as he walks away, not bothering to give me another glance.
I internally groan, and my attention is stolen by the crowd watching me. I can see my mother in the corner, looking as if she may very well combust, at least judging by the vein popping out of her forehead. I want to smile at her and tell everyone else to fuck off, but I have a seething heir to coddle.
THE WINTER AIR BITES at my skin, and I fight against the urge to wrap my arms around myself for warmth. I can see Elio’s looming figure ahead, and I wouldn’t want him to confuse my hypothermia for cowardice.
“Who would have thought that The Phantom was Malia Olin,” Elio drawls out, his back toward me as he stares out into the dark night.
I could push the fucker off the ledge if I wanted to, then dance to his screams as he falls to his death hundreds of feet down. It’s tempting. I decide it’s good enough that he knows the reputation of my moniker.
“You caused quite the stir of interest when your identity became public knowledge,” he continues, turning to face me. His face is impassive, and his hands are in his pockets while he stares at me.
He’s not bad looking—black hair, tanned skin, dark eyes. Some would say he’s the tall, dark, and handsome man they’ve always dreamed of. A broody and egotistical one, but he fits the mold. I draw the line at defining power through weaker sexes, though.
Elio stalks toward me, a smirk breaking through his stoic expression as he stares at the ground. His steps are lazy, like we’re not freezing to death. He stops in front of me and reaches out to tuck a curl that had fallen from my updo behind my ear, letting his hand linger when he’s done.
“I’ve heard stories of your beauty and your stone-cold heart.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “Already?”
“And that wicked mouth.” I don’t miss the way his eyes drop to my lips before snapping back up to mine. My dagger is starting to feel heavy on my thigh, and I’m beginning to feel a bit stabby.
Elio’s hand drops to his side, and he chuckles. “I think I want to find out how true these stories are,principessa.”
I zone in on him. Ihatebeing called a princess. “Call me princess again.” I jerk my chin up and smile, ready to kill him for the insult.
Call me a cunt or a bitch all day, but the second you downgrade me to a princess, I’ll come out swinging. I know what I am.
Elio runs the pad of his thumb along my bottom lip, and my teeth grit together. “I love a girl with some bite,” he purrs. His eyes tear away from mine and, looking past my shoulder, he smirks. “Can I help you, Byrne?”
I almost want to laugh at the situation I’ve found myself in. Suddenly, I’m thinking maybe I’ll throw myself off the ledge instead. I don’t turn to Caine when Elio announces his presence. I’m fucked off that I didn’t notice it myself.
I need to get my head on right.
“I came out to have a smoke.” Caine’s voice draws louder as he steps closer to Elio and me. “Then I saw I’ve been missing the actual party. So, here I am, inviting myself.”
Get alpha men in a room and suddenly everyone’s whipping out their dicks to measure sizes.
“Jesus Christ, this cock fest is exhausting,” I groan, and literally facepalm my unamusement. “I’m not interested”—I turn to face Caine, who’s already watching me—“in either of you.”
Elio steps in closer, trailing a finger along my shoulder. I watch Caine’s face shift from flippant to hard in a breath. “I think I’m in love, Byrne.” His nose skates up the column of my neck, and my fists clench at my sides. “Why did you let this one go?”
My blood runs cold, and suddenly it becomes too hard to breathe. I had been hidden. Mine and Caine’s relationship wasn’t public knowledge. How could Elio know about it?
Caine holds my stare as my mind flips through the different reasons. Clearly people are running their mouths about me, but no one should know about Caine and me.
“Just for me to take,” Elio adds. “Until we meet again,principessa.” He presses a kiss against my cheek, and I let my repulsion show. It only seems to amuse him even more.
I watch him disappear back inside, and I realize there’s only one way people could possibly know about us.
“You told people!” I hiss, and Caine’s eyebrows pinch together like he doesn’t know what the fuck I’m talking about.
Dickhead.