Letting out a dramatic sigh, Scott released Ashley and plopped down on the barstool next to me. We needed to get his high ass home.
“Well,shit.” Everything was hazy from the booze, and guilt weighed heavy on my heart as I glanced around the room, my eyes quickly locking with Dimitri’s. I thought I’d have a little more time to think this over, or at least get drunk enough to make some kind of decision.
Turning to Ashley,I asked, “Can you keep an eye on him? I need to say hey to Dimitri and Daphne before we head out.”
Malcolm touched my elbow as I passed by. “Do you think that’s a good idea?” His eyes bore into me, trying to communicate the dangers of all things Chronislike I didn’t fucking know.
“Not really, but I’ll be ok.”
Malcolm’s forehead wrinkled, but thenAshturned and grabbed the collar of his shirt,whispering something in his ear thathad him smiling big time.
I took the opportunity to slide by, bracing for whatever the hell was about to happen.
Beautiful people surrounded Dimitri and Daphne, some I recognized from the fifteen years of friendship Dimitri and I shared, others from different events around town.
“Sasha!” Daphne jumped up and wrapped her body around me. Rarely did another woman make me feel small, but Daphne was stacked. She dwarfed my five-ten height and had ass for days. Dimitri certainly had a type.
“Daph. How are you?”
Pulling back from the hug, she held onto my arms. “I’d be better if a certain lady was coming to our party. Come on,Sash, why aren’t you coming?”
My eyes automatically went to Dimitri,and he nodded. “I’d love to, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I pursed my lips,unsure whether Daphne knew Dimitri’s little secret.
She glanced over her shoulder and frowned. Pulling me to where she’d been sitting, she pushed me down next to Dimitri. “Ok. We need to sort this out. I refuse to celebrate our engagement without the bitch responsible for us even meeting. Do something,D.”
Daphne then sat on the other side of me and ran interference on some of Dimitri’s friends.
“What’s it going to take to get you there,Sasha?” Dimitri sounded tired, resigned. I hated that our oncehappyrelationship was being dragged down by bullshit. I hated that it felt like my whole life was being dragged down by bullshit.
“I don’t know. I just.” The bloody scene from the club bathroom played out in my mind. Luca knew Cy would be at this party. Something could happen at this party. An internal battle raged in me, and I felt the urge to warn Dimitri. I mean, fuck, this dude isn’t trying to kill anyone. But then, was that betraying Luca? “I’m just worried something bad will happen. You know?”
There, vague as hell.
“Moretti?”
I shrugged, refusing to say anymore. Loyalty is a hell of a thing. I guess I was on team Moretti.
Yay.
Dimitri nodded. “Listen, I can’t tell you what they’ll do, but I can tell you that there will be security and some of the most powerful people in St. Louis there. I seriously doubt Moretti would be that stupid.”
That didn’t assure me I was safe with the Chronis clan, but Dimitri made sense. Or maybe the alcohol made him make sense.
My eyes darted back to my friends. Scott was hanging from Axel’s shoulders while two girls chatted to the giant man. Ashley had her face buried in Malcolm’s neck, but his eyes stayed locked on me.
“I’ll come, but—”
“Awesome!”
Dimitri leaned in to hug me, but I leaned back. “But I’m bringing a friend.”
He laughed and hugged me. “Bring a million friends. I don’tfuckingcare.”
As soon as he released me, Daphne crushed me in against her ample bosom.
Leaving the bar was a blur of kisses and hugs. Axel left with someone, and Ashley and Scott passed out on my couch as soon as we got home. That left Malcolm andmealone to chat.
Great.