Seeing as her hair grew back, my mistake no longer ate at my conscience.
I thought the story would make Zeno laugh.
Instead, he stared at me with a strange glint in his eyes. The same way he did at Chaleur. Like he wanted to peel back every layer until he got to the very centre of me.
That’s how Dacia found us.
Warm embrace. Kiss-swollen mouths. Insatiable hands.
“Darla?” The sternness in her voice had me jerking away from Zeno.
I turned to face her, tucking the fallen strands of my hair behind my ear. “Yes?”
“We’re ready to leave.” Dacia cast a fleeting glance towards Zeno, observing him in a bone-chilling manner.
I forgot to mention that my sister was a lawyer by day and a dominatrix by night to men who loved getting treated like dirt. Snapping collars and whipping them was my sister’s idea of fun and she was damn good at it.
Zeno Gianni De la Croix didn’t fear anything.
Not even a blond alpha female who’d made enough grown men piss themselves from fear and excitement.
“It was lovely meeting you,” Zeno said to my sister with mock amusement.
Dacia’s grin was lethal. “While I appreciate you standing up for her, touch my sister’s ass in front of me again and you won’t have any fingers remaining.”
Zeno laughed, unoffended. “I can tell we’re all going to get along just fine.”
“Zeno,” I pleaded, shaking my head. “We should leave now.”
He nodded, rolled his shoulders back, and cracked his knuckles.
Dacia waited for me by the foyer and we walked out of the De la Croixes’ home together. She paused before we reached the car. Mother already sat inside, typing away on her phone with disdain splattered over her features. Clearly, no one enjoyed the engagement party tonight.
I didn’t budge. “I don’t want to ride with her.”
“Oh, believe me, I know. I gave her an earful after you left and embarrassed her in front of your in-laws. She’s not very keen on riding with us either. Céline and Yves were gracious enough to offer us one of their drivers.”
The car with Mother drove away, but not before she shot us both sour glares.
It was just Dacia and me, the quiet night air, and hundreds of lanterns.
“Remember what I told you, Dar,” Dacia said with a vacant expression. “You might not want to part ways after your twelve months are over. Tonight, we broke bread with them, but for your sake, don’t get too comfortable. This truce is only temporary. I’m not fooled by their demeanours. Underneath their charm, they’re all monsters.”
“I won’t forget it,” I swore, my promise feeling as tangible as the strong gust of wind blowing past us.
CHAPTER 14
Échec et mat
Darla
Ahard knock against my bedroom door woke me up Sunday morning.
Groggily, I pushed away my sleeping mask and checked my digital clock. It wasn’t even 9:00 a.m. Blinking against the sunlight streaming through my curtains, I mumbled, “Come in.”
The door crept open and Alberto’s worried face peeked through. “Good morning, Miss Darla. Forgive me for waking you up, but there’s something you must see.”
Wariness caused my back to stiffen. I rose out of bed, slipped into my slippers, and pulled a red robe over my nightie. “What is it, Berto?”