“There you are,” Dad said with narrowed eyes. He was standing by Gio, Quentin, and a few other business-types. Probably some of which were at the auction at Ethereal–unbeknownst to Gio. “Where’s Sebastian?”
“Here I am,” Bash said as he slid up to our group, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into him. He lowered his face near my ear. “Did you miss me?”
“Always,” I smiled, letting him kiss me on the cheek.
“Dante,” he said as he gave a swift whack to Dad’s back, making him lurch forward.
I bit my lip to stifle a laugh as Bash extended his hand to Gio. He shook it and Dad growled. “Good to see you again, Sebastian.”
“Wouldn’t miss twirling this little thing around the dance floor for the world,” he smiled, taking my hand and leading me away from the group. I could feel heat on the back of my head from the eyes that followed us until we were in the thrall of the crowd.
“Now that we’re alone. Sort of,” Bash said as he spun me around. “I called a meeting in the den at eight o’clock. They think it’s about arranging a gun schedule. It’ll be the perfect place to share all the juicy information I found this week.”
“What’d you find? You’ve been like a ghost.”
“I know, I know. It’s been a lot of digging, but I was able to access your dad’s email account–not his work account–his personal one. And he had a lot of back and forth with my brother.”
“And?” I asked quietly, still swaying to the music with Bash’s hands planted on my hips.
“And…it was him, babe. My brother was the one contracted to hit Bobby’s bike. Your dad put the hit on Marco, didn’t he?”
“He said he’d been bothering the girls at the club. That he needed to be handled before he went too far.”
“He was tying up a loose end.”
“Fuck. And now you have proof to show Gio.”
Bash patted his breast pocket. “It’s all right here.”
“I am sorry about your brother. For what it’s worth, he seemed to be an unselfish lover.”
Bash chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. He was…quite evil. And he was only my half-brother. I didn’t grow up with him–he was raised on the streets unfortunately. He killed a lot of people. Even more than you.”
“And what it he did to Bobby was–”
“Unforgivable. But we’re going to make it right tonight. I hope you’re prepared for fireworks.” Bash dug around in his pocket, pulling out a necklace. “I got you something.”
He held it up so I could inspect it. It was a black velvet choker with an onyx pendant hanging in the middle. In the pendant was an engraved lotus flower.
“A lotus,” I said, smiling.
“It thrives in the mud. I want you to wear this tonight,” Bash said as he spun me around so he could hook the clasp.
I rubbed the pendant between my fingers once it was attached. “Thank you. I love it.”
A distraction behind Bash caught my eye. A man in a navy blue tux grabbed Kane’s arm and yanked him away from Gio. He growled in his ear, red-faced and spitting. Kane ripped his arm from the man’s grip and shoved him. Gio stepped in between them, putting his hand on Kane’s chest to keep him back. Navy suit guy was older, judging by his graying hair, and started to gain the attention of the partygoers. His eyes flashed to the room, stopping on me.
I’d seen those eyes before. They were dark yet dull, full of hatred and anger.
I’d seen those eyes up close.
“Bash…wh–who is that?” I stammered, reaching out for his arm so I didn’t fall over.
An evil smirk replaced the man’s frown as he turned back to Kane and Gio.
“It’s Arlington. Lauren’s dad. I guess he’s pissed about that video.”
“It–It’s…Lauren’s dad,” I stated, mouth going dry and knees wanting to give out.