DINO
Why is she wearing Kristian’s fucking jacket?
That’s all I can think about as we enter the room where Viola is sitting, eating dinner with her father, Kristian, and Griffin like it’s the most civilized thing to do in the world. This is the second time I’ve been here and both times I’ve wanted to tear this place apart to bring Viola home. She doesn’t belong here.
Not with Adrien Harper-Black.
And certainly not with fucking Kristian.
My brother may be surprised to see me, but he won’t let any weakness show. Instead, he gives me a sly grin. “Baby brother, you made it,” the fucker says, putting down his fork. It’s all for show. He had no idea I was coming.
“Ah, Duke, you’re here. Who have you brought with you?”
“Finlay Baron and Kardinal Vice,” Lorcan says smoothly. “They’re here to witness any negotiations.”
He looks at us and nods. “Fine. We can add more seats,” says Adrien.
The staff bustle in with more chairs and place settings and the three of us join the table. There’s an awkward fucking moment when no one speaks, but then Viola rolls her eyes. “Excuse me, I need to go to the ladies room.”
She dumps the jacket off and stalks out. Every single male in the room watches her go, even my fucking brother. I’m itching to follow her. The last time we spoke she said things that had to be lies. She said it to hurt me. To make me leave. I know she did. And like a twat, I listened and left. Viola’s been hurt all her damn life and there I go, adding to the pain. I should have refused to go. I should have shown her that she has me. If no one else, she’ll always have me.
Fuck it.
I get up from the table and all eyes look to me. “I need to go to the bathroom,” I say. When no one says anything, I walk in the direction Viola disappeared with the intent to find her.
She’s standing against the wall with her eyes closed when I enter the bathroom. It wasn’t locked. I close it shut behind me and realize there isn’t one, so anyone could just walk in. I must be standing there for too long staring at the door handle because she speaks first.
“It doesn’t lock,” she says.
“I can see that,” I sigh, leaving the door closed over instead, walking over to where she’s standing.
Her hair is pinned up, piled on top of her head to show off her elegant neck and the jewelry adorning her throat and ears. Dressed in red, she looks absolutely stunning. Just how I remember her.
I stand in front of her, hands in pockets, while she breathes in and out like she’s trying to calm herself down.
“Why are you here?” she says eventually, opening her eyes. “I meant it when I said for you all to leave me alone.”
I give her a look that borders on hate, because I still don’t know how my shitty heart feels toward her anymore. The love is still there, but she tore it apart the day she told me she didn’t love me. Every time I breathe in, it hurts. Every time I swallow, it fucking hurts.
“I didn’t come for you. I came for Lor. He’s a member of The Five now. The others are turning up later in the day. They’re having some kind of annual general meeting here,” I say eventually, meeting her eyes.
“Lorcan is a member now because Joseph is dead?”
“He’s the last surviving male Duke heir, unless you count Byron, his cousin, who no-one knows is still alive.”
“I thought Byron was a Marques?”
“Technically, he’s also a Duke on his mother’s side.”
She tosses her head. “It’s all a bit fucking incestuous, if you ask me.” Her eyes bore into me, burning away what’s left of my resolve. “So, you’re here to witness the carnage, are you?”
“Something like that.” I shake my head. “Look, it doesn’t have to be like this. If you came home—”
“Home.” She snorts, pushing her body away from the wall she was leaning on. “I told you I’m already home. This is where I belong.”
As she starts to walk out, I seize her by her wrist and haul her toward me. Hard enough to make her glare. But she lets me manhandle her. Like me, sometimes she only understands pain. “Just tell me what’s in it for you? Staying here with him. Playing at being someone I know you’re not. There must be a reason,” I say, looking down at her. Her body in that glorious fucking red dress is pressed against mine. I’m hard in an instant.
“Nothing you need to get involved in,” she says, looking up at me from under her lashes. But she doesn’t make a move to pull away. Alone, she’s less defensive. Finally, putting her guard down.