Steel Rush (In the Shadows#5) (25 page)

“He should,” I mutter. With Jake and Phillip standing side-by-side chatting, it’s hard to believe such malice can reside behind such handsome faces. Like father, like son. I immediately tense when an older man draws Phillip’s attention and Jake glances in our direction. I don’t want to have to deal with him tonight. Without Ben to keep his brother in line, I really could use my own posse. Talia and Mina can’t get here soon enough.

I glance toward the doorway and my gaze snags on Sebastian’s dark hair and imposing height as he walks in with Talia on his arm, her beautiful red hair flowing around an off-the-shoulder emerald green dress. I exhale the tension flowing through me and suppress the relieved smile trying to surface. “Excuse me for a minute,” I tell Beth and casually make my way toward the doorway. I reach it just as Mina walks in, escorted by her other brother and flirt extraordinaire, Damien Blake.

“Celeste, thank you for the invite.” Damien’s dark eyes sparkle with mischief and he immediately grabs my hand before Mina has a chance to say a word. Releasing his sister, he tucks my hand around his arm and turns to introduce me to his guests. “You know Mina, but this is my brother Sebastian who insisted on tagging along. I only let the old man because he promised to bring his gorgeous wife. Talia, this is Celeste Carver.”

I shake my head that Damien ribs his brother and grin when Sebastian mutters, “Watch yourself, little brother. This
old man
can easily put you in your place.”

But when Talia clasps my hand tight and says, “It’s nice to meet you, Celeste,” the look in her eyes says so much, it’s hard not to get teary. I miss her too.

I squeeze her hand, then let go, blinking away the mist. “Welcome everyone. Why don’t you grab a drink and mingle. I’m sure you’ll see people you know here.”

Damien lifts my left hand and taps the diamond on my finger. “I heard a terrible rumor and didn’t want to believe it was true. Where is the lucky bastard? I want to clock…er, congratulate him.”

I smile at Damien. I’d forgotten how much fun he could be. The man really knows how to stroke a girl’s ego. “Ben had a shift he couldn’t get out of tonight, so he’s saving lives instead.”

“Well, then. I’ll have to take advantage of his absence.”

Just as Damien starts to tuck my hand back around the crook of his arm, Mina grips his other hand. “Come on, Damien. Let’s get our drinks.”

Before he can protest, she tucks her arm tight around his and walks away.

Snickering, I stare after her petite frame next to Damien’s tall height. “She’s a force, isn’t she?”

“She has us wrapped around her little finger, but don’t tell her that,” Sebastian says, his brilliant blue eyes flashing with admiration and humor. Pressing a kiss to Talia’s temple, he murmurs, “I’m going to touch base with Calder.”

When he walks away, I say lightly, “You two are so adorable I want to punch somebody.”

Talia laughs. “I’ll just file that under ‘things Cass says when she’s under stress.’” Flicking her amused gaze to my throat, she stares at my choker. “That’s beautiful. It reminds me of the tattoo on your arm. Is that Celeste’s?”

I absently touch the diamond raven, anxious that I haven’t had a chance to see it myself. “Calder gave it to me tonight. He’d given me a silver and leather one, but that’s not something Celeste would wear, so I guess that’s why he had this one made.”

Talia tilts her head. “That’s quite a gesture for a temporary situation.”

I stiffen, then realize she’s talking about this Celeste thing, not whatever is going on between Calder and me.
God, I’m so freaking sensitive right now.
“Remember when I told you that you needed to give Sebastian a chance?”

“Yes.”

“Why can’t I take my own advice?”

Talia’s auburn eyebrows shoot up. “Please tell me you’re not letting that ridiculously impractical lingerie go to waste.”

I shake my head and sigh. “It’s not that simple. Calder isn’t like other guys. When we’re together, I feel like I’m getting pulled in deeper.”

“And that’s a bad thing because…?”

I glance over at Sebastian shaking Calder’s hand, then nodding and walking away. “It’s bad when he’s made it clear he’s allergic to commitment. I desperately want to take my own advice, but in this situation, it would suck.” I meet her gaze and purse my lips. “And I don’t even have you anymore to feed me ice cream from a big bucket when Calder leaves me a mess on the floor.”

“Are you crazy? I’ll use the soup spoon on you, girl.” When I give her a pained look, her amused green gaze shifts to a serious one. “Sebastian says he’s never seen Calder worry like he does for you. That says a lot about how he feels even if he’s not saying it himself. Stubborn hearts might be the hardest to win, but that’s what makes them worth going for. I should know, I’m married to the most stubborn man on the planet.”

When a pinging sound comes from the silver pillbox purse on her arm, she glances down and pulls her phone out. “Mina has Jake’s glass. I’m going to go get Phillip’s.”

She starts to walk away, but I touch her arm. “Wait, I’m supposed to be doing that.”

“You’re supposed to
be
Celeste.” Talia shifts her gaze over my shoulder. “Sebastian’s talking to Phillip, who has proven quite adept at amassing his own financial empire while hiding his business dealings. I’ve zeroed in on a shell company that appears to be lease properties. The properties are dormant so I almost ignored it, but my curious hackles are raised. Anyway, right now…I have a glass to recover. Go mingle and let me do my job.”

Before I can argue, she walks away to deftly slip a cloth napkin from a waiter’s arm at the same time she takes a flute of champagne. As she disappears between large groups of people chatting, I inwardly applaud her stealthy talent and make a mental note to ask her to teach me. Skills like that could definitely come in handy.

A
s I make my way back through the crowded room, I’m stopped several times by people congratulating me on my engagement to Ben. I paste on a smile and nod, thanking them by name while making sure to ask for their support of my father in the fall. An hour passes before I finally reach Beth’s side.

“I need a drink,” I say, glancing down at hers with envy. “I’m exhausted.”

Beth snickers. “I’ve been doing this since I was a teen. It’s old hat after a while.” Her amused expression suddenly shifts to a tense one. “Ugh, Jake’s coming.”

As soon as Jake steps into place beside us, Beth smiles at a couple passing by and says to him under her breath, “Be respectful or I’ll personally kick your ass out tonight.”

Jake brushes one hand through his perfectly gelled hair, then raises his highball glass in the air, ice chinking. “Hey, it’s all good, Beth.”

While I cynically scan his face, looking for his true intent, Beth turns to speak to a woman with a bob haircut and chic black glasses, who lightly touches her shoulder. “Good evening, Beth and Celeste. Do you remember me? I’m an old friend of your mother’s. The last time I saw you, you were just starting middle school. I’m sorry your mom wasn’t able to attend tonight’s function.”

Beth’s eyes light up. “Hi, it’s Sylvia, right?”

The woman nods and glances at the silver-haired man with her. “This is my husband, Richard.”

Beth introduces Jake to the couple and he smiles and shakes their hands, but once Beth has their full attention, he turns and narrows his gaze on my throat. “That’s not Celeste’s style at all,” he grates in a low tone. “Remove it.”

“No.”

Jake’s mouth slants in a thin line as if he’s trying to keep his cool. “I won’t let you disrespect her. Take it off.”

“Screw you,” I mouth and start to walk away, but Jake touches my shoulder and pulls me back, all smiles.

“You must get to know your mother’s two favorite people, Celeste,” Jake says. Keeping his hand on my shoulder in a friendly manner, he gestures to the couple. “I’m not much on wine, but Richard just said he’s a big enthusiast.”

“Oh yes, we just spent a fortune renovating our house just to include a cellar,” the man says, his expression fully animated.

While the man goes into detail about the cost and time it took to renovate, Jake nods and acts like he’s just being chummy with me. When I try to pull away, he quickly moves his hand beneath my hair and slides his thumb under the velvet collar. I tense as the clasp digs into my skin, locking me in place.

Beth and Sylvia are so completely enthralled by Richard’s story of discovering an old painting inside the wall during the renovation that they don’t notice me elbow Jake in the ribs to make him let me go, but it’s too late. The velvet gives way.

Fury and panic whip through me as I feel the raven slip free of the loose velvet. I quickly cup my hands and barely manage to capture the raven, saving it from hitting the floor. For a split second, the diamond encrusted raven is crystal clear, but it immediately blurs with the sudden mist in my eyes.

“Better,” Jake mutters as he releases me and stares at my bare throat.

I hate that I have to hold my scream of anger inside. Instead, I blink back unshed tears and glare my fury at him, snatching the broken choker from his grasp. It’s like he knows just what to do to destroy my inner happiness.

Turning to the couple, Jake says, “Hey, Richard, I’m sure Celeste would be happy to show you her parent’s wine collection. It’s quite extensive.”

Richard rubs his hands together, grinning. “I would love that.”

Jake glances my way, a knowing smile on his face. “Why don’t you lead the way, Celeste?”

“I’ll do it,” Beth jumps in.

“But
Celeste
is the wine expert,” Jake insists. “Richard can drill her on tannins and terrior, aroma, regions and variety to his heart’s content.”

Jake’s trying to make me slip up. It’s like he has suddenly decided to turn this into some kind of game.

When Beth tries to insist, I put my hand on her arm. “I’ll be happy to show Richard the wine cellar.”

“Oooh, I want to see it too,” Sylvia pipes in.

“Since the elevator only holds two, why don’t Celeste and I go down first and turn on the lights, and you and Richard can follow,” Jake says, affably.

Beth looks at me, worry in her gaze.

I plaster on a confident smile. “Sure. Let’s go talk wines.” Holding my hand out to Beth, I say, “Hold this for me, please,” then tuck the diamond raven and velvet ribbon into her hand.

As the four of us pass by Calder, he looks at me and instantly frowns.

We turn down the hall that leads to the elevator and I see Calder following. My wrists are stinging and itching like crazy, so I’m relieved to know he plans to follow us. When I hear Beth call his name, my insides jerk. The last thing I want is to be alone with Jake even for the minute or two it’ll take for the couple to join us in the cellar.

I keep my smile steady as Jake and I step into the elevator, but the second the doors close and we start to descend, I snarl at him. “Were you born this evil or did that black hole inside you develop over time?”

Jake calmly slides his hands into his pants pockets. “I asked you to take the necklace off nicely. See what happens when you don’t listen?”

“You’re certifiable,” I hiss, folding my arms to keep from gouging his eyes out as we step off the elevator.

He shrugs as the doors close and the elevator zips back up. “Did I tell you that Ben is coming later?”