My hand rests on the inside of my thigh where the outline of my gun protrudes and I release a calming breath. Mob bosses and deranged men surround me. I need this.
Preacher answers in his native tongue, “He always is.”
It wasn’t said to be a stab at my father, but more a point of truth. Still didn’t like the angle of his target.
The single most annoying part of being the daughter of Pierre Laurent has been charity galas. Especially since my father likes to throw one every six months, so when he told me he was throwing this event and why, I protested. There aren’t a lot of things that I would deprive him of doing, but I was still apprehensive about this. Everyone who needs to be here is here, and it doesn’t take long before I find Papa chatting among a group of expensive suits.
“La voici!” Papa squeezes me around my waist as he points to the three men standing beside him. He kisses me on the forehead before whispering in French, “It’s almost time. Go and sit with Preacher.”
I politely excuse myself from the chatter. I know he wants me to take over when he retires, and as much as I find that part astronomically terrifying, I’m hoping I still have another twenty years at least until that happens. Papa says that it’s in my blood and that I just need time. I’m not so sure.
Papa usually hosts his galas in France, and everyone important flies there to attend. I’m not sure why he decided to change the destination. I know this is different, but for obvious reasons, I would have preferred to do this far away from the United States. Not that I’m complaining because this hotel is beautiful. The conference room is decked out with elegant decorations, including a crystal chandelier and all the finery that comes with riches.
Preacher is already sitting near the table, his eyes shifting around the room. Even though he’s technically an enemy in Papa’s eyes, what he provides for our family means more than his rotting corpse.
Papa’s words, not mine.
“I got you a glass of champagne.” Preacher shuffles my chair closer to his, sliding the crystal flute toward me.
“Thank you.” I smile up at him, raising the glass to my lips. People start scattering slowly to their assigned seating, and the lights drop to a subtle glow. I tilt my head back and swallow the crisp champagne when the glass almost slips between my fingers as chills slide down the apex of my spine.
I shuffle in my chair restlessly, leaning my head over my shoulder to see if anyone is watching me. The feeling is relentless, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to shake it.
“What’s the matter?” Preacher’s words tickle my ears, and I have to force myself not to retreat from him as an automatic response.
Preacher is a good man, he’s just not mine. He’s not damaged enough.
I flash a tense smile. “Nothing at all.”
Papa takes the stage and brings the mic to his face. He starts speaking in broken English. Good thing people won’t say anything to him about it, though, because unlike our enemies, Papa is not a soft man.
“I would like to thank you all for coming to this event. I am sure that you all have something else to do on a Friday night, dressed the way you are, but instead, you’re sitting here with me and mes famille, witnessing a monumental event in the Laurent family lineage. As you all know, I keep Meraki close when it comes to family affairs, as I know one day she will take my place.”
Dad turns to me, waving me up to him.
I stand from my chair to follow instructions, dipping the curtain to collect what I know he’s asking for.
Jessica is hidden behind the satin fabric, cradling him on her hip. She passes him to me.
“Here you go. He wasn’t going out without you, and there’s no way I’m going out there. Love you both, but no.”
I take my son from her and his little arms squeeze me around my neck.
“It’s fine. I had a feeling he wouldn’t. Papa and his weird little ideas.”
Jessica raises a blonde brow. “Weird?”
Jess is our live-in babysitter who pays her way to attend IKAREM. The school didn’t take any hits from Luca’s passing. If anything, it has become stronger. Knowing I have full control over the system has meant the children can flourish the way I always wanted them to.
Jess is also Lila’s BFF, and it just made it easier for her to live in the pool house behind the Cathedral since she didn’t have a home.
“Hey, mon garçon.” I kiss Ares, sweeping his thick black hair away from his forehead with my lips. “You want to come out to see Pere?”