The dress was beautiful, a deep sapphire blue made of silk in a wrap style that hugged all the right places. It was low in the front, plunging almost to my naval but the hem hit just above the knee, and I’d paired it with some nude stilettos.
“You’ll be wearing only those later,” Hunter says from behind me, hands running down my bare arms, calluses scratching against my skin.
“If you make it that long.” I’d curled my hair using the brand new curling iron Hunter had purchased along with the suitcase full of clothes in my size and the shoes. I shouldn’t have expected anything less really, not with him.
He was dressed in an immaculate suit, finely pressed and shoes that shined in the light. He was presentable and handsome, and to look at, you wouldn’t think he was one of the deadliest assassins currently alive.
I straighten the lapels of his jacket, “Let me do the talking,” I say to him.
He smirks, a cocky, playful smile, “Of course, Snow,” he kisses the side of my lips, “We all know how very charming this mouth can be.”
My stomach was a tangle of knots. The way Kingston looked at me earlier at the house, the betrayal I saw there, he couldn’t possibly believe I had anything to do with what Hunter did.
It didn’t matter regardless.
Hunter waits for me at the door, arm outstretched. I link with it and let him guide me to the elevators, and then through to the restaurant. The place was donned in gold and burgundy, lavish and finely decorated with gold trim and crystal glasses. Several chandeliers hang from the ceiling, but they were dim, leaving the entire space a little bit dark. Candles flickered in the middle of tables and every single one was empty,. bar the one at the back.
“Where is everyone?” My eyes clash with my brothers as we approach.
Eleanor was beautiful in a black cocktail dress, long dark tresses pinned to the side and curling down over one shoulder. She looked fine, her skin flushed and eyes bright.
“I booked the whole place,” Hunter says quietly, “We need privacy.”
“You have more money than sense.”
He doesn’t answer and soon we’re stopping at the table. My brother doesn’t stand. His eyes do a once over of me, softening only slightly but then turn glacial at Hunter.
Eleanor smiles but again, it’s tense, her hands ringing the napkin in her lap. She had some adjusting to do to this life.
There are no pleasantries passed between us, and I have no option but to accept the chair Hunter pulls out for me before taking the one at my side. The silence is heavy and awkward, but he doesn’t seem to care. He pours both of us a glass of red from the bottle left in the middle of the table and offers to fill their glasses, which are still empty and clean.
“That depends,” Kingston sneers, finally breaking the silence, “Any drugs in it this time?”
“Kingston,” Eleanor whisper hisses.
“It’s okay,” Hunter addresses Eleanor, “I understand why he’s a little bitter.” He places the bottle down and takes a healthy sip of his own wine, proving the bottle isn’t spiked. “Happy?”
Kingston snatches it from him, pouring Eleanor a glass first and then himself, though he doesn’t drink from it. I catch Eleanor’s eye, “Are you okay?” I mouth. We weren’t the best of friends, but my brother was in love with her and she clearly him, she was good for him, and I cared for her because he did. Granted, I could have beat her ass a few weeks back for how she betrayed my brother, but I did understand why she did what she did, even if it almost killed him.
She nods subtly, glancing at Hunter.
“He didn’t poison her,” I blurt.
Hunter chuckles.
“I know.” Kingston growls, “I had the doctor run her blood. It was clever, I’ll give you that.”
Hunter leans casually back in his chair, “I apologize, Miss Locke, though I do hope you enjoyed your nap.”
“Could have gone without,” Eleanor replies, “Left me with a headache.”
“A common side effect,” Hunter shrugs.
“Enough,” King demands, “I gave my word no matter how it came about, now get it over with.” My brother glances at me and looks away quickly.
“Kingston,” I try.
“No, Isobel, you don’t get to do that,” Kingston snaps at me, “I had your back. I promised you your revenge and what? Now you’re fucking it instead. I thought better of you.”
“Watch your mouth,” Hunter warns, “Brother or not, I’ll put you in your place.”
“Let’s just start again,” Eleanor attempts, “I,” she clears her throat and then swallows, “Forgive you for what you did. It’s done.”
Kingston shakes his head.
“Look,” I snap, “I get you’re angry with me, Kingston, but I’m fucking angry too!”
Behind me I hear someone drop a glass. We all ignore it.
“I’ve been angry. This whole damn time. I have suffered and I have cried, and I have been woken, screaming, because of nightmares because of what the Syndicate did. And you’re right, I have obsessed over Hunter. I have plotted and schemed the very moment I had him, but you know what, I’m not sorry for not doing it. He hurt me, he’s fixing it.”
A hand presses against my thigh.
I don’t dare look away from my brother. “I don’t care if you agree with it or not, just fucking listen.”
Kingston holds my stare.
“This is mine,” I say to him, “I deserve this.”
Kingston sighs and works his jaw before he slides his eyes over to Hunter, “And what do you have to do with it? Last I checked you still worked for them.”
“On paper, you’re correct, I do still work for them, how else would I have put this entire thing in motion?”
“And what’s your big plan?”
“I know where their HQ is, we destroy it and everything in it.”
“It’s never that easy.”
“No, you’re right. The place is heavily guarded and consistently patrolled. They have surveillance and dogs, no-ones getting in or out.”
“So, how do you suppose we get in then?”
“We walk through the front door, of course.”