I followed her line of vision to Ellis.
“Excuse me for a moment.” She walked around Teddy and beelined for her lover.
Teddy shifted closer and eyed the crowd. “Where’s Stella?”
“In front of the stage.” I turned and scanned for her. My heart chilled when I realized she was gone.
Guests milled around, and I pushed through them until I stood at the stairs. She wasn’t there.
“Fuck!” I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
“We’ll find her. Calm down,” Teddy leaned this way and that, trying to see through the mass of people.
“Welcome!” Cal’s voice carried over all others as he made his way to the stage.
“We don’t have time.” I wanted to scream for her, to knock down anything that blocked the path to her, but I couldn’t.
Cal waved us on. “Come on fellas, get up there. Where’s Stella?”
“Powder room.” Teddy lied almost as easily as I did.
“We’ll have to start without her. Shame.” Cal pushed us up the stairs ahead of him.
At the top, I turned and scrutinized all the faces. I finally found hers, a look of horror on it as Dylan dragged her into a side room, his hand clapped over her mouth.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
STELLA
I SCREAMED AS DYLAN threw me to the floor in a small sitting room off the ballroom. His weight crushed down on top of me, and he pinned my hands to the floor.
“No one here to save you now.” He smiled as I tried to free my hands.
I should have been afraid. I wasn’t. Anger boiled over, scorching my insides with naked hatred.
“Get the fuck off me.”
“Shut up.” He let one hand go and slapped me. “I wanted to get my taste before Cal. I’ll have you after, too. But something about being inside you first just does it for me.” He pushed his hips into me for emphasis.
“You’re fucking pathetic!”
He backhanded me this time, his knuckles busting my lip.
I spat my blood in his face.
He wiped it away with the back of his sleeve as I inched my hand down to my thigh where my blade waited. Cal’s amplified voice came through the door clearly as he went over the trials of the year and built up to announcing the victor.
“I’m going to rip you apart for that.” He yanked my dress up and fumbled at his zipper.
“I’ll kill you.” I palmed my knife.
He stopped and wrapped his large hand around my throat. “I could snap your fucking neck right now. I should. You deserve it.”
Thunderous applause erupted from the ballroom and I swung, stabbing him in the side over and over before he even realized I’d done it.
“What are you—?”
I bridged up, shoving him off me. He clutched his side and brought a bloody hand to his face.
“You cut me.” He shook his head in disbelief as I got to my feet.
“That’s not all.” I aimed a kick at his face and delighted in the sickening crunch his nose made during the impact.
He fell back sputtering. The applause died down, and his cries grew louder. I had to shut him up so he could bleed to death quietly. I kicked him in the side of the head with all my strength. He went limp.
I wiped my blade on the window curtain and stuffed it back down in the garter on my thigh. My hands were steady, my heart in a calm rhythm. I dabbed my busted lip on the inside of my skirt and traced the outline of my lips with my finger to wipe away any smeared lipstick.
Opening the door, I saw Sinclair at the podium. He spoke of history and the importance of tradition, but his eyes were fixed on me—his future. I gave him a nod to let him know I was okay and pushed my way through the throng before climbing onto the stage and taking my seat next to Teddy.
I glanced at Gavin and Brianne. They both watched Sin. I hadn’t had a chance to warn them. Dylan had grabbed me soon after Sin began speaking with Sophia.
Red cradled Evie in his arms as she sobbed, and Bob’s brother cried quietly to himself. Teddy rested his arm along the back of my chair as the faceless mob in the darkened ballroom stared up at us.
“You okay?” He whispered.
“I could take them all on, bare handed. I’m that okay right now.” Getting the best of Dylan shot me into the stratosphere, especially when his was only the first blood that would be spilled tonight. I’d killed a man, and instead of regret, all I felt was triumph.
“And now, I’d like to thank my Acquisition, Stella Rousseau. Without her, this win wouldn’t be possible. I’d also like to thank Red and Bob, and let them know their sacrifices are appreciated. Bring the knives.” He waved toward an attendant who climbed the stairs and gave long, curving knives to Red and Bob. Red’s hand shook as he took the blade, and Bob grabbed his with a chilling nonchalance.