Tears fill my eyes, pricking against my lids, begging to be let loose, and I can’t hold them in because they’re heavy with emotion. I blink, allowing one to fall.
“No, don’t be sad. Please. This is how it’s meant to be.” Tarian winks cockily, before he presses a kiss to my forehead and makes his way to his car. Once inside, he pulls away, and I watch him disappear down the driveway. And as the car vanishes from sight, I feel the pain in my chest.
It’s so acute, as if he were my brother. It’s as if my heart is breaking, but not only for Tarian, but for my man and Ares. And I know if I’m so torn by him leaving, I wonder just how Etienne and Ares feel.
Turning around, I walk back into the house to find Grecia has joined the conversation. She’s beautiful, with chestnut waves that hang down to the middle of her back, and her almost luminous hazel eyes which have hints of green.
Her softly tanned skin glows, as if she’s emitting sunlight. She looks up at me and smiles when I enter the room and settle beside Etienne, who pulls me into his arms.
“We need to figure out why Thane wants to be at the table,” Ares says. “I don’t feel comfortable with him knowing our plans to take down the assholes who run the various factions.”
“He’s never going to slip up. He’s had years to perfect his lies, and I doubt the two of us are going to get to the bottom of it.” Etienne’s voice is filled with frustration, and I can imagine having one of his best friends walk out is going to take its toll.
Ares is about to respond when the buzzer echoes through the living room. He glances at Dahlia, before rising and heading to answer the intercom. A man’s deep voice comes from the speaker, and I recognize it as Isaac Durand, Etienne’s father.
I met him briefly when we were in London, and I have a feeling he’s going to be shocked to see me here.
“Do you think I should wait in the bedroom?” I whisper at Etienne who glances at me and shakes his head in answer. “I just don’t want—”
“You’re here, part of us now, if he can’t accept it, then he can walk back out and leave.” I can’t help but smile at the possessive nature of the man beside me. His arm, draped around my shoulders, warms me.
Just then, his father saunters inside with a young woman following close behind. I don’t know who she is, but the moment Etienne sees her, his body stiffens. She looks very young compared to his father, and I wonder if it’s his assistant, or if there’s more to the story.
“Etienne,” Isaac greets his son with a cool familiarity. “And this must be Dahlia,” his voice heightens as he regards my best friend. He hasn’t even acknowledged me yet, and I’m sitting right next to Etienne.
“Mr. Durand,” Dahlia shakes his hand, offering him a smile, but I can tell from her schooled expression she’s weighing him up. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“And you, the first woman to step up to the table,” he tells her. There’s a hint of admiration in his tone, but also, shock.
“We’re in the twenty-first century. I think age old traditions should be able to keep up with that. Women are just as strong as men, perhaps even more so.” I’m proud of the woman my best friend has become; she’s grown up from the shy girl I met in junior high school.
“Touché, Ms. Milton,” Isaac grins.
“But now it’s time for me to talk to the boys,” he utters. “Ares, Etienne,” he glances around, probably noticing that Tarian isn’t here. “Where’s Calvert?”
“We need to talk,” Etienne tells his father, before pressing a kiss to my cheek and rising from the sofa. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay, seems like I’m missing quite a lot. Darling, would you mind staying here with the ladies while I sort this out.” Isaac smiles at the woman who’s clearly not only his employee, but something more from the look he offers.
“Sure. It’s nice to see you again, Etienne,” she speaks to him, but I notice him ignoring her, walking out of the living room without so much as a backward glance. Clearly, there are still things that he needs to tell me, things I’m not sure I want to know.
22
Etienne
The office is stifling as Dad walks in as if he owns it. I settle on the wingback chair opposite Ares’s desk, and my father settles in beside me. Ares takes the lead, leaning on the desk with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
“Tarian’s left.” Two words, and I feel it like a punch in the gut. “He made a deal with Thane to step down in order for this asshole to sit at our table.” Ares is livid; his expression is thunderous, and when I look over at Dad, I notice he’s in shock at the revelation.