We’d gotten ready together, but we’d be riding to and arriving at King’s gala separately. Neither one of us wanted to hide the other in the shadows anymore, but tonight wasn’t the night to call attention to our relationship. Not yet. Once Ari was out of the picture, though, it was game on. I wouldn’t hesitate to grab Shep’s hand and never let go in front of any and everyone.
“You’re right,” he said as the elevator doors closed. “Your ass looks phenomenal in those pants.”
I grinned. “Fucking told you.”
The trip down felt like it took only seconds, but just as the doors began to open, Shep hit a button to keep them closed.
“Keep your eyes open tonight. Promise?”
“I promise I’lltrynot to stare at you all night, yes.”
“I mean it, Theo. Stay alert until we grab this guy.”
I moved in close and reached up to smooth the deep line between his eyebrows. “Don’t worry about me. Just keep yourself safe.” When his frown only deepened, I shook my head. “Shep, please. Nothing’s going to happen, but if, God forbid, something does, don’t try to be a hero. You’ve already saved me once?—”
“And I’d do it again.”
“You’re not gonna have to do it again. The plan is perfect. You and I will do the red carpet thing, give a little wave, and then meet back up inside.”
Shep lifted his hand like he wanted to cup my face but then brushed his thumb over my lips instead. “You covered the last of your bruises well.”
“Thank fuck for concealer.”
“Yeah, that would’ve invited a few questions.”
He gave me a half-hearted smile before dropping his hand, but I wasn’t letting him get away that easily. I gripped him by the neck and brought his mouth down on mine, and the second our lips touched, his parted easily. He kissed me like he was hungry for me—or like it was the last time he’d ever get to. The intensity made me dizzy, but I held on to him tightly, devouring that exquisite mouth until there was no doubt how I felt about him. Until it washed away any doubt he had about tonight.
That was the hope, at least, as the elevator made a warning sound and Shep reluctantly let go of both me and the button he’d been holding down.
The door opened and we made our way outside to the separate limos we’d be taking.
The event King had thrown together for Libertine wasn’t just a members-only gala, but would have some of the biggest names in Hollywood also walking the red carpet. Archer Carrington, Benoit’s bestie and one of our members, had stepped up tonight to run the event that was being touted publicly as a fundraiser—and while it was, that wasn’t the whole story. We just needed a reason to get Ari right where we wanted him and have the opportunity to slip away to take care of business without anyone missing us.
And since the motherfucker had already RSVP’d, we knew he’d be there.
The driver opened my door and stood to the side as I made my approach, and just before I slipped inside I glanced back to see that Shep was waiting by his door looking over at me.
I raised a hand and gave a quick wave, and he responded with a small smile and a clipped nod. That was when I knew he wouldn’t get in his car until he knew I was safely tucked away in mine. So after a final once-over, I climbed inside the vehicle and buckled in.
From the moment we’d found out about Ari and set this plan into action, I’d been low-key vibrating with bottled-up energy. I wanted to catch this asshole and finally put to bed this nightmare he’d unleashed on me over the past month. Tonight was just one more step in that direction.
It was time to draw this fucker out into the open. Draw him out and put an end to his miserable fucking life.
The limo pulled away from Shep’s place, entering the evening traffic like a well-choreographed dance. I checked my watch to see we were keeping perfect time. We’d arrive at the gala, walk the red carpet, give the paparazzi a chance to take our photos and rub it in Ari’s face that I was alive and not about to be run out of town.
He might want to fracture us, but tonight I planned to show him that I was back in Libertine’s orbit, and we were all tighter than ever. If I’d hadmyway, I would’ve flaunted mine and Shep’s relationship and how he’d brought usparticularlyclose. But everyone else seemed to think that might have him switching focus early.
It was better to stick with his pattern. Let him think he was still in control of this situation.
Little did he know…
I reached for the earpiece Alessio had given us all the other night when we’d been hatching this plan and put it in.
Seconds later I heard over the com, “Everyone on air?”
The responses came in quick.
“Lucien, over.”
