"Are we still playing that game, Luc?" Amber asked me with a bored tone. "I'm starting to miss you in my bed."
I gritted his teeth, questioning how I had managed to put up with her for as long as I had. "I'm not playing a game, Amber. I made it very clear that I don't want anything to do with you anymore."
She gave a sigh. "You're going to get bored."
"Why are you here?"
Amber grinned at me. "I'm a plus one."
"Who's?" I asked but I felt like I already knew the answer.
"Marco's."
Of course, she would slither off to Marco after I left her. It was no surprise at all. Amber was an opportunistic creature and that had always suited me fine.
"Where is he?"
"I believe he's dancing with sweet Mia."
My heart stopped in my chest and I scanned the grounds. Eventually, my eyes landed on Mia in Marco's arms and Dante stood with them. I had dropped the ball for two seconds. Marco caught sight of me as I made a beeline across the floor towards them, dodging guests who were oblivious to my panic.
"Finally, now I can talk to the master and not the puppet," Marco announced with a grin.
"Mia. We need to go," I told her.
"I'm sure Mia can see you have your hands full this evening," Marco said smoothly, nodding towards Amber.
She joined us, draping herself on my arm. One look at Mia and I knew this had to look bad. The hurt was etched across her face and I pushed Amber off my arm. "Mia, I swear..."
"I know," Mia said to me. I was grateful that she believed me.
"Marco, let go of her," I told him.
"What is she to you, Lucas?" Marco asked curiously. A vein in my neck throbbed as Marco ran his eyes along her. "You're putting in a lot of effort for this girl."
I needed to get a handle on the situation. I needed to get the upper hand again. Marco was starting to tread into dangerous territory, and I couldn’t afford to have anything happen to her.
"Yeah, Luc," Amber chimed in. "Tell us what she is to you."
They would use Mia against me. If I gave them any confirmation, then they'd keep chipping away at the weakness. They would use her to get to me, and until I had spoken to Mia about where we stood, I couldn’t allow that. I schooled my expression and gripped Mia's arm before pulling her out of Marco's grasp. I saw her wince at the motion and the guilt of a broken promise weighed on my heart.
"She's a business arrangement, Bianchi," I said coldly.
Marco had a glint in his eye. "Maybe she'd like to be part of my business."
I pushed Mia behind me roughly and stood toe to toe with Marco, just as I had the night he burst into my home without invitation.
"This isn't the time or the place," Dante reminded me, pulling at my shoulder. I wanted to rip Marco to shreds there and then. It had been a long time coming but Marco continued to push his luck. But I wasn't about to cause a scene at Dom's reception. I’m not sure he would forgive me for a murder on what was meant to be the happiest day of his life.
"Watch yourself," I warned him, with a small shove that saw him take a step away from me. Amber looped her arm through Marco’s, and they walked away laughing. I turned to address Mia, but she was no longer behind me. Mia had managed to clear the crowd and was headed back towards the doors of the hotel.
"Fuck!" I hissed.
"Go," Dante told me. "Go after her. I'm sure Dom won't mind."
I weaved my way through the crowd for a second time that night as I tried to reach her.
“Mia!” I called after her. She didn’t look back but had obviously heard me as she broke into a run and I gave chase. People moved out the way, narrowly avoiding collisions as I ran through the lobby of the hotel after her. Bursting out into the humid evening once again, I looked around. When I spotted her, Mia had slipped into a car.
