Luci glances at me, as if she doesn’t want to leave me with Ric, but she’s a member of the esteemed Marteau family. She can’t let a guest who’s clearly upset wander around lost.
Too bad Ric doesn’t show the same courtesy.
His stare still burns with temper as he grabs my elbow. “Let’s dance,” he says. Not a request, but an order.
“No, thanks.” His fingers tighten painfully, but I wrench free. “I’ll wait for Noah.”
As if on cue, I glance over his shoulder to see Noah approaching. “There you are,” I say, making sure Ric knows we have an audience.
Noah comes to my side and hands me a drink. “Ric,” he says, facing his cousin.
Ric tips his head in response, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Sensing a mutual dislike between the men, I lift my drink. “The apple brandy is delicious, but I think this is my last one. I’m getting a little light-headed.”
“We can leave whenever you’re ready,” Noah says.
Ric narrows his eyes. “But we saved the best part for last, and we don’t want Brooke to miss out, do we?” He bumps his glass against Noah’s chest. “Why don’t you leave? And I’ll take care of Brooke.”
Noah gently pushes the drink back toward his cousin. “Don’t be an ass.” He speaks under his breath, but the low tone can’t disguise his anger.
“Ric, stop.” Lyam materializes beside me. “Father will be furious if you cause a scene.”
Ric sneers at his younger brother. “Good little Lyam, always doing what’sexpectedof you.” He tosses back what’s left of hisdrink and turns back to Noah. “And you. Why are you even here?”
Noah goes rigid. “Because I’m family.”
“Oh,nowyou’re family.” Ric sniffs with disdain. “That didn’t stop you from leaving. You ran away with your mommy, like a coward.” He glances at me and smirks. “After his girlfriend’s little sister died in our tunnels.”
“That’s enough,” Noah says, stepping up to Ric as I gasp.
Is Ric talking about the little girl who went missing? The one who was later found in the catacombs?
Intheirtunnels? Below Maison Marteau?
Fury sparks between them, an unspoken challenge straining the air.
But then Ric laughs and backs down. He pats Noah’s chest, as if to calm him. As if he doesn’t want to make Noah angry. “Okay, Cousin. Okay.”
Ric lifts his glass in a gesture of peace and speaks to Noah inFrench. Taking a drink, he turns to go, walking to the door where Luci and his date exited.
I stare at Noah. He stares back, but I can’t decipher his mood. If he’s still angry, he hides it well.
The music changes to a slower song. Before I can say a word, Lyam extends his hand. “May I have this dance?”
I glance between him and Noah, but manners win out. I don’t want to be rude to Lyam. He’s done nothing wrong.
I hand my drink to Noah. He smiles but his eyes show strain, the only evidence of his lingering ire.
Happy as a schoolboy, Lyam lifts my hand to kiss my fingers, then slowly pulls me out to dance. Without objection, I glide onto the floor, his arms still encircling me as we dance.
“Sorry about Ric,” Lyam says. “He always wants what he can’t have.”
“It’s fine.” I shrug and pretend to let it go. Trying to salvage what’s left of the night, I wink at Noah as I twirl by.
He gives me a smile, but I can tell his mood has changed. Tension rests on Noah’s forehead, a reminder of Ric’s callousness.
He didn’t explain his cousin’s cryptic words. And I won’t tell him it’s a story I’ve already heard.
