Page 12 of Suit

As if sensing something is wrong, Ghost comes up behind Xanthe. “You ready for bed, little one?”

“Yeah, can we walk Elena up to her room first?” she asks, and Ghost frowns but nods.

We walk past Suit, and I can feel his gaze on me, my skin prickling, but he doesn’t stop me or say anything.

Bones picks up Meredith and throws her over his shoulder. “Where are we going?”

“To Elena’s room,” she replies, laughing.

Bones stills and turns to face me. “Are you having a party in your room, little Bratva princess?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “No, definitely not. They just want to walk me to my room for some reason.”

“I’ll walk her back. You can go,” Ghost states, holding Xanthe’s hand and walking up the stairs. Bones looks back at Suit and then nods. “Come on, Doc. I have plans for you.” His hand comes down on her ass, and I can’t look away, watching the relationship between the two. The men in the Bratva don’t show affection or emotion. Sure, they might love their wives, but they don’t show it in public.

“Bye, Elena! Bye, Xanthe!” Meredith calls out.

Xanthe and I share an amused glance.

When I look back at Ghost, he’s studying me like I’m a bug underneath a microscope. “You don’t need to walk me. It’s just up the stairs.”

I take a step and wobble a little. I should have cut myself off after the third drink. Ghost steps back down so we’re in line. Xanthe reaches her arm out to grab me, grinning. “Welcome to the Serpents of Chaos MC, Elena. You might need to work on your alcohol tolerance.”

I grin up at her and let her pull me up the stairs. Suddenly, hands are at my waist, steadying me. “You going to bed?”

“Yeah, Ghost and Xanthe are going to tuck me in,” I mutter.

Suit’s hands tighten. “I’ll take her.”

Xanthe glares up at Suit. She’s so petite, cute, and doesn’t look scary at all. But when you glance behind her, you know why she’s so bold. Ghost looks like he’d tear apart any man in the room just to make her smile.

“You two are so cute together.” I sigh. “Don’t worry about me. Enjoy the rest of your night.” I tilt my head so I can look at my husband. “And I can walk myself. I’m sure you don’t want to bother yourself with a boring, nerdy virgin who isn’t your type.”

I head upstairs, unaware of the tension I’ve left behind me or the way my husband’s face pales at my words.

I might not be losing my virginity tonight, but I will still fall asleep with a smile on my face.

SUIT

Elena obviously overheard what I said about her and it makes me feel a sliver of something I haven't felt in a long time. Guilt.

She walked down that aisle to me knowing what I said about her, that she wasn’t my choice, with her head held high like the Bratva princess she is.

“Suit, are you coming?” Brandy asks, running a red-tipped finger down my arm.

Xanthe gives me a disappointed look before Ghost picks her up and carries her away.

“Not tonight,” I tell her, climbing up the stairs.

It’s our wedding night, and I’m leaving her alone, but I know it’s for the best. She shouldn’t be sleeping with me because she thinks she has to, and this is not a love match. We’re in an arranged marriage, one that I’ve made clear is nothing more than us doing our duty. So why do I feel like shit?

I stop outside her door and turn the handle, making sure it’s locked. I don’t need any of the men going in there. I rest my forehead against the door, exhale, and head to my bedroom next to hers.

It feels wrong going back to the room that I’ve fucked countless women in now that I’m legally married. I need to keep telling myself it’s not a real fucking marriage.

I toss and turn all night, barely getting any sleep, and when I head downstairs in the morning, Elena is sitting alone in the kitchen with Blade. What the fuck. She’s wearing a tight bra-looking top, her tits nearly falling out, paired with some activewear leggings, leaning over his shoulder and pointing to something on his laptop.

I see red.