He kissed the top of my forehead as he passed. “It’ll all be over soon, Mia Regina.”
The fact that he’d called me his queen made my stomach lurch. I felt his absence as excruciatingly as I felt his presence. I stepped into the room after I’d gathered myself, and several pairs of eyes turned to gawk at me. I was the center of attention, but only one pair of eyes held my interest. He saw through me, the parts of me I kept hidden from the world.
I tore my gaze from his, immediately noticing my mother's curious glances between Arthur and me. If I hadn’t already been sure they were the worst parents before, the fact that they’d invited my kidnapper to a party sealed it. Gabe was at the bar, and I moved to join him. I stared at the glass of clear liquid in his hands.
“Water. But Vodka to everyone else.”
I had the urge to taste it, but I would give him the benefit of the doubt. I looked around the room, the vultures descending, led by father dearest. Arthur’s eyes never left me. He frowned as Charles neared me.
“You’ve met my children, Alexander.” He introduced the man standing beside him. He was a stocky man with a balding head, sweat glistening on his forehead. He stuck out his damp hand, taking mine and placing a sloppy kiss on it. I almost threw up in my mouth.
“She’s a prize, Charles.” He looked at me like I was his next meal, his eyes never leaving my chest. He licked his lips.
I could not help but scrunch up my nose in disgust, earning me a warning glare from my father. You are the company you keep, I suppose.
“Good to meet you, Gabriel.” Alexander addressed my brother, who nodded politely. I let out a breath when they left us, rummaging in my clutch bag for hand sanitizer.
“I swear if I have to touch another filthy pig, I'll-”
“Sweethearts,” My mother’s high-pitched voice had me turning toward her. She approached me with a handsome young man on her arm. He looked to be a few years older than me, most likely her new lay. I hated the fact that Arthur had been one of them. He stood across the room, talking to one of the guests. He commanded the attention in the room.
My father had apologized for his absence at the gala, making up an emergency. I knew better.
“Hi, Mom,” I answered.
“I wanted to introduce you to Leo Romano, his father and yours are business associates. Leo here just made partner in a major law firm here in New Orleans.” She smiled. “Leo, darling, these are my children, Gabriel and Gaia.”
He extended his hand, and I shook it. “Lovely to meet you both,” he said, not taking his eyes off me. Leo Romano was tall, broad-shouldered, with sandy blonde hair and brown eyes that shone when he smiled. He was the kind of guy I’d have been into before.
“Gaia, why don’t you show Leo around the grounds? He’s interested in properties in the area. It would be wonderful for him to get a lay of the land. Gabe, you must come say hello to Luca, she’s been looking all over for you.”
Although that was the dumbest and most obvious of setups, I didn’t see any harm in showing his around. My father owned one of the largest properties in the area, there was hardly anything around here that could compare in size.
I watched my mother loop hands with Gabe and push through the crowd. I could not help but pity my brother. Luca was an ex-girlfriend of his. It hadn’t worked because Gabe hadn’t been interested in settling down. He preferred playing the field and had never been involved with just one woman.
A singer serenaded the crowd with a sultry song, and some couples were already making their way to the dance floor. I’d lost Arthur in the crowd. He’d come with two other men, and I could not see them either.
“It’s a beautiful home you grew up in,” Leo remarked.
“Thank you,” I said politely. “It is quite a monstrosity.”
“So, I hear you’re a teacher at NOLA School of Music?” He asked as we made our way outside. I figured I’d show him the gardens and fountain from the balcony.
“Yes, I am.” I didn’t mean to sound curt, but my mind and eyes were somewhere else. The cold air was a welcome distraction.
“You’re not keen on conversation, are you?” He asked, and when I looked up into his kind brown eyes, I felt terrible for being so disinterested. “Sucks being cornered.”
I smiled. “It’s not that.”
He grinned. “You forget I grew up like this. It is the worst thing in the world to be stuck entertaining guests when you’d rather be somewhere else.”
A smirk spread across my face. “Hit the nail on the head there.”
He tucked his hands in his slacks. “We could go back inside.” He cocked his head to the side. I looked back at the crowd and spotted my mother draped on Arthurs' shoulder. That was it.
“You know what, that is the last thing I want to do. Let’s continue our tour.”
We hadn’t made it halfway down the stairs when hands wrapped around my arms, spinning me until I set eyes on Arthur.
