Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(61)
Kai spots where my attention has wandered. “They are up to something,” he whispers. I subtly nod. “I’ll keep eyes on them.”
As if they heard us, both men pick their heads up at the same time, pinning wicked eyes on me. All the tiny hairs on the back of my neck lift, and I shiver uncontrollably.
“Cold, darling?” Charlie says, pressing his mouth close to my ear as he circles his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in closer.
“Nervous,” I say, smiling shyly at him, while trying to ignore the eyeballs latched to my back. Kai is suspiciously quiet. “It’s a lot to take in. Although,” I say, lowering my voice as I look over my shoulder. “I’m surprised there are no girls in cages. What happened to the stalls at the end of the room?”
Charlie presses his mouth closer to my ear. “Your father wouldn’t risk having that on display tonight. There are too many outsiders here.” He trails his fingers up my arm. “He moved the action to the private corridor over on the other side of the room. Only elite with the code can access it. You’ll notice people slipping out of the room after dinner, and that’s why.” His warm breath fans over my face, but I just feel cold all the way through to my bones. “Whatever you do, do not go near that side of the dungeon.”
“It’s time,” Jacqueline—the wedding planner—says, coming up behind me. “Are you sure you still want to dance to this piece?”
“Absolutely.” I stand with a flourish, holding my hand out for Charlie.
I know he’s a good dancer, because we were all made to take lessons years ago, and it’s just as well because this song isn’t going to be easy to slow dance to.
The orchestra kicks off, and Charlie sweeps me into his arms, twirling me out into the center of the dance floor. People get up from their tables, surrounding the floor, watching us. I feel the heated eyes and lustful looks from several of the men, and a shudder works its way through me. Charlie plants his arm around my lower back, pulling me in close to his body as he directs our moves. He’s a smooth dancer, and we glide naturally across the dancefloor.
“What song is this?” he asks as he twirls me around.
“It’s called “The Rains of Castamere.” It’s from the red wedding in the Game of Thrones,” I innocently explain, knowing he has no clue because he’s vocal in his dislike of the popular show.
“Ah,” he says, “I see. That’s where you got the red theme from?”
“Sort of.” I bury my face in his shirt to hide my smirk. Little does he know the red wedding was a blood bath with few making it out alive. I thought I was being tongue in cheek choosing this music for our first dance, but as my fake husband twirls me around the dance floor, and I feel the dark heat from copious sets of eyes, I wonder if it isn’t ominous.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
An hour later, the dance floor is hopping with drunken couples dirty dancing. The goth band I hired is rocking it out onstage, and the crowd is loving it. If I’d wanted the actual wedding to be a success, I could be slapping myself on the back right now for a job well done. But I’m too wound up to celebrate. We were banking on Father and his cronies leaving the room at some point so we could sneak out to his office to snoop, but he hasn’t moved from the room all night.
“Please, Kaiden.” Giselle’s whiny voice bores through my brain. “I really want to dance.”
“For the last fucking time, I don’t dance,” Kai snaps.
“I’ll dance with you,” Trent says, sidling up alongside her.
She considers it for all of five seconds before ditching Kai for his arch nemesis. Drew snorts as we watch them make their way to the dancefloor, disappearing into the middle of the crowd. “Doesn’t your cousin have any sense of self-worth?” he asks a bored-looking Alessandra.
“About as much as your sister,” she retorts, giving him the evil eye.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Drew pins her with a sharp look.
“It means Goth Barbie has bitten off more than she can chew.”
“Christian,” Drew bellows. “Alessandra was just mentioning how much she’d love to dance with you.”
Christian’s lips tug up on one side. “Well, I’d hate to disappoint such a pretty lady.” He stands, rounding the table and extending his hand toward my brother’s fiancée.
Alessandra’s smile is pinched as she rises, looping her arm through Christian’s. She shoots daggers at Drew as they walk off.
“Poor Drew,” Charlie whispers in my ear. “She’s a fucking weapon.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Michael,” Rick shouts over the music. “Surely, you’re not going to leave Isabella wanting?” He smirks at his date. “She hasn’t been flirting relentlessly with you all night to leave without at least one dance?”
Isabella and Patrice both glower at Rick, and I fight a lip twitch.
Father stands, grinning at Isabella, with dark eyes full of nefarious intent. “I can assure you,” he says, eyeballing Alessandra’s sister. “You will have the pleasure of my company in due course, but right now, I think it’s time I took my daughter for a spin on the dance floor.” He infuses his fake tone with light laughter, but no one is buying it. Kai stiffens, and Drew clamps a hand on his leg in warning.