Kings of Chaos (Dirty Broken Savages #1)(104)
She tips her head, conceding that point. “Can we go to the bar now? We schmoozed, didn’t we?”
Gage is still chatting with the group, with Priest at his side. He knows what he’s doing, and despite the fact that we make it a point to stick close together at these things, we don’t literally have to be joined at the hip.
“Maybe just a quick trip,” I tell her. Knox grins, and we break away from the group to make our way to the open bar.
There’s a bit of a line already, so we stand to the side to wait. People pass us, moving to greet friends or to avoid enemies, and we just kind of take it all in. The hum of conversation blends in with the music from the orchestra, and it’s not so bad if you ignore all the people.
Another group passes us, and I can see one of the women with them checking us out. They pass quickly enough, and the woman turns to one of her companions.
“I thought they were checking invitations at the door,” she says, with enough volume that it’s hard to tell if she’s just loud or wants to be overheard.
“They were,” her friend says.
“I’m shocked that some people don’t realize how tacky it is to bring a hooker to something like this. Honestly. Do whatever you want on your own time, but this is a classy affair.”
I furrow my brows, and it only takes a second to realize that she’s talking about River.
She took one look at her hair and her tattoos and made a judgement, and then had to blab about it like a fucking bitch who thinks she’s better than everyone else for some reason. Something flares inside me. It’s anger, with something else mixed in. Something old and bitter that I don’t even want to think about, so I focus on being pissed off that she’d think River is just some hooker.
Before anyone can stop me, I follow her and her friends, walking up to her with the usual charming smile on my face. She looks startled for a second, then eyes me and smiles back.
“Can we help you?”
I turn the smile up a notch, even though it doesn’t reach my eyes. “I was just standing over there when you passed by,” I say. “And I couldn’t help but admire your necklace.” It’s the first thing I think of, and on someone else, it would be nice. Diamonds and a big emerald pendant that matches the green of her dress. “It’s stunning, but I bet it’s your own natural beauty that really brings it out.”
“Oh,” she says, giving me a simpering smile. “You’re too kind. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. When I see something so beautiful, I have to say something. That’s just the way I am. Can I ask where you got it from?”
“It was a gift,” she answers. “From my husband.” Then her smile turns sly, and I can feel her raking her eyes over me, clearly attracted. “But he isn’t here tonight.”
I push my glasses up with my index finger. “I see. I have one more question, then.”
She steps forward, eyes intent. “Go ahead.”
“How many times did you suck his dick before he bought it for you?” I keep the smile on my face, and it takes a second for her to catch up to what I actually said.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. It was an exchange, right? You basically whore yourself out to him for fancy jewelry and nice cars and all that shit? Just like the rest of the gold digging wives in your circle. So when you think about it, you’re not that much better than a common hooker, are you?”
The woman gapes at me, face flushed. She looks shocked and flustered, like she has no idea what to say. Her friends splutter indignantly on her behalf, and probably on their own behalf too if I had to guess.
I can think of plenty more to say to them, but before I can, someone latches onto my arm.
River.
“What the fuck are you doing?” she hisses.
I just shrug, but I don’t put up a fight as she starts to drag me away.
43
RIVER
WHEN ASH MARCHED up to that woman, I wasn’t sure what he was doing at first. He schmoozed and flirted the way he seems to do as easily as breathing. But then his words turned vicious, and I realized that was his plan all along. The woman looked shocked and appalled, and anger flashes through me, hot and impossible to ignore.
Keeping my grip on Ash, I drag him away, pissed as fuck.
I pull him out of the ballroom to the lobby of the hotel, and then into a little one person bathroom tucked into a short hallway. Of course a venue like this has single bathrooms, and of course it’s just as fancy as the rest of the place, with the toilet sectioned off behind a little wall, and a chair and table in the corner like someone would sit down and have a little break in the middle of a fancy function.
Actually, maybe that’s not a bad idea.
I shut and lock the door behind us and round on Ash, eyes blazing with my anger.
“What the fuck was that?” I demand.
“What do you mean?”
“You know what the fuck I mean, Ash. What you said to that woman. You had no right.”
He folds his arms and looks at me straight on. “Yeah, I did. People shouldn’t talk about you that way. It’s not right.”
“People always have shit to say. Who gives a fuck? She’s just some random bitch I’ll probably never see again. It’s not your job to stop people from talking shit about me. I don’t need you or any of the other guys protecting me. I can look out for myself. I’ve been doing it for most of my fucking life.”