Page 87 of The Devil's Wrath

She knew what that smile meant, and I swear I saw a sliver of lust flash across those stormy gray eyes. “Don’t smile at me like that, you sick fuck,” she sneered.

Gage lunged forward, and I prepared for his fist against my face before Kai stopped him.

“Enough,” Kai scolded, his voice low and dangerous. “This ends now. This is neither the time nor the place for this conversation. We are guests at Archer and Mila’s rehearsal dinner. Show some respect.”

Gage wrenched his arm free from Kai’s hold, his chest heaving as he made me a promise. “This is far from over.”

I held his gaze. “Anytime, anywhere,” I retorted.

He looked like he wanted to respond, but Wrenly’s glare caused him to clamp his mouth shut and storm off.

Wrenly sighed heavily, her face flushed as she gently touched my cheek. “I’m sorry about this.” Her sweet voice was tinged with regret. “I didn’t mean for things to escalate to this point. Gage is just . . . overprotective.”

My gaze softened as I looked at her. Her eyes were full of tears, and her lip was trembling. “Your brother needs to learn to mind his own business.”

She bit her lower lip, nodding in agreement. “Can we talk about this later? In private?”

“Fine.” I nodded, tabling it for now.

She smiled appreciatively and then turned to Kai and Haven. “I apologize again for the disturbance. Please enjoy the rest of your evening.”

Then she glanced at me and pushed past them before walking away without another word.

Kai let out a low, drawn-out whistle and then smiled. “Gage’s sister? Damn, Theo. You sure know how to pick them.”

“Fuck off, Kai.”

He placed a hand on my arm. “Are you okay?”

I sighed. “I will be. I need a minute.”

He nodded. “Take all the time you need. We’ll cover for you if anyone asks.”

I responded with a nod and headed in the direction Wrenly had walked. We had some things to discuss.

TWENTY-NINE

WRENLY

Ihad to get away before I started crying. My head hurt and my stomach was sick. I pushed through the crowd and headed up to the manor. The heavy wooden doors creaked as I flung them open, stumbling into the grand foyer. The ornate portraits of stern-faced ancestors adorned the walls, and their painted eyes seemed to follow my every move with cold disapproval. I couldn’t bear their silent judgment.

“Wrenly?” I heard Theo call after me.

I raced down the hallway and into the bathroom, purging my stomach’s contents into the toilet. I gripped the sides of the porcelain bowl, my knuckles white as wave after wave of nausea wracked my body. Sweat dripped down my brow, mingling with the tears streaming down my face, I couldn’t shake the suffocating feeling of shame and embarrassment that clung to me like a heavy shroud.

Theo hadn’t told me my brother worked for them, and Gage was more than upset I was with Theo. What had begun as a perfect night had turned sour. I slumped against the cool porcelain, and the bitter taste of bile lingered in my mouth.

A soft knock at the door startled me. “Wren, it’s me,” Theo’s muffled voice sounded through the door.

“Go away, Theo,” I responded.

“I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”

I closed my eyes, willing him to go, but I knew he wouldn’t until I faced him. Slowly, I pushed myself up from the cold bathroom floor and went to the door. I turned the lock and cracked the door open. His face came into view, his brows knitted with concern.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. I should have told Gage about us and told you that he worked for us,” he said softly. “I never meant to keep it from you.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Well, you did. How could you not mention that my brother works for your family?”

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