Page 232 of Bound By Her

Bryson was going to be pissed.

Elena wore a long-sleeve black dress with a red shawl and a vanilla envelope tucked under her arm. She looked alarmingly the same. Except, thank Christ, she had dyed her hair to a vibrant red.

Her eyes darkened at his words. “If any one of you thought I was going to sit on my ass while my father tries to kill my brother, I’ll rip off your balls, my brother included.”

She stomped past him, muttering, “Call me at three in the morning, tell me you’re a sex slave. Think I’m gonna stay home.”

She waved her hands into the air, continuing to mutter to herself, and Kaydon fell into step behind her.

It had been almost five years since Kaydon had seen Elena. Silently, he did the math and decided she had to be about nineteen or twenty by now.

She had made some poor decisions as a girl, and no one but Bryson’s father had been shocked when she came home pregnant.

Kaydon knew then what Callen was capable of.

And yet you let Bryson stay.

What was he supposed to do? They were barely twenty themselves.

You are supposed to protect him. You failed.

Kaydon put a hand on her shoulder when they were getting close to the party.

“Give me the envelope. I can show you to a spot where you can wait. I’ll let Bryson know you’re here,” he said.

Elena gave him a sly smile that was so close to Bryson’s that Kaydon had to shake his head.

“You can have the envelope, but I’m not hiding anywhere,” she said, taking a black lace mask out of the parcel and putting it on. “I have a party to go to.”

Tossing it to him, she turned, and before Kaydon could call after her she disappeared around a corner.

Shit.

Now Kaydon could add Elena to the list of things he had to worry about today. And the list was long enough already.

Donning his own mask, Kaydon weaved through the party goers. The amount of people in Adria’s foyer and hall was unsettling. Especially because in an hour he was going to be out of this suit and naked in front of them.

He easily found her.

She stood out, wearing a ballerina dance suit with black stockings and thigh-high boots. Kaydon watched her press her hand against her middle. She did that sometimes. Pressed into herself, like she could hold herself together from the outside in.

He fought the urge to go to her. To hold her together while she fought the wars she was built to fight.

A hand gripped his bicep, and he tensed before the scent of evergreen hit his nose.

“That fucker is already talking to her,” Bryson hissed in his ear.

Kaydon could feel the envelope being pulled from his grip.

“Bryce, we have a probl—” he tried to tell him about Elena, but when he turned, Bryson was gone.

CHAPTER 58

NORTH CAROLINA

Adria always had a theme for presentation nights, and tonight’s was black-tie masquerade. Her vision had been executed flawlessly. Erotic black-and-white photos adorned the foyer. Velvet table cloths sat under black calla lilies, dark red roses and ivy. Antique mirrors and gothic-inspired furniture had been brought in for the occasion.

Adria checked herself in the gold-encrusted mirror. Everything was in order. She concentrated on breathing.

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