Page 36 of Vow of Revenge
Syrah hollered from the hall, snapping me from a quiet daze. “Freya, let’s go!”
I grabbed my gold clutch and sucked in my growing apprehension. Mingling in crowds made my skin itch like a wooden jumper on a warm day.
“Well look at you.” Brett smiled as I reached the last step. I caught him squeezing Syrah’s ass after his comment and giving a playful rogue smile. “You scrub up well.” He nodded towards me.
“As do you.” Which was no word of a lie. Brett was strikingly handsome wrapped in a slick black tux, bulging in all the right places. He exuded an air of aristocracy tinged with understated mischief, unlike his absent cousin, who radiated danger from every angle of his flawlessly carved physique.
“The car is outside. How about one woman on my right arm and the other on my left?” His playful smirk was charming.
“Not sure you could handle two Beaumont’s. I’m happy to walk unaided, thanks.” I smiled sweetly, glancing at Syrah with a knowing nod.
The moment I shimmied into his town car, I regretted tagging along. There were roaming hands, kisses, naughty giggles and soft moans. I’d become the proverbial spare part, the lame ass looser with no date who lurks behind the hot mate.
To avoid covering my eyes and ears, I kept my gaze directed on the tinted window. I’ll give my sister credit; Syrah was trying to be covert as her palm cupped his dick over his zipper, but her not so subtle attempt failed drastically. I was there, in the car, pressed hip to hip with her. If there was an ejection button, I would quite happily catapult myself out of the sunroof so I didn’t have to feel so… awkward, or jealous?
“I’m guessing that you two will travel home together. I’ll take our town car back to the apartment.”
“Make sure you let me know when you’re leaving.”
I sighed inwardly, longing for the night to be over already. I didn’t need a man to escort me, but an odd pang in my chest gave way to an unusual feeling of loneliness.
Glimmer Magazine was hosting the annual Christmas Gala. The event was historically the social event of the year. Everyone in the industry attended, bringing their plus ones from lawyers to models to rented arm candy. This year Glimmer teamed up with McGrath Enterprises, holding the party in their most exclusive and lavish ballroom in the newly refurbished five-star hotel, LMG.
Our car rolled up behind a queue of limousines, the main entrance only a few metres ahead.
“We’ll walk from here.” Brett tapped the glass partition, and the driver cut the engine.
A cool breeze prickled my skin as I trailed behind my sister. Brett escorted Syrah through the doors and into the reception. Hotel staff directed the guests down the corridor to the grand ballroom. The designers had out done themselves this year with a magical winter wonderland theme. Everything in sight was sprinkled in snowy glitter, dusted in pine trees lining the walls, central ice sculptures sat proudly on every table, but it was the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg that transported me back to a time when my mother was by my side.
Brett whisked Syrah into the crowd, his palm cinching her waist and her head tipped to his shoulder. I opted to seek freedom from their touchy touchy grappling and held back, falling behind even more happy couples.
“Freya!”
I looked left, watching helplessly as Danny, Syrah’s jilted ex, sauntered towards me. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
He lightly kissed my cheek, as he always did when we were in each other’s company. “Hey.”
Danny was athletically built and towered over me with an uncomfortable gaze. He knew Syrah was here, and the fact he kept looking over my shoulder highlighted his need to see if she came with someone else. His thick blonde hair flopped over his furrowed forehead and chocolate brown eyes surveyed my blank face, waiting for me to reveal my burdensome knowledge.
“Hey, Danny. Who are you here with?”Why did I ask that?
“I brought, Mia, from work, she wants to meet that Charlie guy – you know, the one who talks about how to bag a man in one week.” His hands fidgeted in his pockets.
“She’s here, Danny. With a date. Just thought I should let you know.”
I ripped off the plaster with no remorse. After all, it was best to get it over and done with. I was trying to protect my sister and prevent his shock explosion when he catches sight of Syrah with one of Dublin’s hottest eligible bachelors. Some would put Danny in that category, but he didn’t have the same sex appeal as the De Courcy’s.
His fists clenched. “A fucking date? Like a real one and not just a stand in?” His tone dropped to sub-zero and a little spec of spit shot past his lips as the words flew out.
I inched back, nodding subtly, sensing a volcano ready to erupt. I knew the signs; I had fallen victim to my own explosion thousands of times.
“She only just met this guy, Danny. It probably won’t last.”
Danny’s eyes turned to slits with a flicker of anger quirking his lips. “Your sister led me on, like a foolish puppet on a string, for over a year. Then she dumped me like a piece of trash and hooked up with a new guy the next day. Like I was nothing to her. Fucking bitch.”
A blast of air blew out my cheeks. I wasn’t surprised Danny was devastated. “She is not a bitch, Danny, we both know that. Look, don’t cause a scene, it’s not worth it. They’ll chuck you out.”
“I was going to propose!”
