Page 59 of Betrayed in the Dark
“We’re leaving now. Text me with the details.”
I quickly end the call, place an order for food on my phone, and then shove my phone into my pocket as I walk over to the table. Resting a hand on the back of Madeleine’s chair, I state, “I’m sorry, but we have to leave. That was Vin on the phone, and he mentioned a family emergency that he would like you to come home for.”
Madeleine’s eyes widen as she stands without a second thought.
“Oh my, I hope everything is all right,” Mila offers before taking a large gulp of her champagne.
Alastor stands as well. “I’ll accompany you home.”
“No,” both Madeleine and I reply in unison.
She quickly places her hand on his chest, looking up at him. “I’ll be fine. Besides, you don’t want to leave your family’s dinner so early.” She looks at his parents. “Apologies, but I must go. We should do this again soon.”
Alastor bends down to kiss her, but Madeleine quickly spins on her heels and turns out of his reach. I don’t give the rest of the family a chance to continue their polite exchanges, placing my hand on her lower back to gently guide her away from the table. Over my shoulder, I notice Alastor’s eyes fixed on where my hand rests, which gives me a small sense of satisfaction.
We walk side by side out the front door into the frigid air. I stop her, gently pulling on her hand, and then take off my jacket, placing it around her shoulders just as Reginald brings the car to a stop at the entrance. She wraps the material around her waist, swimming in its length.
I reach out, placing two fingers under her chin to guide her gaze up to mine. “Did he hurt you?”
She shakes her head.
“And you’d tell me if he did?”
She nods.
“Good.”
Opening the back passenger door for her, she places her hand on the inside panel before stilling and turning to face me.
“There is no family emergency, is there?”
“No. And I just put in an order for pizza to be delivered to the front gate.”
She smiles—a true, genuine, Madeleine heart-stopping smile. “Thank you, Eli.” She leans forward and presses a tender kiss against my cheek before stepping inside the vehicle and sliding across the leather seat.
I don’t know what I did to deserve that smile, but fuck, I want to memorize it so it’s the last thing I see before I take my dying breath.
Chapter thirteen
Madeleine
As I step out of the Escalade, I lift my sunglasses to my eyes and adjust the belt around my jacket before heading into the private back entrance of My Something White, an exclusive bridal boutique owned by the talented Star Bamford, with Eli closely following behind me.
“I told you that you could wait in the car. This will only take a moment,” I say, turning to face him as the door swings open at our arrival. One of Star’s assistants stands there, holding the door open with a bright smile.
“No can do. Where you go, I go. You know the rules, Princess,” Eli replies, clasping his hands behind his back and staring straight ahead at the door like an obedient soldier.
He doesn’t understand.
Me standing in my wedding dress isn’t going to be an easy thing to witness—for either of us.
Not when we used to dream of a future together.
One where I would be walking down the aisle to meet him.
Not Alastor.
I internally shake my head and take a deep breath before I turn and step inside the warm space.
