Page 147 of Heat & Deceit
“I’m afraid Ly might only be half to blame,” Javi says with a wince.
“What did you do?” Georgina asks in a tone that has me wondering how often these guys get into trouble with her.
“I spoke with her fathers.”
Georgina purses her lips.
“It was a mild threat, that’s all.” Javi glances at me. “I told them to get a hold of their daughter or things would get uncomfortable.”
His cousin snorts. “What he means to say is he threatened the famous media moguls and pissed them off. Jesus, Javi. Was that necessary?”
“Absolutely. She was posting about Nova.”
“What?” My eyebrows jump. “She posted about me?”
Javi rubs the bridge of his nose. “On social media after the date. She took the posts down, but not before enough people saw it. I’m sorry. We had hoped to protect you from her, but it seems things backfired.”
I’m not sure how to feel. Mad? No, that doesn’t seem right. Honestly, I’m more worried than anything. A social media post from some socialite might go unnoticed, but with this magazine, my old pack will definitely know where I am now. Fear creeps into my scent, and Javi pulls me close.
“You’re safe with us.”
That, I know for certain. They’ll protect me.
Georgina sighs and glances around. “Where are the guys?”
“Ly is running payroll, and Rome is on his way home.”
“That’s okay. We can start planning now.” Georgina drops her purse onto the table against the wall.
“Planning?” I ask, glancing at Javi.
“We’re going to have a party. Officially announce you as the pack’s omega, show that Caroline bitch what happens when she messes with my family.” Georgina struts into the kitchen. “Oh good, you’re making dinner.”
“A party?” I ask, glancing at Javi. “I don’t want a party.”
He grimaces. “I’ll try to talk her out of it, but my cousin is...stubborn.”
“I heard that,” Georgina calls from the kitchen. “We show the world that your mate is an omega, we show the world Cardinal Media is slanderous. Hit them where it hurts. Caroline’s fathers will be pissed.”
“Say the word, and I’ll kick her out.”
I consider it, really, I do, but that article wasn’t nice. If it’s like Georgina said, Caroline purposefully dragged me through the mud, all because Ly ended the date early. I understand rejection better than anyone, but there’s a difference between what happened to her and what happened to me. To stoop to this level, to send paparazzi and accuse me of screwing the bosses for a raise? That’s petty as shit.
Did she hope the article would scare me off? I’m not running. This is my pack, and no one makes up stupid stories about them or me.
“No. Let’s have a party.”
* * *
Georgina needed a week to plan. It’s been four days, and today, she’s humming along with some pop song while she drives us toward a local boutique. Along with her grand plans for what she’s decided should be a charity ball, she’s also decided it would be best if I wear a full gown. I wring my hands in my lap as we park outside of the shop.
“Don’t be nervous,” she says. “Moni is the best, and you’re going to look stunning.”
Stunning? More likely, I’ll look like a fraud. I come from the low packs and grew up shopping at thrift stores, where I was lucky if I found a nice dress. There were no freaking ball gowns.
“Are you coming?” Georgina opens her door, pointedly ignoring my obvious discomfort.
This is so awkward, but she’s trying to be nice.All right.Come on, Nova. Don’t let a frilly, fluffy dress intimidate you. Make that dress your bitch.
