barely
doesn't wince at the conviction in his tone, and now more than ever she wonders
where this realness comes from, when he has always only shown her a stone
facade, and acted like he couldn't feel anything but the touch of her skin. But
then, maybe watching your whole family and the love of your life get murdered
will destroy any facade.
“It was a damn shame to
hear of all that,” says the commissioner. “You have my sincerest condolences.
It was bad enough when your dad went. He was a good man.”
Seth's brow creases, and
the pain that flashes in his expression is very real. But the commissioner’s’
words are true. Everyone loved Gabriel Morgan—except the Marzetti family, and
they're all long dead by now.
“Thanks,” he manages to say without letting
his voice crack. He takes a sip of champagne as a tension break, and continues,
“My family has always been a big supporter of the efforts of your department. I
wanted to assure you that our support will continue.”
The commissioner smiles
at this, the big fat pig that he is, and says, “I did notice that your
enterprise's donation was sizable this year. We are most appreciative, and that
makes you a gold star donor.”
Vera covers her shocked
gasp with a fake sneeze. She mumbles an apology and tries to keep her eyes from
widening. Gold star membership is achieved when a contribution has at least six
zeroes behind the front number. She must remember to play dumb, but as she
watches the scene before her unfold. Seth is securing his empire, keeping the
peace with key players, fortifying his defenses.
If that is true, though,
what the hell is she doing here with him? How does she fall into his deadly
little chess game?
“As I said, it was always important to Dad, and I aim to honor
that wish of his. My uncle
. . . strayed from some
of the important responsibilities while I was studying abroad.”
Studying abroad? Vera
almost laughs. She knows enough about him to know that the only reason he has a
high school diploma is because he had a private tutor. Seth doesn't study. But
the story sounds pretty enough for a socialite.
“Well, that's all a
rather unfortunate part of the story, but you know that if you ever need anything,
don't hesitate to call my office. You kids enjoy the party.”
And just like that, the
commissioner pats Seth on the shoulder, and makes his way on through the crowd.
Seth watches him go for a tense minute, then Vera watches him banish that
tension as he turns to her with a reserved smile. She lifts a sculpted eyebrow,
and says, “What was your area of study, Seth? Ass or tits?”
He flashes a wolfish
smile, but his eyes don't leave hers when he says, “I'm a scholar of beauty as
a total package.”
She's about to return a
comment about his package when they're interrupted by some old bag of a rich
bitch. Vera recognizes the woman as the heiress of a military weapons
contractor, a completely stuck up cunt with more diamonds on than she has
friends in her life. Vera knows her, but the old woman doesn't know Vera, and
so she smiles at the Seth and then his pretty date.
“Seth, you look
ravishing, and who is this? She's a pretty thing.”
She lets Seth kiss her
cheeks in the socially acceptable way, and doesn't wait for an answer. “I was
wondering though, you charming little devil, if you've talked to Bethania
lately?
I've left so many
messages and she won't return my calls. I'm starting to worry about her.”
Seth bristles visibly
and Vera feels the edge that takes him. She can see the flash of anger in his
eyes at the mention of his aunt. Vera doesn't know the details of the
catastrophic event that left Mikie and Nicolette dead and prompted Seth and
Emma to leave to the country, but she can damn well bet from his reaction that
Bethania Morgan had something to do with it.
“I've been extremely
busy, Mrs. Akers, but I'm sure she's fine,” he manages to say without sounding
murderous, but only barely.
“Well if
doesn't wince at the conviction in his tone, and now more than ever she wonders
where this realness comes from, when he has always only shown her a stone
facade, and acted like he couldn't feel anything but the touch of her skin. But
then, maybe watching your whole family and the love of your life get murdered
will destroy any facade.
“It was a damn shame to
hear of all that,” says the commissioner. “You have my sincerest condolences.
It was bad enough when your dad went. He was a good man.”
Seth's brow creases, and
the pain that flashes in his expression is very real. But the commissioner’s’
words are true. Everyone loved Gabriel Morgan—except the Marzetti family, and
they're all long dead by now.
“Thanks,” he manages to say without letting
his voice crack. He takes a sip of champagne as a tension break, and continues,
“My family has always been a big supporter of the efforts of your department. I
wanted to assure you that our support will continue.”
The commissioner smiles
at this, the big fat pig that he is, and says, “I did notice that your
enterprise's donation was sizable this year. We are most appreciative, and that
makes you a gold star donor.”
Vera covers her shocked
gasp with a fake sneeze. She mumbles an apology and tries to keep her eyes from
widening. Gold star membership is achieved when a contribution has at least six
zeroes behind the front number. She must remember to play dumb, but as she
watches the scene before her unfold. Seth is securing his empire, keeping the
peace with key players, fortifying his defenses.
If that is true, though,
what the hell is she doing here with him? How does she fall into his deadly
little chess game?
“As I said, it was always important to Dad, and I aim to honor
that wish of his. My uncle
. . . strayed from some
of the important responsibilities while I was studying abroad.”
Studying abroad? Vera
almost laughs. She knows enough about him to know that the only reason he has a
high school diploma is because he had a private tutor. Seth doesn't study. But
the story sounds pretty enough for a socialite.
“Well, that's all a
rather unfortunate part of the story, but you know that if you ever need anything,
don't hesitate to call my office. You kids enjoy the party.”
And just like that, the
commissioner pats Seth on the shoulder, and makes his way on through the crowd.
Seth watches him go for a tense minute, then Vera watches him banish that
tension as he turns to her with a reserved smile. She lifts a sculpted eyebrow,
and says, “What was your area of study, Seth? Ass or tits?”
He flashes a wolfish
smile, but his eyes don't leave hers when he says, “I'm a scholar of beauty as
a total package.”
She's about to return a
comment about his package when they're interrupted by some old bag of a rich
bitch. Vera recognizes the woman as the heiress of a military weapons
contractor, a completely stuck up cunt with more diamonds on than she has
friends in her life. Vera knows her, but the old woman doesn't know Vera, and
so she smiles at the Seth and then his pretty date.
“Seth, you look
ravishing, and who is this? She's a pretty thing.”
She lets Seth kiss her
cheeks in the socially acceptable way, and doesn't wait for an answer. “I was
wondering though, you charming little devil, if you've talked to Bethania
lately?
I've left so many
messages and she won't return my calls. I'm starting to worry about her.”
Seth bristles visibly
and Vera feels the edge that takes him. She can see the flash of anger in his
eyes at the mention of his aunt. Vera doesn't know the details of the
catastrophic event that left Mikie and Nicolette dead and prompted Seth and
Emma to leave to the country, but she can damn well bet from his reaction that
Bethania Morgan had something to do with it.
“I've been extremely
busy, Mrs. Akers, but I'm sure she's fine,” he manages to say without sounding
murderous, but only barely.
“Well if
Similar Books
