Page 29 of Avenging Azalea (California Made Men #2)

Chapter

Twenty-One

TITUS

ONE WEEK LATER

There were a million things I’d rather be doing than attending this dinner. Vera’s father had insisted that we all go out, his treat. It was a necessary evil and one that couldn’t be avoided, but that didn’t mean I had to like it.

“You look very handsome,” Vera said quietly from the seat beside me.

The atmosphere in the limo was amicable but forced. Pasha had arranged the ride so that Vera and I arrived with both her parents and mine. We were presenting a united front for the Curators, after all.

“Thank you. You look stunning,” I said, and Vera smiled.

“You really like the dress?” She ran her hand over the ruby-red material. “It’s one of my latest designs.”

I’d learned during our trip to France that Vera often wore her prototypes out to gauge reactions from potential clients. It was certainly an interesting take on market research.

Father laughed loudly at something Pasha said, and my mother shot him a glare. This was not going to be a good night. He was already half in the bag, and we hadn’t even gotten to the restaurant yet.

“I feel like I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”

“I never really apologized for showing up unannounced at your house. Your father suggested I take a look at my new home, but I didn’t know until after we’d arrived that you weren’t there.”

“It’s fine, apology accepted.”

“Can I ask about Fawn?” I stiffened and narrowed my eyes at her. Vera shrank back. “I only bring it up because your father said that she lives with you, and you’ve never mentioned her.” She glanced at my father, seated at the opposite end. “Is she a girlfriend or something? He told me to ask you.”

If looks could kill, my father would be dead, but he never glanced my way.

“I’m just curious. I swear, I don’t mean any harm.”

I had no reason to doubt what Vera said, but I still didn’t believe her. How did I explain Fawn? Yes, technically, she was still in my care, so my ward, but…I didn’t see her like that.

“She’s my ward. I took Fawn in under terrible circumstances, and she’ll be staying with me until she finishes veterinary school. She is not my girlfriend and will not be moving out anytime soon,” I said cooly.

“Oh…okay. I completely understand.”

Doubtful.

Anyone with my father’s stamp of approval was not to be believed. Vera’s motives might be innocent, but I wasn’t letting my guard down. Fawn and the dogs were my heart and must be protected.

A line of photographers were waiting when we pulled up to the five-star restaurant. Fucking hell. They certainly weren’t here for me. The only people who wanted my picture were law enforcement. Vera fluffed her hair and quickly reapplied her lipstick.

“Look, honey. They really turned out to see you,” Mrs. Vilanova said. It appeared that Pasha and his wife had planned more than a family dinner. Katerina Vilanova was a stunning woman and could easily pass as Vera’s older sister.

“I know. Isn’t this exciting?”

Vera looked ready to climb over everyone to get out in front of the cameras. We were the last couple left in the limo, and being a gentleman, I exited and held out my hand for Vera. At first, I thought it was just my eyes, but Vera literally moved in slow motion for the cameras as she stepped out.

“Ms. Vilanova, over here,” one cameraman yelled, and she smiled.

“Do you like my newest creation?”

Vera turned in a little circle and posed in a dozen different positions as she smiled seductively for the cameras. I was fairly certain that most of the men would need to adjust themselves when we were gone.

Taking my arm, Vera smiled and waved to the paparazzi like they were personal friends.

Some of them held lights, and others had small microphones that I was sure were picking up every word.

One guy had a Go-Pro on his head while he recorded on a phone at the same time.

This was so not my scene, and sweat ran down my back from the intense attention.

“Mr. Mikhailov, are you excited about the wedding to the rising queen of fashion?”

“Mr. Mikhailov, tell us how you two met and fell in love.”

“Mr. Mikhailov, are you getting into fashion, too? Will we see you on the cover of Veracious?”

“Do I have to answer these questions,” I whispered under my breath as I pretended the best I could to be okay with this insanity.

Vera wiggled her fingers at the reporters.

“Ah, ah, ah…you all know that Veracious never spills her juicy secrets.” She cocked her hip and then gave a dramatic wave. “Be sure to keep an eye on my newsfeed tomorrow. I’ll be dropping some…deliciousness,” she purred.

That was enough for me. I started walking inside. Vera could either hang on to my arm and keep up, or she could stay outside. She chose me rather than continuing her slo-mo act.

“Titus, not so fast. I want them to get great pictures of the back of the dress.”

“I’m pretty sure the million they got will do.”

A doorman ushered us inside, and I practically stomped up to the ma?tre de.

“Mikhailov table,” I snarled at the man.

“Right this way, sir.”

We followed him to the private room at the back of the restaurant, but Vera tugged on my arm, slowing me down.

“Titus, that’s my job out there. That’s how I make my money and promote myself.”

She had a point. She hadn’t been nicknamed the Queen of Fashion for no reason.

“I’m sorry,” I said, reminding myself that this arranged marriage was being forced upon her as much as it was me.

“Me too. I’m so used to the attention that I forget most people don’t like it.”

“Yeah, I’m not a fan. Keeping moments like that to a minimum, when we are together, will be appreciated.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” Vera said as we stepped into the back room.

The round table was full but missing some friendly faces.

My father and mother sat beside Pasha and Katerina.

Aaron was solo tonight, but I noticed him glance at his watch.

He would be gone before dessert. Ronan and his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Amy, were also in attendance.

I’d hoped that Ronan wouldn’t show up when he didn’t arrive to take the limo, but no such luck.

Vera sat down, and I pushed her chair in before taking my seat.

I’d eaten here enough times to know the menu by heart, but I picked it up anyway.

Any excuse to avoid participating in the conversation for as long as possible.

Wine was poured, and warm bread was served before I finally put my expensive leather shield down.

Ding, ding, ding.

“I’d like to propose a toast,” Father said, standing.

“I couldn’t be happier with this merger, both in business and family.

The two of you are a power couple for the future of the Mikhailov and Vilanova Enterprises.

To the happy couple. Welcome to the family, Vera. My son certainly has impeccable taste.”

Only my father could make a compliment sound like a sexual assault. Everyone raised their glasses and took a sip of their wine.

Conversation resumed and continued while we ordered, and our salads were served.

Glancing around the table, I tried to picture Fawn fitting in with this group.

She had more class in her baby finger than my father and Ronan combined, but I never wanted her to have to prove herself to them.

They would never understand the kindness or the grace that oozed off her.

I was just taking a sip of my wine when Vera gripped my thigh under the table.

Her fingers flexed dangerously close to my dick.

Choking, I spit my wine back in the glass and looked at her, but she was staring straight ahead, talking to Amy.

Vera’s nails grazed my leg as I grabbed her hand and pulled it off.

That got her attention. She looked over, and I let go, hoping that the glare in my eyes was message enough. Do not touch me.

“What’s wrong? You’re so uptight. Just relax,” she cooed, a seductive edge to her voice as she reached for my leg again.

“Don’t do that,” I whispered harshly, stopping her hand. Clearly, she needed my feelings spelled out for her. Vera rolled her eyes.

“Hey, you two. Just remember, no grandchildren before you’re married,” Father said, laughing. Other than Mr. Vilanova, no one found the joke amusing.

“Not to worry. There hasn’t been and won’t be any consummating before the wedding night.”

“What?” Vera practically yelled and then coughed to try and cover up her outburst. “Sorry, my wine went down the wrong way.” She smiled, but it was as forced as if I’d grabbed her lips and pushed them up myself. “Of course, that is very gentlemanly of you,” Vera said through a tight grin.

“There is no need for that. The contract is already signed,” Father said, pouring himself more wine that he really didn’t need. “I was only joking. If you two want to fuck like rabbits, no one is going to stop you.”

“Dimitri, this is not the place for talk like that,” Mom scolded and grabbed the wine bottle away from him before he could finish filling the glass. Not that it would do any good. When he was in a belligerent mood, then nothing stopped him from being an asshole.

“Damn you, woman. Mind your place and give me back my wine,” Father growled, but my mother just ignored him.

“I, for one, think that is honorable of you, Titus. It shows a great deal of respect for our family. I appreciate the effort you’re making to ensure an honest and longstanding relationship,” Katerina said.

“Thank you,” I said.

The awkward silence that fell over the room could be cut with a knife, and yet, it was still one of the least confrontational dinners I’d suffered through with my family in a long time. We managed to make it through the entrée without an issue, but I should’ve known that the calm wouldn’t last.

“So, tell me, Dimitri, how is it that your son Nathaniel ended up with an FBI agent? Can you even trust this woman,” Pasha asked.

Fuck are you kidding me?

“That bitch weaseled her way into this family by having a child.” Father’s face was the picture of disgust as I ground my teeth together.

“I met her when she first got here, Father. I couldn’t stand her. She talked back to Dimitri so rudely in his home. I mean, who does she think she is? What is Nathaniel even thinking?”

My glare shifted from my father to Vera as the anger stormed up inside of me.

Vera spoke like she had real insight when she didn’t know a damn thing about my brother or Savannah.

The dinner Vera was referencing was a couple weeks after Nathaniel brought his wife and son home from Italy and my father had been extremely rude and confrontational all night.

Savannah did nothing but defend herself and managed to stay more respectful than ninety percent of the population.

“You don’t have to worry about me getting a Fed pregnant. The only thing I’d stick in her is my gun,” Ronan said.

“Enough,” Mother growled. “Savannah has been nothing but trustworthy, which is more than I can say for the two of you half the time.”

Father glared at her and opened his mouth to speak. I knew he was going to say something rude and degrading.

“Well then, I guess this is as good a time as any to let you all know that I’ve decided to leave Mikhailov Enterprises to partner with Nathaniel.”

That did the trick. Whatever vitriol my father was about to spew shifted to me as he burst from his seat. Ronan followed, glaring at me.

I picked up my coffee and finished it while trying to decide whose head was going to pop off first. They were both equally red, so it was a coin toss. God, it felt good to piss them off for a change and not give a shit.

“You would betray your family,” Father snarled.

“Rich words coming from you. Savannah was shot because of you. You and Mr. Vilanova here have put both of our families at risk,” I said, and their faces paled as they looked at one another.

“So, before you go casting stones at me, Nathaniel, or Savannah again, how about you take a long, hard look in the mirror because the only one tearing this family apart is you.”

“What is he talking about?” Ronan looked genuinely confused, which eased my mind.

He thought our father let him in on everything so that he could take over one day. He believed he was somehow privy to all the information denied to the rest of us. Sadly, the only person Dimitri truly trusted was himself. At least Mr. Vilanova had the courtesy to look embarrassed.

“How could you do this? To me, to your brother, and mother? Nathaniel turned his back on us when he brought an FBI agent into the house and had the nerve to call her family. But you…I never thought you would stoop so low,” Father said, ignoring Ronan’s question.

“You’ll never understand, and I’m tired of my words falling on deaf ears.

I’m done with this meal, and I’m done with the company.

I’ll be moving out of my office tomorrow.

If you don’t trust me, then by all means, send a few guards to escort me out, but I’ll never step foot in Mikhailov Enterprises again after tomorrow. ”

Glancing around the table, I noticed that Aaron didn’t look shocked at all.

Nathaniel had already spoken to him, but my mother looked devastated.

Nothing that my father or Ronan said would affect me, but the pained look in my mother’s eyes stabbed me in the gut.

Even so, this was necessary. It was time.

Father pointed like that was going to intimidate me.

“You will never be welcome back if you step out that door,” he said, done with the fatherly joking tone of earlier.

Stepping around the table, I grabbed my coat and nodded my goodnight to Vera, who had wisely decided to keep her mouth shut.

“So be it,” I said, walking out of the private room.

“Someone tell me what the hell he was talking about,” Ronan demanded. I paused to hear the answer.

“Your brother always thinks that everything we do is going to get us killed or thrown in jail. He blows everything out of proportion. It’s best that he’s gone. He can’t do what must be done like us,” Father said, and I shook my head.

Nathaniel was right. We were all expendable.