Page 98 of From Hell

He gives me a look like he could, but instead, says, “We’re here.”

We pull into a street packed with photographers, and Jaxon off-hands the car to the valet. The hotel is a flurry of lights. The press crowding the red carpet takes a million pictures of us arriving. They shout questions at Jaxon about me, asking if we’re dating. Unexpectedly, Jaxon pulls me closer to him, shielding me from the brunt of it, telling them nothing. I let him pull me close. He smells of expensive cologne and darker promises to come. My insides flip despite my hatred toward a guy like him.

It’s easy to forget in the glamour of it all; this is not the real Jaxon. There’s something darker and menacing behind his charming mask. If I looked under it, I would see the real monster, a killer.

Just like the men I vowed to kill.

The real question is…can I kill Jaxon?

It scares me more than anything that the answer is no.

35

LAINE

The charity auction is full of rich wankers, but all eyes are on me when I walk in on Jaxon’s arm. I recognize two faces: his father in one corner talking to a taller, bulkier man with dark, bushy hair and eyebrows. And Addison is at the bar with two women hanging off his every word. He sees us enter, and a syrupy smile sticks to his lips.

Jaxon’s father, Simmons, and the taller man see us, and they stiffen. Simmons nods to Jaxon as if expecting him to go over there. He doesn’t.

My pulse speeds up as Jaxon’s arm snakes around my waist, the heat of his body causing it to skip a few beats. “Stay close.”

“Scared I’ll run off?” I pipe at him.

“I can’t be held accountable for what I’ll do to anyone who does more than look at you.”

Jaxon hasn’t told me the plan yet, so I let him guide me toward the bar. He orders our drinks—a whiskey for him and something sweet with a cherry in it for me.

“It would be good if I knew what the plan for tonight is,” I say under my breath, sipping my cocktail. It’s the same drink I had at the foundation dinner. He remembered.

“There is no plan.”

I blink. “Then why are we here?”

“As a board member of the Foundation, I have obligations,” he says detachedly. “You’re tense this evening.” He comes around and rubs my shoulders, sending shockwaves of pleasure down my spine.

I close my eyes, wanting nothing more than to lean into him like a cat and rub myself all over his warm, solid body. I slept for a long time last night.

“You let me sleep in your bed,” I blurt out.

He steps close, warm breath coasting over the shell of my ear. “Is that why you’re on edge?” He bites me gently on my neck, and electricity rushes through my body. If Jaxon wanted to fuck me here, in this room with everyone watching, I’m not sure I could stop him.

“Everyone is watching.”

“Fuck everyone. I want them to know you’re mine.”

His words burn away the chill in my bones, my mind branded with chaos so that I can’t think properly, let alone speak.

“Everyone here is a Lucian?”

“We call them Followers. But yes, everyone except you.”

“Then why did you bring me?”

“To make a statement. Declaring you off limits. Anyone who wants to touch a hair on your body must go through me.” His voice is like silk, caressing the darker parts of my soul.

“Won’t they just do that?”

He chuckles darkly. “That’s the fun part.”