Page 29 of Laila Manning (Shadeport Crew #3)

“ G round rules.” Jed barked authoritatively from the back seat.

“Here we go.” Ryker sighed, rubbing his fingers over his forehead as I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye.

“Before you say another word,” I adjusted the rearview mirror to stare at Jed where he took up the entire backseat of Ryker’s large SUV, “Just know that whatever you tell me not to do, I’m going to do ten times worse just because you thought you could be the boss.

” I raised my eyebrow at him as his jaw clenched while I drove through busy downtown traffic, nearing the event. “So please continue.”

“I fucking hate you.” Jed complained but turned to look out the window, ending any further rule-giving he was about to do.

“Yeah, I know.” I sighed, pulling the SUV past the police barricades to the private entrance behind the swanky hotel the event was being hosted at .

I parked the car and got out, scanning the buildings around us and the barricades on the street, keeping the riffraff out and allowing only the most elite of the VIP guests in for the evening.

“Perfect timing.” Ryker nodded to the black limo pulling up, sandwiched between two of our cars filled with men, convoying the most elite guests of the event in.

“You look nervous, old boy.” He hit my stomach with the back of his hand as I buttoned my tux up, staring at the blackout windows, hoping for a glance inside.

“She deserves a perfect night.” I tore my eyes away as Elora’s personal guards flanked both sides of the car and opened the back door.

“She does.” Ryker admitted, pointing a glance at Jed, who squinted his annoyance at him.

“I’m not going to fuck it up.” He said defensively.

Before either of us could counter that obvious lie, Elora stepped out of the limo, smiling brightly at Ryker and stealing away the attention of everyone around.

She looked stunning in a dark blue velvet dress that reminded me of the obscenely big sapphire that old lady dropped into the ocean in that movie.

But fuck it, she deserved her perfect night too, so I gave her a nod as she winked at me, stepping aside so the next woman could get out as Ryker guided her to the pristine carpet laid out just for them.

I could tell by the shoe alone; the next woman was Carly. Flashy and blindingly encrusted with jewels, it matched her white sparkly gown. It did some weird tuxedo thing where the skirt was short and tight around her thighs with a sheer tail of sparkling fabric flowing down to her ankles.

It was so Carly that it was painful yet entertaining to watch.

“Damn.” Jed grunted, stepping forward out of his trance to take his woman’s hand and walk her over to where Ryker and Elora waited at the entrance .

Which meant Laila was the last one inside.

Was she inside?

Did she back out and leave me standing here like a fool?

Did she let her fear get the better of her?

The earlier anxiety I felt shifted to a more acute form of nervousness the moment that incredibly alluring foot touched the ground.

My feet were moving before my brain processed anything until I was pushing the guard aside and holding my hand out for my date.

“Dove.” I sighed as her warm brown eyes stared up at me from the seat with relief and nervousness burning bright in them.

“Hi.” She gave me a small smile and slid her hand into mine, squeezing it for dear life as she stood up.

“My God.” I growled, scanning her from the top of her soft, curled chocolate hair to her shoulders bare above the modest yet romantic heart-shaped neckline of her strapless red dress.

Her makeup was dark, and it made her look like a Viking warrior, and I loved every single inch of it.

“This dress.” I slowly slid my eyes down her lush body, stepping back to take in the whole package as she blushed and made a small spin for me.

“Do you like it?” She slid her hands down the tight corseted top to where the fabric loosened under her hips and pooled around her legs.

“It’s daring.” She shifted her hips a little, and a slit opened up, baring her entire leg to my hungry eyes.

The black strappy sky-high heels she wore tied the outfit together.

“It’s nothing compared to you.” I brought my eyes back to hers. “Do you have any idea how brave you look right now?”

“In my armor?” She asked, raising her brow at me with a smirk. “Thank you for this, Zeke.” She slid her hands down the gown again. “I feel like a goddess. ”

“Because you are.” I leaned forward and kissed her cheek as Carly cat-called from behind us.

“You two want us to give you some alone time?” she asked, and Laila chuckled shyly, pulling back to look up at me.

“Are you ready?” I asked, sliding to the side, “It’s not too late to change your mind, and we can go get takeout in our evening wear.” I winked, and she leaned into me.

“Promise me you won’t leave my side?”

“Not for a second.” I replied instantly, meaning every word.

“Then I’m good.” She smiled brightly, took a deep breath, and looked at where our friends were waiting for us. “Let’s do this shit.” She giggled.

I tipped my head back and laughed at her tough-guy voice and slid her arm through mine, anchoring her to my side as we joined our group. “Let’s do this shit.”

I watched Laila from the corner of my eye as we made our way into the event, already in full swing.

Socialites, politicians, billionaires, celebrities, and professional athletes mingled across the gold floor with their overpriced clothes and obnoxious attitudes.

I didn’t care one way or another, I never had.

They weren’t my people after all, just the people I worked for.

But I was interested in Laila’s opinion of it all.

Her wide brown eyes flicked over everything so quickly, I wasn’t sure she was even processing half of it, but I knew what she was looking for.

Danger.

Threats.

Escapes.

She just needed to trust she’d never need any of those things at my side. I’d protect her.

I’d give her the escape she needed .

“Wow.” She whispered, watching Ryker and Jed lead the girls to the table at the front of the room before he pulled Ellie off to shake hands and mingle. “Do you always attend events like this?”

“Not if I can help it.” I grumbled, smirking down at her perfect face.

“You fit in well.” She patted the front of my tux with a smile on her red lips. “Even with the tattoos peeking out.”

“I don’t belong with these people.” I slid the backs of my fingers up her bare arm, admiring the goose bumps as they grew on her skin.

“Most of these people—” I looked out over the crowd with disdain, “they view me as a tool.” I looked back down at her instead of at the people I hated.

“The boogeyman they hire to do the bad things they’re too weak to do themselves. ”

“You’ve built your reputation on being the man willing to do those things.” She tilted her head, “But it doesn’t mean you have to be.”

“Hmm.” I hummed, “It’s hard to suddenly become something different after so many years.”

“But not impossible.” She smiled sadly, “Look at me,” She fanned her hands over her evening gown, “The poor captive girl, turned charity gala goer.” She shrugged, “Nothing’s impossible at the end of the day I suppose.”

“Perhaps.” I leaned down and gave in to the urge to kiss her that had been plaguing me since she got out of the limo.

She leaned into me, sliding her hands over my chest when I lingered against her lips.

“But you have belonged here all along.” I pulled back and quirked my eyebrow down at her body. “You’re a perfect fit in a gown.”

She snorted and rolled her eyes dismissively, “It’s just lipstick on a pig.” She said nonchalantly and then stopped me as I called her out for degrading herself, “But thank you anyway. ”

“Zeke.” A voice called from behind us, silencing anything else I wanted to say to her about her negativity, and we turned to the approaching guest.

“Howard.” I nodded, sliding my hand around Laila’s waist and pulling her against my side. “I didn’t think you were coming tonight.” I said pointedly to the seedy, sniveling, pathetic excuse for a man that was trying his best to act like he fit in with the surrounding crowd.

“Pfft.” He waved his hand dismissively with a shrug, “Clerical error between Ryker’s people and mine, that’s it.

” His eyes left mine and slid down to where Laila leaned against me fully, like she was trying to hide within me, but her face gave away no sign of distress.

I could tell she just wasn’t comfortable with strangers, but she wasn’t upset.

And she was an impeccable judge of character, meaning she probably could pick up on what a snake Howard Sheffield was.

“Interesting.” I drawled, refusing to go further into the fact that the man was not only not invited tonight, but he was also blacklisted from the event completely. Yet there he stood, chatting me up like he belonged.

“Anyway, not the point.” He moved on, “I really just wanted to talk to you about the Hoffman organization—”

I moved fluidly, sliding Laila behind my back, and stepping into Howard’s space, towering over the top of him until his fat, grotesque stomach pressed against my front.

“If you want to keep that disgusting piece of fat you call a tongue inside of your mouth where it belongs, then I suggest you stop using it to do anything other than swallow the free food you no doubt already gorged yourself on. Because if you dare to use it to speak to anyone in this room about anything other than the fucking charity we’re here to support tonight, I’ll cut it out in the middle of the dancefloor.

” I sneered down at him as his eyes flicked from side to side, as if he’d find a hero amongst my men.

“Get the fuck out of here.” I snapped my fingers over the back of his balding head, and two security members from the crew stepped up immediately.

“Remove him,” I growled, “and ensure he doesn’t fucking dare to come back. ”

“I was invited!” Howard cried as the guards pulled him backward. “I want to talk about the merger!” He yelled desperately, dragging the curious gazes of other partygoers as they watched the drama unfold. “I need in on that merger!”

One of the guards delivered a well-placed punch to his side, knocking the air out of his lungs and effectively silencing him as they pulled him from the ballroom and to a holding room where they would no doubt deliver a few more hits to get the point across.

“Pathetic.” I sneered, trying to shake the mere thought of him from my memory. I turned and froze when I saw the look on Laila’s face as she watched the man being dragged from the room before her doe eyes flicked up to mine. “Dove.” I exhaled as panic set into my spine.

I fucked up.

Again.

She dropped her eyes and licked her lips, feigning an attempt to adjust her skirt as she composed herself, but I couldn’t find the words to fix this.

“It’s fine.” She rushed out but still wouldn’t look at me. “I was just surprised by the—,” she paused and took a deep breath, “Intensity of it.”

“I’m sorry.” I sighed, reaching up to brush her arm again, but stopped short.

“Don’t.” She scowled, and anger filled those brown eyes. “It’s exactly the same thing that happened the other night at the restaurant.” She stopped, widening her eyes. “It excited me. Which always catches me off guard. ”

“Zeke.” Another voice called out, and I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to punch the owner of this voice for interrupting us again, but stopped, because punching my girl’s brother was off limits. Tonight anyway.

“What?” I snapped, twisting around to face Jed as he stopped short with Carly right on his heels.

“You good?” He glanced at Laila, who still stood at my back, as she slid her arm through mine and pressed her body against my side.

“We’re great.” She answered for me. “Doesn’t that type of thing always happen around you, men?”

Carly smirked and shrugged. “Kind of, yeah.”

“Exactly.” Laila nodded curtly before looking up at me. “Nothing to see here.”

“Then let’s sit.” Jed said pointedly, “Before anyone else wants to interrupt our night with business bullshit.”