Page 74 of Steal My Heart

“Since I got accepted into the program.”

“Which program? You know I’ll have to vet this?—”

“Already forwarded you the information,” Al cuts me off.

It’s what I wanted, my sister to have some direction for her life, and yet I feel…

I feel?

This is all Remi’s doing.

I’m in an especially foul mood as we arrive at the party. Laurie hands over the invitation, and we flash our IDs to the security at the front door.

“Ma’am, I see your invitation is for yourself, plus one guest?—”

“Yes, well, my plus one brought his ward and private security,” Laurie explains in a huff.

“Let me run this by my supervisor.” The security guard excuses himself, speaking quietly with another individual. The supervisor whispers something over a walkie-talkie before both men join us. “Ms. Khol.”

“Dr. Khol,” she corrects the supervisor with a condescending tone.

“Dr. Khol. You and your guests are welcome to enter, but any private security must remain outside.”

“I feel more comfortable with my own security,” I interject.

I feel?

There I go, using that four-letter word again.

“Mr. Calvani, rest assured, we have our own private security team, as well as a team of NOPD officers working tonight. You’re in good hands.”

Pushing too hard would only raise suspicion, so I concede defeat.On this round.“Very well.” I jerk my head toward the door, and Nic steps outside.

We enter the party, with Maks in my ear. “Cannon will have to meet Duke Man outside, but we can still make this work,” he says, but I’m too busy scanning the stage for Remi.

Easy enough; follow the gaze of every man in this party.

Something in my chest rattles violently.

“Don’t bring attention to Cannon,” Maks chastises.

I force my attentions elsewhere, which happens to land on Ellis. The fact that this little shit had a taste of what’s mine makes my blood fucking boil.

And when I decided that Remi was mine, God, the woman really has stolen my sanity.

“Get closer to the mayor so we can check out the security situation,” Maks says in my ear.

“Let’s go say hello to the mayor.” I grab Laurie’s hand, with Remi’s words ringing in my ears.

Will you be touching Laurie? Dancing? Holding hands?

Before all of Remi’s predictions come true, awareness tickles the back of my spine. I turn around to find a familiar face, flanked by officers.

“Mr. Calvani?” Detective Pierre plays dumb as he steps forward, his two sidekicks falling back.

“Yes?”

“Detective Pierre, New Orleans Police Department.” He flashes his badge. “You need to come with us.”