Page 20 of Unveil

“Your point?” I cross my arms and settle on one foot, popping my hip.

“Kinda slutty, don’t you think? Especially that one.” Bart gives my legs a once-over that makes my skin crawl even though my tutu completely covers me down to my shins. “Just an observation.”

“Keep your observations to yourself then, how about that?” I ball my fists at my sides. “The skull is the Bordeaux family mark.”

Bart tsks. “You’re not gonna be a Bordeaux forever. You don’t wanna be mistaken for a Fury fucker, do you?”

The hair on the back of my neck raises.

“What did you just call me?” I haven’t heard that last name in years. Andno onespeaks to me like that.

Bart shrugs. “Calling it like I see it. Skulls are the Fury’s mark too. You ever met one?”

He doesn’t wait for my answer. “They’re these assholes that try to throw their weight around, kind of like your daddy, come to think of it.” He leans in, cupping his hand around his mouth like he’s telling a secret. “Trust me. Being a Fury fucker is the last thing you wanna be.”

I step closer, lifting my chin. “You don’t know me very well, but call me that again, and I’ll go do it to spite you, asshole.”

His toothy grin turns to a scowl, and his chest puffs up as he towers over me. If I hadn’t had a ruthless crime boss for a father and years of mixed martial arts training, I might be more than just a little bit scared. As it is, though, I’m mostly furious.

“What’d I miss?” Zy reappears, handing me a drink that takes every ounce of restraint not to throw in Bart’s face.

“Just getting to know my cousin-in-law,” Bart settles back, winking at me like nothing happened.

I’m not a snitch. I’ll get back at him someday, and since Rufus hasn’t said a thing, he can go fuck himself too.

“Zy? I think your cousins were about to leave. Weren’t you, Bart?”

A glimmer in Bart’s eyes spikes my adrenaline, but I stand my ground.

Zy’s gaze bounces between us and he clears his throat. “Can I talk to my fiancée alone?”

He takes my hand without waiting, the soft fabric of his gloves warm and cold at the same time.

“Sure thing, cuz.” Bart grins, checking his phone, then claps Rufus’s shoulder. “We’re gonna grab a smoke. Join us when you’re done. We’ve got some things to iron out.”

They shoulder into the crowd, leaving me with a frown and Zy scowling at their backs. I’ve never seen him like this, but his temper is kind of… hot?

Jesus, I’m so starved for passion, I’ll take hate at this point.

“What was all that about?” I ask.

“What? Oh, uh, nothing. Come on. I wanted to talk to you.”

My chest jolts. If ever there’s a time to break this news, this is it.

Sorry, Dad.

“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you too,” I admit. His brow quirks up. “Do you, um, wanna dance and talk?”

Movement helps me sort my thoughts, especially when they’re all over the place like now.

Apparently, that’s not Zy’s style.

He scratches the back of his head and points toward a corner with his thumb. “Let’s just go to the back. Somewhere quieter.”

He takes my hand again, and I sigh, wishing he’d… I don’t know, grab my arm? Throw me over his shoulder? Anything to show he can’t wait to ravish me right here and now. But, of course, he’d have towantto do that in the first place.

Instead, he sits us at a table near the back. The twinkling, starry lights flicker over his furrowed brow.