Page 278 of Fatality

“Yes.” I scan the crowd, searching for my parents. “Though... don't kill anyone tonight.”

“No promises.” He chuckles.

His hand finds me again, but instead of resting on the small of my back, it slides slowly up my spine before settling beneath my hair at the nape of my neck.

Clearly a claim.

A fucking possessive gesture.

But this isn't the moment to tell him to fuck off even if I like the warmth of his hand.

I shake my head at the thought.

No.

I spot my parents standing beside the Governor.

Game on.

I start walking, Evren following close behind, his hand never leaving the back of my neck.

“Mother. Father. Governor,” I greet.

“Miss Laordie!” the Governor says warmly. “We were just talking about you.”

My mother and father, however, are frozen in sheer outrage at the sight of Evren after he told them he'd skin them alive and turn their faces into masks.

“Really?” I ask.

“Yes.” The Governor takes a champagne flute from a passing server's tray and offers it to me.

Without breaking eye contact with my father, Evren reaches over and takes it instead.

“Riven, dear,” my mother begins, “perhaps you should tell your friend to greet your father and the Governor. His behavior is rather inappropriate.”

I look at Evren, then at my mother and finally, at my father.

My father is visibly seething, struggling to keep his composure for the sake of appearances, while Evren casually sips the champagne with a smug grin.

Evren looms over my father by at least four inches.

It's the first time I've ever seen my father forced to look up at someone.

The sight almost makes me smile. I relax, just a little.

“He'll say hello when he feels like it, Mother.” I grab a flute “Evren is a grown ass man, he can make his decision alone, he doesn’t need Celine Laordie to tell him how to behave.”

The Governor clears his throat and leaves.

“Exactly,” Evren finally says. “Nice to meet you, Celine.”

I choke on my champagne, coughing so hard it nearly comes out of my nose.

Evren being polite?

That's a fucking miracle.

“Careful, baby girl.” Evren leans closer. “Wouldn't want you to die right here. That'd be a waste.”