“Perhaps one of the bodyguards would dance with my fiancée. She is nervous without me, and it would reassure us both if she were close to us.”
Sophie nods and turns to Razor. “Do you mind?”
I shake my head, and my breath hitches.
Santiago’s gaze runs the length of him, and he is obviously reassured by his blank expression.
“Respectful distance; I will be keeping my eye on you.”
His cruel eyes bore deep into me, issuing a warning; believing he has that right.
I nod, my bored expression obviously to his liking, but as he pushes me toward Razor, he whispers, “Remember, if you displease me, I will steal your breath.”
Sophie takes his hand, leaving Creed and Blade to observe from the side-lines and as we head to the dance floor, my heart is on critical right now.
It’s as if Razor and I are strangers as he reaches for me, his expression blank, his eyes dead.
But as his hands slide around my waist and he takes my hand, I almost lose it completely. I am home here. I should never have left. I can’t even register the pain his rejection brought because he is here now, and I won’t allow myself to hope he came for me. He is a Reaper; they care for their own, and I’m guessing if three of them are here, there are several more out of sight. If I weren’t wearing this death trap, I would take his hand and run, but my freedom would be short-lived if Santiago acted fast.
Sophie is whispering in Santiago’s ear and appears to be charming the shit out of him, and as he is distracted, Blade whispers, “I’ve got you, darlin’.”
His hold tightens and tears fill my eyes, and I whisper with my back to Santiago, “The choker, Razor. He is controlling it.”
Understanding dawns in his eyes as his gaze falls to the diamonds circling my throat, and his low hiss is accompanied by the tight hold around my waist.
That lessens immediately Santiago spins our way, his cruel gaze checking on us, noting every position of our hands. I maintain a blank expression when inside I am coming apart in a spectacular fashion.
“How is he controlling it?”
Blade’s dark whisper should reassure, but I have seen first-hand how Santiago reacts on a whim.
“A remote in his pocket.”
Blade nods and spins me around so he is facing Blade, and as his gaze falls on his brother, a slight jerk of his head toward Santiago and then the choker is all the communication he offers.
His voice is low as he turns his back to Santiago and I stare over his shoulder, my gaze trained on the creep I came here with.
Razor whispers, “How many guards?”
“Two. One hundred and eighty degrees south.”
Again, Razor turns to his brother, angling his head in the direction of the guards, and my heart bangs against my chest when I notice Tyson and Summer edging closer to the two guards. To anyone watching, they are merely enjoying the gala, but as they move beside the guards, a piercing scream fills the air.
Razor grips my hand as I witness Sophie slapping Santiago hard across his face. Creed and Blade charging toward the couple as Razor pulls me in the opposite direction. Summer stumbles against one of the guards and causes a disturbance, and as Tyson reacts to that, the guards are caught in the crowd.
As Razor pulls me swiftly from the room, he growls, “Don’t look back, darlin’.”
I am freaking terrified because this reunion could be the shortest one in history if Santiago gets to that remote and yet as we race into the entrance hall, the choker slackens and without hesitation, I wrench it from my neck and toss it into the nearest trash can.
“How?” I gasp, and Razor laughs softly.
“Blade, I’m guessing.”
We spill out into the night and into a waiting black car, and as the door slams behind us, I fall into Razor’s arms.
CHAPTER 47
RAZOR