Page 24 of Ravage
I open the door, my gun still steady at my side but aimed at the floor, and frown at him. “You’re early,” I say in an accusatory tone.
He takes in my dress and sighs. I’m wearing an A-line red dress that lands mid-thigh and poofs out with extra tulle under the skirt. There are fake diamonds sewn haphazardly all over it in no discernable pattern, and its sleeves are just two pieces of extra tulle draping down my arms. I’m pretty sure it’s a crappy prom dress from ages ago, but I found it cheap at a consignment store and figured the fake diamonds glammed it up enough for a gala.
Based on his expression, I guess not.
He whips the bag in his hand out from over his shoulder, and it crashes into my chest. “Absolutely not. Put this on. You’ve got twenty minutes and then we’re out the door.” He brushes past me into the apartment and takes a seat on the living room sofa as if he owns the place.
Well, I guess he does.
I glance at the see-through bag and shrug. Maybe I can pawn this navy blue dress off at the consignment store with the red one after I’m done. After clicking the safety back on my gun and closing the door, I retreat to my bathroom to change.
This one is a long, navy-blue sheath dress with a sweetheart neckline, the barest of sleeves, and a flowing train behind me. The glitter or whatever is sparkling in a thin layer over the blue fabric is beautiful rather than tacky. It’s mesmerizing. I never would have been able to afford this. So maybe I’ll give it back to Elias when I’m done as a thank you for letting me wear something so nice once in my life.
Maybe.
I’d be tempted to keep it if it wouldn’t take up so much space in my backpack.
I switch up my hairstyle to a fancy updo with soft blonde curls and waves framing my face and then fix my makeup with a smoky shadow to make my blue eyes pop.
I’m back in the living room with a couple of minutes to spare. Elias gives me a once-over and nods his approval. I’m expecting some heat between us; anything, considering we’ve slept together before and now I’m all dolled up, but he looks at me like this is just business, and all I can see is a nice guy helping me out. Just…nada. Zilch.
I shouldn’t be disappointed that we won’t be sleeping together after what I’m sure will be a heck of a night between getting close to employees of Gifted Enterprise and seeing old friends who despise me, but there it is.
Somehow, Elias feels more like a reliable friend than an ex-bed partner.
“I’m glad I got the measurements right. I’m usually good at guessing those, but dresses can be a bit more complicated.”
It fits like a glove.
He stands, pulls a box from his suit jacket, and opens it to reveal two silver dangling earrings and a matching necklace with a sapphire teardrop. “This is just on loan, so I’ll need these back,” he clarifies while my mouth waters at the prospect of how much these might go for. He taps my chin to close my mouth, and I swallow.
Right. Just borrowing them.
“Got it.”
He moves around me to place the necklace on my neck while I fiddle with getting the earrings in place. They’re heavy fuckers, and I’m wondering again how much they’re worth. And how much my current alliance with Elias is worth.
Unfortunately, his help in getting me closer to GE has been more valuable than anything I could pawn the jewelry for, so he wins.
He’s a perfect gentleman and escorts me downstairs, where a black town car is waiting for us with a man in a suit holding open the back door. Elias helps me in first and then goes around to the other side to take his seat.
“So, what’s your plan for tonight? Is there anyone in particular you want to speak with? I’ve no problem talking to anyone, but if you’re looking to start a fight or a fire, I’m a bit more limited,” he begins after the car starts moving and the divider is up between us and the driver.
I rub my hand against my thigh where I can feel the strap that’s holding my gun and a blade between my legs. I wish I could have fit more weapons than my gun and three knives, but this dress and the strappy heels made those a challenge. This is the closest I’ll be to this den of monsters in five years, and no number of weapons I wear in there will ever feel like enough.
I was broken when they had me, and I’ll never let them touch me again.
“This is just intel gathering. So, names, faces, rank, or roles.” I debate telling him about the possible complication I might encounter, and my hand involuntarily squeezes my thigh.
“What else?” he prompts me to continue. I look up at him and see him eyeing my grip. I quickly release it. “There’s obviously something else on your mind. If you want support in there, tell me.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I’m pretty sure some people from my past will be there as well. There’s…some animosity between us. I’m hoping to avoid them if that’s at all possible, but if not…”
Elias nods with understanding and finishes for me. “You need someone to get you out of there?”
“Just out of the confrontation. I’m not going there for them, so I don’t want this to interfere with my mission. If you can get us out of the conversation, then that should be enough.” Hopefully. I have no idea what they think of me after these years. If the hate burns just as strongly or even more so than when we last saw each other.
Aside from Aiden and now Jackson, I haven’t spoken to Kellan or Dane since I was forced to tell them I killed Dane’s sister.
