“Keira.” He spoke my name as though it was being ripped from his soul where his voice was thick and hoarse. My breath actually hitched as I took in too much air whilst trying not to cry. It was as if for these first few seconds we were the only two people in the room and meeting once more after all these painful months apart was obviously taking its toll on both of us. I barely took in the rest of the room watching us as I was caught in the most deadly trap alive…two burning purple eyes that held me captive.
Then the spell was broken as Alex cleared his throat next to me and I felt his hand slide round my back and flex against my waist. Draven’s eyes became that of a hawk and snapped to my side to take in the sight of another man touching me, clearly claiming me as his own. I wanted to cry as I felt a surge of guilt I knew I shouldn’t feel infect my soul. He threw me away and damned my love for him…what more could I do? So I cleared my throat also and shut down my emotions from seeping onto my face, like they had no doubt already done.
“Hey everyone, this…uh, well… this is Alexander Cain…my boyfriend.” I added ‘my boyfriend’ in anger when I saw Draven raise an arrogant eyebrow at the stumble in my introduction. I knew it was petty but I thought given the situation and the immense hurt I still felt at the sight of this man, he was just lucky I hadn’t grabbed Alex by his shirt and kissed the breath from him out of spite.
I was still so attuned to Draven that I couldn’t help but note the hardening of his jawline as he ground his teeth and the punishing grip he had on the back of his chair where he stood next to it.
“So I’m told…both of you sit….if you please.” Draven said adding the ‘please’ as an obvious unwelcome afterthought. However his words held a venomous edge before the room echoed with the sound of his chair being scraped back along the floor ready for him to sit. Everyone in the room looked too scared to make so much as a sound and I couldn’t help but bite my bottom lip as my anxiety grew. I shouldn’t be here. I should just make my excuses and leave before my winning streak of a disaster free life took a tumble in the form of one dead boyfriend.
“I think we’d better…”
“Sit down, Keira.” This was an order from across the table and came from a different Draven. I was actually surprised at hearing Vincent sounding so cold towards me. Draven nodded to someone behind me and by the time I turned my head, two extra chairs were being placed where we stood ready for us to fill. I looked to Alex and was surprised to see a slight smirk grace his lips as he looked at Draven. I couldn’t believe the balls he possessed and never would have thought Alex had it in him.
“It’s alright Catherine, let’s sit shall we?” He nodded to my chair as he took my hand to lower me down and I tried not to notice the sound of the gasps around the table as he said my given name. I swallowed down another difficult hit to my guilt and sat trying in vain not to look at Draven. God though, he’d looked so hurt and angry it felt like bile clogging my throat making it hard to get air to my lungs.
“So Keira, how have you be…?”
“Tell me Alec, where are you from?” Draven snapped out his question, interrupting Sophia abruptly.
“It’s Alex actually or Mr Cain, whichever you prefer.” Alex said smoothly not only coating his words in his French accent but also with confidence.
“I don’t give a fuck what your name is but only care for what your intentions are with my…our Keira.”
“Draven!”
“Dom.” both Vincent and I reacted to Draven’s outburst but whereas I shouted his name in disbelief, Vincent’s was a warning for his brother to try and remain calm. I just couldn’t believe the nerve of him! He didn’t get to do all that he had done to me and then act like this!
“I knew this was a mistake! Come on, we’re leaving!” I snapped standing up and reaching for Alex. He simply laughed and said,
“Come now ma chérie, I am not offended…sit back down, Catherine.” I did as he said with a huff, shooting daggers at Draven, a look he ignored I might add.
“I am from Bordeaux, monsieur.” Alex said answering Draven’s question calmly and I couldn’t believe how he could act so cool in the face of Draven’s obvious hatred.
“But you weren’t born there.” This was said as a statement not a question and once again Alex smirked.
“No, I was not but I call it home.” He turned to me and smiled, taking my hand in his to bring it to his lips to kiss. I blushed fuchsia knowing the look of death we both received because of the act. I could have sworn I heard wood splitting. Jesus, what had I been thinking coming here!