CHAPTER FIVE

Sophia's POV

The dress I was wearing cost more than the car I’d been forced to leave behind at the Vale estate.

It was a deep, shimmering emerald silk that clung to every curve like a second skin. Dominic had picked it out himself, claiming it was the color of envy.

"Perfect for tonight," he’d said with that cold, calculating smile.

I looked in the mirror of the Black guest suite and barely recognized the woman staring back. My hair was swept up in an elegant, messy bun, and my neck was draped in diamonds that felt like a beautiful, heavy leash.

Tonight was the gala. The big debut.

The Blacks were parading me in front of the entire city's elite. The "New Black Sister."

Oh, please. We all knew what this was. I was a giant middle finger aimed directly at Marcus’s forehead.

I walked down the grand staircase, my heels clicking against the marble. Dominic and Damien were waiting in the foyer.

Dominic looked like a king in his tuxedo—perfect, polished, and terrifying. Damien, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to punch the world.

His tie was slightly loose, and his dark hair was rumpled. When he saw me, his eyes darkened, tracking me from my head to my toes.

The air between us snapped. My heart did that annoying little flip again, but I forced myself to ignore it.

"Don't look so miserable, Damien," Dominic said, checking his watch. "It’s a party."

"It’s a circus," Damien muttered, his gaze still fixed on me. "And you’re putting her in the center ring, but as a fucking joker."

Was it weird that I was only just realizing Damien had this British accent? Suddenly had me recalling that he schooled there.

The accent was so cute, it was hard to focus on the insult he'd just thrown at me.

"She’s a Black now," Dominic countered. "Of course she belongs in the center. And she's not a joker, for Christ’s sake."

“Yeah, whatever floats her boat. Where are the other jerks anyway?” Damien asked, pulling out his phone from his pocket.

“Elijah's probably there by now. Remy’s still locked up in his room. We all know he won't get out till he cracks that case. As for Zane…. Who knows? Reckless brat,” Dominic mumbled in displeasure. Damien gave a hum that insinuated that he couldn't care less even though he'd just asked of their whereabouts.

These men were awfully weird. Probably not as organized as the media thought they were.

I didn't say anything though. I just followed them to the limousine.

The gala venue was a literal palace. Flashbulbs started going off the second the car door opened.

The whispers started immediately. I could hear my name being tossed around like a piece of juicy gossip.

"Is that her?"

"The Vale girl?"

"Wait, she’s with the Blacks?"

I kept my chin up, my hand resting on Dominic’s arm as we walked through the crowd. I felt like a prize pony, but I refused to let them see me sweat.

We had been there for maybe an hour when the atmosphere in the room curdled.

I felt him before I saw him. That familiar, suffocating scent of expensive cigars and arrogance flew past my nose and a sliver of anxiousness gripped me.

Marcus.

He was standing near the bar, a drink in one hand and Natalie—of course—clinging to his arm. He looked like he’d been hit by a truck.

His eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, I saw pure, unadulterated shock. Then, the shock turned into a red-hot rage.

He ditched Natalie and started stomping across the ballroom floor. It was ironical how people actually stepped out of his way.

"Sophia!" he barked, his voice echoing over the violin music.

Dominic stepped slightly in front of me, his expression bored. "Marcus. How lovely to see you. How’s the stock price going?"

Marcus ignored him. He was staring at me, his face flushed. "What the hell are you doing? What is this?"

"I'm attending a party, Marcus," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "Is that a problem?"

"You're fucking wearing Black branded diamonds," he hissed, his eyes darting to the necklace. "I know you're stupid, but can't you at least see that you're making a fool of yourself. And me."

"You did a pretty good job of that yourself when you threw me out in the bloody rain," I reminded him.

He reached out, his hand wrapping around my wrist with a grip that was way too tight. I was sure the fucker would leave a mark on my pale skin.

"We're leaving, and we're leaving right now," Marcus commanded. "I don't care what kind of game Dominic is playing. You're my wife."

"Ex-wife," I corrected, trying to pull back. "We signed those papers, remember? Get your filthy hands off me, Marcus."

"I said we're leaving!" He started to jerk me toward the exit, his temper completely snapped.

Dominic started to move, his hand reaching for his phone to call security, but he wasn't fast enough.

A shadow blurred past me.

Before Marcus could take another step, Damien was there. He slammed into Marcus’s space like a physical wall.

Damien’s hand clamped onto Marcus’s forearm, his grip clearly crushing the bone.

"Let. Her. Go," Damien said. His voice wasn't loud, but it was the scariest thing I’d ever heard.

"Back off, kid," Marcus sneered, though he looked pale. "This is family business."

"Is foolishness a disease Americans easily catch? Marcus…..she isn't your family," Damien growled, stepping even closer until they were chest to chest. "She's mine. And she's completely off-limits to a piece of trash like you."

The entire room went dead silent. Even the band stopped playing.

Marcus tried to laugh it off, but his voice was shaky. "Yours? You think the Blacks can just claim her? She’s nothing to you. For all I know, you all just want one thing. To use her against me. And if she had any cell left in her brain, she'd know that she's nothing but a rag you need to rub on me till I'm all dirtied. Am I wrong?”

He wasn't. And I fucking knew all what he said was true. But I'd also choose to be used by people I didn't know while having nothing to lose than….

Damien’s jaw tightened. I saw the flash of something dangerous in his eyes.

"You just don't know when to shut the fuck up, do you? You want to know what she is to me?" Damien asked.

He didn't wait for an answer.

In one fluid motion, Damien let go of Marcus’s arm, spun me around, and pulled me flush against his chest.

Before I could even gasp or react, his mouth was on mine.

I froze. What the actual fuck?