Dangerous guest
"I think that would be wise." His brow furrows and he smiles. "The only person who takes away my control is my father. I hate him, but there's nothing I can do about it." Eliot sighs heavily. "Come on, let's go mingle, and then I can take you home and lock you back in your bedroom, where I know you're safe."
"How romantic." I roll my eyes and take Eliot's hand .
He guides me into the room, stopping every now and then to introduce me to people and accept their congratulations. But I'll never remember their names or faces. It's all a blur between making sure I'm next to Eliot and trying to remember my elocution lessons. I think I only get one "y'all" wrong twice.
We reach the center of the room and Eliot pulls me toward the dance floor.
"I can't dance," I dig my heels in.
"It's okay, Revean . We don't have to do anything fancy. I just want a moment alone with you."
Eliot pulls me close against his body and we move slowly to the music. I feel like a princess in a fairy tale. But this has nothing to do with it. This is all a show: the costume, the jewelry, the dancing. It's to show everyone that I belong to them. The doubt of my situation seeps back into my mind.
Why has my father done this?
A cough is heard behind us and those dancing around us part to reveal a man who appears to be of Mexican origin. He is about the same height as Eliot. Andrew and Mery are at our side in an instant, along with several other guards. And the man has his own entourage join him in a standoff.
Eliot pushes me behind him.
"Vicente , I didn't know you were invited tonight," Eliot addresses the man.
"I'm surprised you didn't know. Your father was very insistent that I come." Vicente looks over Eliot's shoulder at me . "Now I understand why."
Eliot pushes me even further behind him.
"I beg you not to look at my fiancée."
The fact that Eliot addresses me as his fiancée tells me that the man in front of us is a great threat. From across the room, I can see that Mr. Snow has been surrounded by his own bodyguards and is watching us intently.
"After all these years, you finally fine her. Just when she reaches marriageable age. Anyone would think it's a lucky coincidence, but I know your family all too well. All these years, your family has denied knowing where she is. Now it's clear they had her hidden somewhere."
Vincent steps forward and, out of the corner of my eye, I see Andrew reach into his jacket. He may be naïve about some things, but I'm fully aware that he's reaching for a gun in case it's needed.
"We've never denied anything. Maybe it was you and your family who didn't look hard enough. I understand that's been a problem before in your business."
This time, it is Vicente's men who reach for their guns. The tension in the room is palpable, and several people have moved to take shelter behind tables and marble pillars. I keep my body glued to Eliot to reassure myself.
"Are you lying to her too? Does she know exactly what you are? What you do?" asks Vincent . "And does she accept it?"
Eliot doesn't respond to the taunts. "You've come forward, Vicente . You've seen the reason my father wanted you here. This is my casino, and I think it's time for you to leave."
Vicente lets out a resounding laugh that fills the room with his malevolence.
"I guess that's a no then. Revean , I don't know what this man has promised you, but it's all lies. He wants you for the money. For what he can get from you, and when it's over, you'll go the way of most of the women he uses. You will be smuggled around the world as a sex slave for the bigger man. If you don't want that to be your future, then come with me now. I will make sure you are protected from the monsters that are the Snow family."
I can't believe what I'm hearing from Vincent. I knew Eliot was no angel, but dealing with women?
"And what about the people you take out of Mexico as slaves for the western world?" retorts Eliot .
The world I'm in now is completely fucked up.
I take a step away from Eliot , but he grabs me and pulls me to him, so that I'm standing next to him.
"We can keep throwing accusations at each other. No one in this room doubts the illegal activities we engage in to enhance our income. The casinos are just a front." Eliot snarls at his rival. One of those Eliot warned me about.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
But has Eliot sold women as sex slaves?
"I tell everyone, right here, right now." Eliot continues. "Listen up, everybody. Revean Smart is mine. I'm not letting her go." Eliot wraps his hand around my neck. It's a gesture of control, and my instant reaction is to try to struggle against him, but the words that follow from his mouth cause me to stop in an instant. "My cock will be the only one penetrating her pussy until she cums on me. My tongue will be the only one caressing her clit. Her sweet mouth will welcome only my cum down her throat. My heirs will come out of her body. She will never be sold or given away, because she is a woman. And if anyone wants to argue with that, I will destroy them. I will tear them apart and enjoy every moment before I go home to fuck Revean covered in her blood."
Eliot's words warm my body: there is promise and defiance in them. Instead of scaring me as it should, this statement reassures me. Eliot will fight and kill to protect me. My breath quickens and I notice it throbbing between my thighs at his deep tones and threats.
"You see how he reacts to me." Eliot presses a kiss to my cheek and I can't help the lustful moan that escapes my lips.
This is a sight I never thought would happen tonight.
I am vaguely aware of Vincent pulling away, defeated by Eliot's words and our display of passion.
Eliot pulls his hand away from my neck to grip my arm tightly.
"We're leaving," he tells me.
We move quickly through the ballroom. No one stands in our way. No one tries to stop us. He leads me into a quiet hallway and that's when I regain my senses.
"Stop, Eliot." I stop and shake my head. "Tell me everything. I'm not leaving here with you until I know exactly what kind of man you are."