Chapter 17

Lena's heart broke at the tremor in her voice. There they sat, surrounded by the wealthiest people in the city at a fancy event, feeling sorry for themselves. She watched Damon as he blinked in surprise, and Lena could see layers of guilt hidden under it. She didn't think she'd ever seen EJ look as serious as he did in that moment.

It was obvious this was also his first time hearing of it, and she watched with a sad smile as his hands pulled the girl onto his lap. “I'm so sorry, chipmunk,” he cooed softly in her ear, running his hand down her almost black here. “You know we love you so much, right?”

The expression on her face was so sad, that Damon had to walk to their side of the big round table. He lifted her up in his arms, turning her head to face him. “Sweetheart, would you slap me really hard if I told you that you looked really pretty?”

Against her wish, she giggled. “No.”

He smiled. “I'm sorry.” He kissed her forehead. “You know I'll always have time for you. Tell you what, how about we spend the entire day together tomorrow? Without Lena or Mom or your stupid uncle? We'll do everything. Movies, lunch, movies again, ice-cream, cake, shopping, whatever. We'll even go to a spa. What'd you think?”

The smile that ensued was wide enough to light up the entire room. “Okay.”

“I love you, sweetheart,” he said again, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek which left her laughing like a banshee.

“And here I was thinking you liked your women big and of age.” Lena turned to see Gabe striding to their table with Caroline on his arm. They looked cozy. Her brows shut up. Bold, weren't they? she thought. They had to make their special announcement like this. Classy.

“Screw you, man,” he said to Gabe, then focused his attention on the woman beside him. “And God be praised, you look beautiful, Caroline. You could do better without a pest like this perching on your shoulder every day.”

She actually blushed. “You're a charmer, Damon. Such a shame my friend got to you before me.”

Lena snorted, “Really? That's your best shot?” She turned to Gabe. “Took your precious time. How long did you think I was going to give you?”

He looked uncertain. “Uh... Maybe until I figured out what to say and how to say it?”

Lena gave him a blank look. “Wrong answer. Try again,” she said at the exact same time Damon muttered 'pussy' under his breath.

“Wait,” EJ piped up, “you two are together? Seriously?” He didn’t wait for an answer as he continued. “Am I the only one here without a partner?”

Ella frowned. “I thought you said I was your date tonight, uncle EJ?”

“Please,” he huffed. “You're hardly my type.”

Damon glared at him, placing the sulking girl down next to him on her seat. “You play the victim so well I'm surprised you don't carry around your own body chalk.”

“Sorry, Lee,” Gabe offered. “For what it's worth, I wanted to tell you a while ago.”

“Yeah yeah, I know all about it anyway. I've known for a while now.”

He didn't look surprised so she changed the subject. “You guys sitting here?” she gestured to their table.

“Nope, we have our own table.” True enough, a table with the name Cage was right next to them.

She nodded, turning her gaze to Damon when he gripped her hand under the table. EJ and Ella were engrossed in a deep argument, completely ignoring the rest of the world. Damon gave her a slow kiss, awakening her senses. “Tesoro mio,” he breathed against her lips, his warm breath fanning her face.

She didn't have the time to ask what it meant when the sound of a microphone filled the hall.

“Good evening, all. I'm Gerald Walsh, but I'm sure you already know that.”

Lena wondered how big his ego was. “I must say you all are looking dashing this evening, particularly the stunning woman sitting next to my idiot of a best friend, Damon Specter.”

The blush that burned her face was so hot Lena thought she was going to melt. All eyes rested on her, a few chuckles throwing in here and there. She gave a small smile in acknowledgement, reminding herself to give him an earful after this.

“Thank you all for coming, and don't be stingy with your donations. I'm sure the less privileged would really appreciate it. Thank you. Enjoy the night.”

He eluded grace as he walked off the stage, his heart beating. Gerald couldn't remember the last time he talked in front of a crown, or the last time he'd attended a function as fancy as this. He supposed it came with responsibility, as the entire Walsh enterprise was his to handle. His dad's death had been sudden, and for the hundredth time since he'd died, Gerald wished he would come back. It was overwhelming. Well, no pain no gain, right?

****

If Lena thought the hall was packed with people, she didn't want to know what would happen if they kept dropping in. It'd been an hour since she'd been there, a little after eight thirty. And she was impressed, she had to admit. Gerald really knew how to draw a crowd.

The entire members of the Cage and Specter family were present. God, Lena thought, they were magnificent creatures. Cool, calm and fun to be with. Chris was too handsome for his own good, and George just looked dashing.

Sophia's husband was also here, and Lena saw that Ella held no resemblance to him. It was all from her mother's side. He was very good to look at though, so it was a plus.

All in all, she was having fun. With the Specter, it wasn't about stiff, erected necks or puffed out chests. They had money, but they didn't rub if off. As easygoing as anyone could be, Claire ran the show as smoothly as possible, a mother and a friend. Good combination. Anne was having too much fun in her opinion, but nobody was complaining. Hester, Gerald's mother, was seated with the Cage’s. She wasn't a big woman, but she wasn't small either. She was voluptuous, beautifully so. Pretty too. She could see where Gerald got his looks.

The atmosphere dampened when Lena saw Vanessa strolled in with her arms firmly planted in a slightly older man’s. She was beautiful, Lena mused. In a black and white strapless dress with a long cut slit in the middle, she looked like something out a Paris fashion show. Her feet were covered in silver heels, her hair was pulled back to give more notice to her shoulder blades which stood out pointedly. She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't frowning either. And God, was she tall. Her legs seemed to go on forever. Funny thing was, Lena couldn't bring herself to be jealous.

“You're beautiful, love,” Damon whispered to Lena, taking Vanessa in. As usual, she didn't disappoint with her fashion sense, but he was passed the stage to be blown away by facial beauty. Underneath the makeup and style, was a cold dead heart. In his opinion, pretty girls who were unaware of their looks were more attractive than gorgeous girls who flaunted it.

It was the man next to her that blew him away. He hadn't seen Jackson Stone in ten years. And he hadn't changed, Damon decided. He still wore his usual frown, and he carried himself with such grace you'd think he was royalty. Which he probably was. He was related to the king of Hell, Damon frowned. He had a bounce to his step with hadn't changed either. Jackson wasn't one to be messed with, Damon knew that much. Last time he'd tried to double cross him, he'd ended up with a bullet in his back. Yeah, he wasn't too keen on reliving the experience. Whatever Jackson wanted, Damon would give. As long as he wouldn't have to sell his soul again.

Upon nearing their table, a sadistic smile stretched out over his face, no doubt remembering their past.

“Well well, look who developed a dress sense,” Vanessa sneered at Lena who only rolled her eyes in response.

“Who are you?” Ella demanded of Vanessa, not liking the way she was talking to Lena.

Vanessa blatantly ignored the question, directing her focus back to Lena. “You're pathetic. Is this what you do in your spare time, steal other people's boyfriends?”

Lena squeezed Damon's hand in anger, trying to keep her demons at bay. It wouldn't be best to cause a scene at a function. Her parents raised her better than that.

“You've forgotten how to talk?” It came out as mockery.

“Sweetie, I'm gonna need you to put those few remaining brain cells together and work with me here, okay?” Sophia spoke up, and EJ tittered. “No one wants you here, so why don't you just run along?”

Damn, she looked ugly with the hatred in her eyes, one side of her lips slightly slanted. All Lena felt was pity. She was making a fool of herself.

“What do you want, Jackson?” Damon was tense, just like Gabe and Gerald. Lena could see their guards were up and she wondered why. What was so bad about this man? Sure, he was intimidating, he was a big man. Almost as big as Damon. Almost. But there was something off about him.

“That's not a decadent way to greet an old friend, is it?” Jackson said, his deep voice echoing. Lena was sure he could've easily made a scene if he wanted to.

“Old friend? I'd sooner have lunch with the devil,” George muttered, sipping nonchalantly from his flute. He couldn't believe this man was here again, after all these years. And anywhere Jackson Stone went, trouble followed.

“George, you're still alive. How convenient.” Sarcasm dripped off his words, the disdain in his eyes clearly evident.

It was when his gaze locked herself that Lena shivered. Those greyish eyes of his looked haunted, and he stared right through you like he was looking at your soul.

He didn't say anything to her, but Lena could see she'd caught his interest. Somehow, she was sure it wasn't a good thing.

“Kiss my ass, Jackson. You hear me? Put you lips on my ass and kiss it.” EJ scowled, pulling the scared little girl next to him into to his arms. He'd be damned if he let anyone touch Ella, not while he was still alive.

“Elvis Joseph.” Jackson stared at him. “What a pleasant surprise.” He rolled his eyes at EJ's glare. “I'm not looking for trouble, but I'm not scared to give it either. I want to talk, Damon, and you will come see me. You know how impatient I get. It won't be good if I got angry.”

Gerald was itching to beat up the mad in front of him. How much hatred he had for the Stone’s; he didn't know. They ruined him. And his best friends. He won't ever forgive them for it. But now, what he wanted was for Jackson not to cause a scene. This was his personal life and he didn't mixed business with it. “And then what? After you talk, what happens?”

“We'll see.” Jackson gave a careless shrug.

“And If I don't?” Damon's voice was low but thunderous. Lena's skin prickled.

The smile on Jackson's face was frightening. “You see those men over there?” Jackson gestured behind him to some hefty men by the entrance and everyone's eyes followed. “They won't hesitate to tear this place apart and kill everyone present. Don't tell me you've forgotten what happened last time?”

Damon and Gerald exchanged pointed looks, and Gerald shook his head. He's gonna do it, his eyes said, you know he will. To anyone who knew him, it was a known fact that Jackson wasn't scared of anyone. He did what he wanted, when he wanted. Damon was defeated. He stood to his feet, never tearing his gaze from Jackson whose eyes were laughing. At him. Oh, how badly he wanted to kill him.

“Gabriel, take Lena home,” Damon said, his gaze unwavering still. “Everyone, home. Now.”

Lena wanted to argue but the murderous look on Damon's face shut her up. She's never seen him look so angry. It scared her.

Lifting Ella into his arms, EJ walked out of the hall with everyone else trailing after him. Silence. It was deafening, Lena thought. People were still enjoying the evening, some couples dancing to the soft classical music playing, people laughing, completely oblivious to the fact that they might die anytime soon. What had she gotten herself into, she wondered with a shudder?

Outside, the family filed into different cars, dispersing. Gabriel was to take her and Caroline home. But Damon was still in there.

“What's going on, Gabe? Who was that man?” she asked, reluctant to leave Damon back. She came with him, it was only fair she left with him right?

He opened the back door for her. “Get in,” he said, then repeated when she showed no sign of moving. “Get in, Lena.”

“I'm not going anywhere without Damon,” she said stubbornly, her chin raised in defiance. “Tell me what's going on.”

“I'm not going to say it again,” he said, satisfied when Caroline got in the passenger's seat. Now, if only he could get Lena to do the same. “We need to leave.”

“No.”

“Just get in, Lena!” he boomed louder, taking several breaths to calm his demons. “Just… get in. Please.”

Lena had never seen Gabe so pissed. It made her wonder how much of him she really knew. Who was this man and why was he working everyone up so much?

She got in the car angrily, hating being kept in the dark. She was going to find out all she could about this Jackson Stone, and she was going to do it fast.