Valor

Chapter 12

The smell of expensive perfume and cologne makes me want to sneeze, but I hold it back, smiling diligently as Sam introduces me to a few doctors and donors he knows.

If I felt like an imposter before, I really feel like one now. The men and women here are decked in expensive jewelry and talk as if they have never lived without a trust fund. Meanwhile here I stand, a high school dropout who can barely keep up with the vocabulary of the conversation.

I have never let my past have such an effect on me, but here, standing with all these doctors and rich folk, I can't help but feel saddened.

Is this something I could have had if things had gone different? When I was younger I wanted to be a doctor. It frustrates me that all the things I wanted were taken from me simply because of my father's choices. Could I have had the diamonds and caviar or was my life destined to be this way?

Sam's chuckle takes me out of my thoughts.

"So, Lilah, what do you do?" The middle ages woman asks as she sips on a glass of champagne. Sam had introduced her as a top donor.

"I'm a contractor. I work in tech." I say back, smiling. It's technically not a lie. Half the shit I do requires programming and sleuthing. It's not like I can give her a business card saying, 'If you ever need someone dead with no traces, give me a call!'

The woman hums as Sam thanks her and leads us towards the bar.

"I'm sorry about all the introductions." He says sincerely. It's obvious Sam is popular and well liked.

"It's fine, I guess I'm just overwhelmed." I say grabbing a glass of champagne from the bar and lifting it to my lips.

As I take a sip, a mouth watering scent of pine and sandalwood encases me. I find myself almost chocking on my drink as my brain finally recognizes where I know that scent from.

"Lilah! Didn't expect to see you here tonight!" Dame's voice rings out as he comes to stand in front of me and Sam, a smile on his face. To anyone else that smile would seem friendly, but to me, I can sense the predatory gleam to it. He's tightly strung and it's taking everything in his to control it.

I smirk at the realization that he;s holding on by a string. I run my hand up Sam's bicep, holding on as I lean into him. "Dame. Good to see you. I'm sure you remember Sam."

The look in Dame's eyes doesn't disappear, in fact, it gets worse, but he maintains the smile. The only sign of his discomfort being the tick in his jaw as he grinds his teeth together.

"Good to see you again, Dame." Sam says smiling, his hand coming up to rub mine. "Lilah, I have a few more rounds to make." It's obvious Sam wants to get away from Dame, his energy obviously suffocating the poor beta. I honestly feel sorry for him. It would only make it worse if he knew who Dame was, and I am just glad that Dame didn't say his last name. If Sam knew I was involved with the Valor brothers, he would know some shit was up. I wouldn't put it past him to tell the police they had threatened me or something.

"Have you seen my brothers tonight?" Dame asks suddenly when he sees Sam gearing up to leave.

I look into his eyes startled, "Your brothers are here?" I'm honestly surprised. Maverick may be the head of their organization so seeing him in these public settings would make sense, but he also has a death warrent signed. Onyx is too scary to do business with and Kai is Kai. Dame doesn't seem to interested in the business side of things so knowing that they're all here together makes me nervous. Why are they all here?

"Come, we can go say hello." Dame says extending his hand to me. This bastard knew that the invitation would get me out of Sam's grasp. It's not like Sam is going to say 'no' to Dame, and even if he had that courage, he wouldn't risk doing that to me considering he's lovesick.