An Oath In Blood (Book #3)

Chapter 17: Malibu Barbie

CORVINA HAWKE

If I had a dollar for every time Warren made me want to draw blood and leave him in the hands of his death, I'd be a millionaire. Well, I already was one so maybe I'd be a billionaire. As I walked out from behind the curtain and into the teeming venue, my skin was still too hot for me.

The dress that barely covered me was suddenly too sticky and uncomfortable, and all I wanted to do was rip it off my body. I wanted to go home.

I could punish you. Right here. Right now.

My core tightened at the memory of the words Warren had spoken to me. They carried a soft promise, one that I had a feeling would light my body on fire and let me burn until I was nothing but putty in his hands.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice as we stopped in front of a fairly aged man, who glanced between Warren and I with a surprised look on his face.

"Warren?" The shock was evident in his voice as he extended a hand toward my "date." "I wasn't expecting to see you here tonight." He added, shooting me a questioning glance. "And who is this young lady?"

His gaze slid down my body and I shuddered in disgust. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from turning around and walking away from him. The look he gave me wasn't exactly sleezy but it made my skin crawl nevertheless. He emanated a dangerous vibe, one that wasn't lost on Warren because I felt him stiffening beside me.

"Uncle Gail." Warren smiled at the old man in front of us. The man was handsome for someone his age. He was fit and tall with a bulky build. Grey beard covered his jaw and his hair was full of peppered hair. I swallowed as Warren put a hand on the small of my back and pushed me in front of him. "This is Raven, my date." He added.

"Yes, he paid me two thousand to do this job." I forced a smile on my face, swallowing the surge of anxiety in my chest. I hated socializing and I had been so grateful that I never had to talk to people but Warren Hale walked into my life with one mission: to make it a living Hell.

"What?" Uncle Gail cocked an eyebrow at his nephew as he turned to Warren. "What is she talking about?"

"I couldn't find a date last-minute." He gritted the words out. "So, I hired an escort." He finished, shooting me a look that I couldn't quite decipher. But his introduction loosened a knot in my chest. Gail looked baffled for a moment before he tipped his head back and let out a loud laugh.

"Good one, son." He clapped Warren on the shoulder. "But I doubt your father will be too thrilled about you bringing an escort to a gala." He gestured around the room as if I didn't know that we were standing amongst people who wiped their asses with dollar notes.

"Good thing that he isn't coming tonight then." Warren shrugged. I tuned out the two men as I looked at my surroundings, itching to reach for the phone in my purse and call Trish and Lily. I could have easily not gone to the gala with Warren but I realized at the last minute that it could be a chance for Lily and Trish to look for my phone. So, while I distracted Warren here at the gala, my best friends were breaking into Warren's penthouse to find my phone.

"Raven?" Warren's voice pulled me out of my thoughts and when I looked at him, I realized that his uncle had walked away from us. I straightened. "Are you okay?" He questioned, his tone concerned. Blue eyes bore into mine, reminding of the way his fingers had dug into my skin behind the curtain, the way he had almost kissed me.

"I am fine." I waved him off. He nodded and led me to the next person in the room and as they lapsed into conversation, I did my best to not panic. I wasn't used to being around so many people at once. Whenever someone asked me a question, I had to breathe consciously and focus on the words I said. It made me come off as awkward but Warren didn't seem to mind. I could have easily walked out but Lily and Trish were still at Warren's.