Captivated

Chapter Twenty-Two

I move softly through the crowd towards the bar catching a glimpse of Nadia out of the corner of my eye. She gives me a questioning look and I nod softly to tell her it's fine. Cameron's enforcer or not the woman had grown on me as I had on her and she could tell I was upset but knew better than to approach unless required. She sat beautifully at a high table making small chatter with some men from the docks. I'd seen them before. I slide into the stone top as gracefully as possible my eyes settling on the young girl behind the counter.

"What can I get you" she asks her youthful appearance hinting that she's fresh out of school and a little board having to entertain the more classy folk.

"Whatever you have hard and on the rocks" I watch as she pours beautiful amber over solid bricks of ice made more for show than function. Handing it over I thank her before swishing it around the fine china, my brain running a muck. My family thought I'd abandoned them, that I'd walked away without a second thought for money or sex. Neither or which I was getting. For what, so Nolan could keep living his best life? I can feel slight jealousy boil and I sip my drink to help burn it down.

"You okay" Cameron's voice is soothing and soft in a way that it shouldn't be making my iré stronger.

"Peachy" I sigh taking another sip before turning to lean with my bare back against the cold stone. It's smooth face pressed against my back for support as I watch Nolan lead Lacey around and out towards the formal dining hall.

"It's time to eat" Cameron stands and holds out his hand in a very formal gesture, almost gentlemanly.

"Of course" I huff drinking what remains of the amber liquor before straightening myself and sliding my hand into his. "Wouldn't want to make things awkward for anyone"

"Annabelle" he scolds with the pulling of a smile trying to break through his facade. He carefully leads me into the next room to a table with his name and a plus one spot. He pulls the chair out and gingerly nudges me to sit. "I'll get you another drink" he says nodding to Nadia and slowly heading away as she skillfully slips into the chair next to me. The way she moves has a certain lithe to it, like a feral cat always ready to pounce but beautiful regardless of any scars.

"You ok" she sounds curt and cold and to the point but I know it's her way of being concerned.

"I've lived this long" I huff weakly, knowing my resolve can only withstand so much before breaking. In public it was prominent that 'Mr. Black' apear to be just a regular wealthy man who's date was nothing less than wonderful. I knew that pressing Cameron's buttons could actually result in my existing ending but I also felt burned. Deep down to my core I felt hurt. "They think so little of me and I deserve better" I say more to myself than her. "I choose this path so he could live but I didn't think seeing it would hurt so much. What kind of a monster does something like that? Sells their soul for something that doesn't matter in the end"

"Of course it matters" Nadia pales just slightly and stands to leave as Cameron slides in beside me placing a drink down. "Annabelle" his fingers gingerly wrap my chin, so soft like he fears I might break. I let him do it to, no resistance as all else slowly begins to fade into the distance like being submersed in water. He looks at me and his eyes catch the light, the gold reflecting as he really looks at me. "Everything you do matters and if they can't look at you and see the sacrifice, then they're blind" his thumb trails over my cheek and for the smallest of moments I'm lost. I can feel his eyes against my face, feel his thumb against my skin and it's warm, soothing almost. "It's sad when you can look at something so beautiful but never really see it"

"Cameron" the voice is a thick whisper and I feel like I'm falling into those oceans of green and gold and blue.

"Thank you everyone" Lacey's voice washes over me like ice and the moment is gone, fleeting like it had never even happened. "Nolan and I want to thank you all for coming. Our closest friends and family" the cold continues as her eyes pass Over me and I know that I won't be coming back from this. I subconsciously begin to bounce my leg as she speaks, a nervous tick that I haven't done in years. "Nolan and I have known each other for such a long time and we didn't realize until recently how important it is to be with the people you love. He has been there for me through so many ups and downs and when I felt lost he was there to pick me up. This man is the rock that I hope to build my house on one day. Let's just pray we can teach the kids not to throw stones eh" she jokes her laugher bubbling out as she turns to look at him.