"Ikira," Dustin said, breaking away. His blue gaze swept over her. "You look lovely."
She eyed him and then looked to Damian, who stared at her with an intensity she'd last seen aimed at Claire.
I am so hot. Sofia almost laughed at herself. She lowered her gaze at the heated look from the man who drove her crazy every other minute of her day. She cleared her throat and focused on Dustin.
"You guys match," she observed.
"Only because of my efforts," Dustin said with an edge that warned her not to laugh.
He's sensitive about that shit, like a woman, Damian whispered into her mind. She coughed to cover her startled laugh. Dustin looked at her then tossed a look over his shoulder at Damian before directing her away.
"Dick," Dustin said under his breath. "Come, ikira. The guests must be greeted."
"Is it really necessary?" she asked. Her cheer faded. He motioned her toward the entrance to the courtyard.
"It is."
She felt Damian's gaze on her as they walked away. She wanted to warn him about Claire… Later. After this latest ordeal.
She stood beside Dustin on one side of the entrance while Damian and Claire assumed the other. Claire was all over him, in his space, rubbing her breasts against him. Sofia watched, astonished at the blatant display, and almost didn't prep herself for her first encounter.
The first man was in his prime, and his eyes crinkled in a genuine smile when he clasped hands with Dustin. They exchanged a greeting in a foreign language that sounded like Russian before he held out his hand to her. His eyes went to the symbol at her neck, and one eyebrow shot up. His name … Sasha.
She saw killing in his future, but only in defense of his family. She released her breath and prepared herself for the next, relieved the encounter wasn't as bad as she expected.
She had greeted ten men and two women before she felt the first flash of cold. The man before her was middle-aged and handsome, but she saw his dealings with Czerno's men. He sold out Damian's men-his own men-for money. Antoine.
The second traitor came soon after, a man whose past stunned her. She held his hand longer than she should. The man looked no older than Damian and was indeed from the same era.
He and Claire sold out Damian's brother to Czerno. Isac.
If Damian knew the woman trying to crawl back into his bed had helped murder his brother, her husband… She couldn't see him over the crowd. Her throat tightened in unshed tears of sorrow and anger.