Devil's Due [h.s.]

Chapter 16

***THIS IS A DOUBLE UPDATE. Read chapter 15 first. <3

Chapter 16

The blood and the man were gone as we made our way back down the hallway, thank God. I wasn't sure what I would do if we had to walk past that whole scene again. Though it unnerved me to think about what had been done with him.

"Take care of him," Harry had said. As if he were something to be disposed of.

My stomach churned at the thought, a shiver snaking its way up my spine. I hadn't thanked him for saving me... if that was even what you could call it. Mainly because he'd been a dick in the bathroom anyway and I wasn't sure he even wanted to hear me speak – he'd probably laugh off an apology, considering this was the type of shit he did every day.

But his aggression tonight had been... different. I thought back to when he attacked that man in the alley who, surprisingly enough, was now dead himself. It had been tame compared to tonight. Something else must definitely have been on his mind to react the way he did – without a second thought, without even pausing to breathe.

Harry's hand snaked around my waist, causing me to jump. I hadn't even realized I'd been so lost in my train of thought until I focused back ahead of us and realized we were almost back in the ballroom. I wondered if we'd missed dinner.

Not that I really cared. I didn't feel too much like eating tonight anyway.

"You don't leave my side," Harry hissed, fingers tightening on my hip. "Got it?"

As much as I wanted to tell him off, my trembling body seemed to refute every notion that I wanted to stay away from him. After my run-in with the man in the hallway, I wasn't sure what types of people were here and definitely didn't want to wind up by myself again to find out.

I hated being so dependent on him, but found myself mumbling, "Got it."

The ballroom had exploded into a frenzy of conversation once we'd approached. Music played softly in the background while people spoke and ate. It seemed that dinner had been served some time ago, considering the majority of everyone's plates were almost empty.

Harry wove me through the maze of tables, ignoring everyone that tried to get him to stop and talk, only to stop in front of one in the far corner. Morgan met my eye from across the room, mouthing 'Are you okay?'. I nodded, giving her a clipped smile.

My blood ran cold as I turned back around, coming face-to-face with the guests of our table.

"Ava," Damien drawled, lifting a glass of wine in salute. He glanced between Harry and I, the former of whom had tightened his hold on my waist. "How nice to see the both of you. I was beginning to wonder where you'd gone." He winked at me, taking a sip from his glass. "Where'd you sneak off to?"

Harry leaned down, his hand migrating to my back. "Sit," he murmured in my ear, pulling out the chair furthest from Damien. I hated that I was still shaking as I sat.

Damien wasn't wearing a mask. Only his eye patch. I tried not to fidget under his direct gaze, noting how he was carefully watching every movement that Harry and I made. Harry slid into the seat beside me, bracing a hand on my knee. I didn't know anybody else at the table. They were all men, and all looked very amused.

"Your food is cold, I'm sorry to say," Damien nodded toward the plates across the table. Harry reached forward and dragged one of the plates in front of me.

I shook my head, giving a grim smile. "Oh, I'm actually not hungry–"

"Eat." It was the insistence in Harry's tone that had me shifting a bit in my seat. He pulled the plate even closer. "You need to eat, Ava."