Chapter 17

"You filthy whore! How dare you throw wine on me?!" Damian's face twisted in rage as he wiped the crimson liquid from his expensive suit. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"

Evelyn tossed her long chestnut hair over one shoulder, her whiskey-colored eyes glinting with dangerous amusement. "Why should I care? You're just another pathetic creep trying to drug women's drinks."

The crowd around them gasped as Damian's face turned purple with fury.

If they hadn't been surrounded by witnesses, he would have slapped that arrogant smirk off her face.

With a sharp jerk of his chin, Damian signaled his two bodyguards. They moved forward with predatory intent, muscles bulging beneath their black suits.

Evelyn swayed slightly from the champagne, but her combat-trained reflexes kicked in. She dodged the first guard's grab with surprising agility.

"Too slow, boys," she taunted, stifling a yawn.

"Take her down!" Damian bellowed, still scrubbing at his stained shirt.

The larger guard managed to grip Evelyn's shoulders - only to have his arm twisted violently behind his back.

A dark figure moved like lightning, sending the 6'2" bodyguard crashing to the floor in one fluid motion.

"Nice moves!" Evelyn giggled, her vision swimming as she stumbled backward.

Strong arms caught her slender frame. Warm breath tickled her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

"Unhand me!" she slurred, weakly pushing against the stranger's chest.

"Open your eyes, Evelyn," came that deep, velvety voice she'd recognize anywhere.

Her pulse skyrocketed. Blinking up through her lashes, she met Nathan Blackwood's piercing gaze - those stormy gray eyes that could freeze hell over.

His grip tightened as he took in her flushed cheeks and wine-stained lips. If not for those wide, innocent doe eyes, he might not have recognized his ex-wife beneath the smudged makeup and reckless demeanor.

"So this is what freedom looks like?" Nathan's voice dripped with disdain. "Getting drunk and picking fights? Does Sebastian Kingsley know his precious sister is behaving like common trash?"

Evelyn jutted her chin defiantly. "I don't need anyone's permission to put Sterling scum in their place." She poked Nathan's chest. "And you can't stop me."

Nathan's fingers dug into her waist painfully.

"Ow! Let go, you brute!" She writhed in his grasp, her drunken protests coming out more like a kitten's mewl.

Something dark flickered in Nathan's expression.

"Mr. Blackwood?" Damian interrupted, confusion warring with outrage. "What's the meaning of this?"

Nathan didn't even glance his way. "Until the wedding, address me properly as Mr. Blackwood."

Evelyn's stomach churned at the mention of his impending marriage. Victoria. The name tasted like bile.

Three years of marriage, and Nathan had never once used an endearment for her. Not even "darling" in private. But for Victoria? Of course he had pet names.

The injustice made her reckless. She threw her weight backward, preferring to crash to the floor rather than stay in his arms.

"Apologize to her," Nathan commanded Damian, though his attention remained fixed on Evelyn's swaying form.

"That crazy bitch assaulted me!" Damian spat. "She's the one who should be on her knees begging forgiveness!"

Nathan's expression turned deadly. "Mind your tongue. That's my ex-wife you're speaking about."

The club's pulsing music seemed to fade as the weight of his words hung between them. Even drunk, Evelyn couldn't miss the possessive edge in his voice - nor the way it made her traitorous heart skip a beat.