Broken Songbird (Vicious Games #2)

41. Chapter 41

A fter a coordinated effort —Creed using his strength to lift me like a rag doll, and my forward thinking in having a clean stash of clothes, including underwear, in the trunk of my car—we drive through the gates of the Herrington Estate with no mishaps with our clothes.

We drive slowly down the long driveway lined with fields of wine grapes toward the sprawling French provincial-style estate. It’s a two-story enormous mansion in grey stone with tall windows lining the whole exterior, a wrap-around second-level balcony and porch below, and an elaborate double-door entry.

The Herringtons apparently only use it as a weekend getaway destination or an event space, but there’s a lovely family I met who live on the other side of the property that take care of the estate and also work the winery. The wine they produce is fantastic.

A valet attendant guides Creed to drive the car to the left of the large, gravelled area at the front of the building, now lined with rows of luxury cars, until we curve around and stop by the front doors, where another attendant opens my door.

Grabbing my phone and bag, I take his offered gloved hand to get out of the car, then Creed passes my keys to him and hooks my arm in his, leading us to the door.

One of Stacey’s team greets us with a clipboard.

“Good afternoon, Miss Sakura and Mr. Vasek,” he says, then waves his hand into the building. “Welcome.”

We both thank him, then step into an expansive foyer with polished dark wood floors, tall white walls with elaborate trimmings, a large staircase to the right with a black iron railing, and an ostentatious chandelier in the middle of the ceiling.

“You weren’t wrong about the chandelier,” Creed murmurs into my ear as we cross under it toward the great room and courtyard beyond. “It’s big .”

“Right?” I whisper back. “I would not want to be the one who cleans it.”

Another of Stacey’s team greets us at the courtyard door and directs us to the left of the paved enclosed area around the fountain bubbling gently in the centre of the space.

A server hands us champagne as we continue around the fountain to the opposite side of the courtyard, where another person greets us at the door to the large conservatory.

The place is free of most of its usual furniture and set up as an area for pre-dinner drinks and canapes. We’ll be moved to the large marquee set up in the expansive garden once Del and Enzo have arrived.

The conservatory is bustling with people in their finest black-tie attire, eating, drinking and chatting.

Being a Herrington event, apart from family and friends, we invited people strategically so there’s a lot of Melbourne’s elite in attendance, mixing unbeknownst with players from the underworld.

Not that Enzo or his men would allow anything to happen today, but there is a lot of hidden added security tonight, so everyone should be on their best behaviour.

Let’s hope.

I squeeze Creed’s arm and lean into him further. “Ready?”

“For?” he asks quietly.

“Once someone spots me, we’ll have a constant stream of socialising.”

“Great,” he mumbles.

On cue, a shrill voice calls my name, and the procession of greetings begin. Polite handshakes, cheek air kisses and brief hugs are exchanged as we make our way around the room.

It’s not as painstaking as usual, probably because I’m glued to Creed’s side the entire time and he gives off the ‘scary, tattooed man in a suit, maybe a criminal’ vibe, despite the man being able to work these circles with an aristocratic politeness that rivals mine.

After discarding our second empty champagne glasses, we pass a familiar couple.

“Clara,” I say, stopping a short distance from her.

Dressed in a ruby-red floor-length dress, the colour matching her lipstick and heels, Clara beams brightly at me from Isaac’s side, who’s wearing a black suit, white shirt, and a tie matching Clara.

“Scarlett,” she replies sweetly as we both step forward and exchange a brief hug, then return to our men. The sparkling diamond on her left hand snags my attention.

“Congratulations are in order, it seems,” I say, gesturing at her hand.

“Thank you,” Clara gushes, looking up at Isaac.

Creed also congratulates them and steps forward, shaking hands with Isaac.

Another man in a dark blue suit steps up to Isaac’s side, carrying a beautiful, smiling toddler in a blue dress. Isaac introduces them as William and Bridgette Anderson.

Bridgette is Del and Isaac’s two-year-old half-sister, and William is their mother’s latest ex-husband, but also a Herrington Global associate. He’s actually a nice man, and it was Del’s request they be here.

We speak to the four of them briefly and then move along. In the far corner of the conservatory, I spot a familiar group of burly and tattooed suited men and lead us in that direction.

Before we get anywhere near the group, a small blur of black and white comes barrelling toward us.

“Aunty Scar!” AJ bellows as he races toward me, drawing smiles from people he passes.

I bend down in time to scoop him up into my arms, hugging him close. “How’s our little captain?”

He pulls back and smiles. His black curls are in a suspiciously familiar small bun at the top of his head, and he’s dressed in black suit pants and a matching vest, a white shirt and an adorable little black bow tie.

“I’m hungry,” he announces.

I smirk. “So am I.”

I look around and spot a server nearby who approaches us immediately with a polite smile. I ask him to send the special platter I had pre-planned over to the group of tattooed men in the corner. He nods without hesitation and disappears into the crowd.

“I have special food just for us,” I tell him conspiratorially as we move toward the Savage Wings crew.

“Is it cheese?” AJ whispers.

I nod and we giggle at each other.

“What are you two giggling about?” Maya asks from a seat along the wall behind the men as she breastfeeds Reid.

She’s dressed in a stunning cobalt blue dress, her neck and ears adorned in gold and her braided hair flowing down one shoulder.

“Nothing,” I say innocently, as AJ slides down to the floor and darts away.

Maya lifts a manicured brow at me in suspicion, but I say nothing else as I kiss her on the cheek and greet everyone else.

“Beautiful as usual, Cheese Thief,” Heartbreaker comments as he kisses my cheek.

I smooth down the lapels of his black suit. “Utterly heartbreaking tonight, Theo.”

“It’s a burden being the prettiest person in the room,” he sighs.

I roll my eyes and shove him in the chest as he chuckles. The server appears at my side then with the greatest cheese and charcuterie platter I’ve ever seen in my life.

Heartbreaker groans obscenely. “Holy fuck.”

“Curated meticulously by me,” I say proudly.

“You’re setting the bar extremely high for the future Mrs. Heartbreaker,” he says, his eyes following the platter as the server places it on a bar-height table near Flash and Rita. AJ squeals in delight from Bull’s arms as he stretches over and starts picking up cheese.

“Might want to get in there before AJ takes all the pecorino.”

Heartbreaker kisses my cheek again, then rushes to the cheese.

“Maybe you should get in there before Theo eats the entire thing,” Creed comments as he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into him.

I smile up at him. “I organised two for that reason.”

Creed chuckles. “Clever woman.”

I turn to find a server for a drink when peach hair in the distance catches my attention.

“Posey,” I call, and she turns to me smiling, then moves in my direction with a woman in tow.

Posey’s dressed in wide-leg, hunter-green suit pants, a matching fitted vest without a top underneath and high, pointed black stilettos with her new peach hair styled in a textured, chin-length bob. The other woman is in a calf-length sheath dress, also in hunter green, with matching strappy heels and her waist-length black hair lying perfectly straight over one shoulder.

“Hey!” she beams, pulling me into a tight hug. “This place is crazy beautiful.”

“I know,” I agree. “Did you find it okay?”

She nods, stepping back into her companion’s arms. “Will drove, so we didn’t get lost.”

Posey greets Creed and introduces us to Willow, and we all exchange handshakes. We’re then joined by Jay and Mr. and Mrs. Welles, who recognise Creed with polite surprise, and they strike up a light conversation. Jay and Willow are chatting, so Posey comes to my side and hooks her arm in mine.

“I heard Silvia and Jay broke up,” I say quietly, so only she can hear me.

Posey winces. “Yeah, shortly after the gala incident.”

“Is she…okay?”

She sighs. “She went back to rehab and is now at a wellness retreat. She’s doing better.”

“Good,” I breathe. Silvia might be vain and, a lot of the times, hateful, but I’m relieved to know she’s getting the help she needs.

“And how are you?” I ask.

She beams. “I’m fantastic. Will and I are moving to Vienna in two weeks.”

“Austria?” I balk.

Posey nods excitedly. “I decided to take a break from school after I finished the semester in July, and Will got offered this super rare opportunity to train with some fancy chef over there, so we’re off to Europe. Jay is coming over as well once he’s finished this semester until school starts again next year.”

“ Oh, she’s the head chef,” I comment.

Posey nods and giggles. She promises to spam my phone with cute winter fashion on her travels, then bids her farewell and disappears into the crowd with Willow, Jay and the Welles’ in tow.

Creed curls his arm around me again and directs us back to the Savage Wings crew where Hawk passes us drinks—tequila, soda and lime for me, and gin on the rocks for Creed.

“Thank you,” I sigh and take a much-needed sip.

Hawk opens his mouth to say something, but his attention snags on something across the room and his expression drops.

“Holy fuck, is that Matteo?” he asks.

I stiffen, my stomach turning. I chose to ignore that for just a little while, but I have to face it, him , now.

“Yeah,” I croak out to Hawk.

“Shit, that’s Herrington ,” Flash announces, stepping up to Hawk’s side, looking in the same direction.

I can see him making his way through the room in this direction and my heart hammers in my chest. Nope, definitely not ready to face him just yet. I turn in Creed’s arms. I don’t have to say anything because he gets it.

He gives me a quick kiss. “Go. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I whisper and step out of his arms, turning sharply back to the men still watching Matteo across the room. “Maid of honour duties call. See you guys later.”