Page 21 of Vance

We move in silence, the jazz washing over us as she resists the urge to relax, fighting to give me even the smallest bit of surrender. Her capacity for resistance is actually quite impressive. Most people break much faster when the Ashfords are involved.

From the corner of my eye, I watch Xander offer Mom his hand with exaggerated gallantry. She smiles and accepts, the two of them move together with practiced grace across the dance floor. Sophia’s gaze flicks to them, curiosity briefly replacing the tension in her expression.

It’s a fleeting moment of softness, swept away when Kaden approaches Kierra. He smiles—a charming grin that has opened countless bedroom doors—as he extends his hand. She looks up at him with pure, unadulterated adoration in her eyes, her cheeks flushing pink as she places her small hand in his much-larger one. The second Sophia notices them, she tenses in my arms.

“Relax,” I chuff with amusement, tightening my grip on her to stop her from making a scene. “He’s not going to impregnate. It’s just a dance. It’s fine.”

She whips her gaze back to me, glaring at me with fire. “Don’t joke about that.”

“I’m not joking. The club has strict rules about indecency.” Sophia’s expression remains hard as my gaze moves to my brother. “Kaden knows better. He’s many things, but he’s not stupid. Your sister is perfectly safe with him.”

“She’d better be,” Sophia snips, her voice trembling with protective fury. “If any of you touch her⁠—”

“You’ll what?” I raise an eyebrow, genuinely curious. “What exactly will you do, sweetheart?”

Her expression falters because, deep down, she knows the answer. Nothing. She has no power here, no leverage, and no way to protect the most important person in her world. The helplessness must be suffocating.

My hand slides from the small of her back, trailing down to rest on her hip, before settling possessively on her thigh. Through the silk of her dress, I can feel the heat radiating from her and the slight quiver of her muscles beneath my fingertips. My palm dusts along her side, and I watch her react when my thumb brushes the underside of her pert breast—a sharp intake of breath and a flush creeping up her throat—her body betraying her despite the hatred coursing through her veins.

Leaning down as the song comes to an end, I place a chaste kiss on her cheek before brushing my lips against her ear. “It appears your body knows who owns it.”

After leading her back to our table, my hand doesn’t leave her thigh. Under the cover of the tablecloth, my fingers trace patterns that have her squirming through dessert, pushing her chocolate torte around without taking a bite. She’s acutely aware of every touch, every brush of my knuckles against her inner thigh, a promise of what tonight will bring.

When the dessert plates are finally cleared, Baldwin leans back in his chair with a grin that I know means trouble. “So,” he says, his voice carrying across the table. “The wedding night. Got any big plans, brother?”

Beckett snorts into his wine glass. “I’m sure Vance has been planning the wedding night since the moment he laid eyes on our new sister-in-law.”

“Boys,” Mom says quietly, but there’s steel in her voice. “That’s quite enough. I raised you to be better gentlemen than that.”

“Just celebrating.” Baldwin sighs, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Wedding night jokes are a tradition.”

“With the groomsmen,” Mom corrects, her gaze sharp. “Not in front of the bride. Or a child.”

“Speaking of,” Sophia blurts suddenly, pushing back from the table, “I need to make sure Kiki gets home.”

I tighten my fingers around her thigh to hold her in her seat. “Xander will take her back, won’t you?”

He nods, already rising to his feet.

Sophia shakes her head. “No. I want to⁠—”

“Xander,” I cut her off, my voice carrying the weight of command. “Straight to her dorm. Make sure she gets inside.” I pause, holding his gaze. “And that you don’t.”

He raises an eyebrow, a slow smile spreading across his face. “The thought literally hadn’t crossed my mind.” Turning to Kierra, he offers his hand. “Come on, college girl. Apparently, I’m your chauffeur this evening.”

Kierra looks between us, confused but willing. “It’s fine, Soph. Enjoy your night.”

I can see the argument forming in Sophia’s eyes, the desperate need to maintain control of this one small thing. But she knows this isn’t the place. “Thank you,” she says quietly.

Kierra hugs us both goodbye, offering her congratulations on a beautiful day, before letting Xander escort her out. When the door closes behind them, Sophia’s shoulders slump at the loss.

I release my hold on her and stand. “Time to go, sweetheart.” I help her up, unable to hide the dark anticipation coursing through me. “Our wedding night awaits.”

Her carefully maintained expression falters, and the color drains slightly from her face as she looks around the room. Kaden gives a knowing smirk at the twins’ matching grins before winking cheekily at me.

“You’re a bunch of fucking children.” I sigh, pulling Sophia into my side. After pausing to give my mother a kiss goodbye, I lead my wife toward the exit, my hand resting lightly at the small of her back as we move through the club’s warm golden light and into the cool Chicago night. She walks beside me with her shoulders straight and her chin lifted, refusing to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. It’s a good performance, quite convincing. But I can see the fear beneath it, the tension held throughout her body, and the curled fingers at her sides. She’s frightened. Angry, too. Probably furious enough to hate me for the rest of our lives.

But she isn’t broken.