Chapter 3

"Who's dating Killian?"

I knew who spoke before I saw his face. That voice was unmistakable. I pulled away from Killian and turned to come face to face with Kade. His gray eyes landed on me and he made a face, like he had seen me somewhere before but couldn't quite place his finger on it.

I stayed locked with him, not daring to look away but Kade licked his lips and turned away, walking towards his mother to greet her.

"Hey mum." He greeted before giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Dad." He nodded, his father returning it.

"Finally, the entire family is back in one place. It's nice to see my sons again." Eloise mused, taking a sip of her wine.

"Anything for you mum." Kade muttered as he took his seat next to me, peering my way again. "So, you're Killian's girlfriend? I doubt you're the only one."

Killian's grip on my hand tightened and I could tell that they disliked one another. I quickly pulled away my hand from his and gave an awkward smile.

"Like I was trying to clear up before you came in, Killian and I are not together."

"Awwn. And I had high hopes someone had tied him down." Eloise mumbled under her breath.

"In fact we're just friends." I clarified, wanting to distance myself from Killian entirely.

"Good friends." Killian added, sending a wink my way that made my stomach turn.

Kade leaned in, cocking his head in confusion.

"Have we met before? I can swear that I know you from somewhere."

"Uh, maybe…"

"You've been abroad for years. I doubt you've met her." Killian butted in again.

Right now, I had the urge to punch him in the face and tell him to mind his business but I knew that if I tried that I would probably spend the night or maybe even the rest of my life in prison for harming one of the heirs to the Carter legacy. So, I kept my mouth shut while they bickered like small children.

"Coming from someone who lied that he was with her." Kade poked, scoffing as he leaned back in his seat. "Why should I take the word of a man whore?"

"At least the ladies love me. You on the other hand, the public thinks you're either gay or impotent. Sadly, I think you're both." Killian retorted, a sly smile on his face.

"What did you say to me?"

A hand slammed on the table, shocking all of us. I turned to see Eloise, her once calm demeanor replaced by something else. She smiled but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"We are in public for Christ sake. If I have to sit through another scandal of you boys not behaving yourself in public, I will make sure you both regret it." She warned, her tone serious.

Madden looked at Eloise with pride in his eyes before he turned to his sons.

"Do what your mother says."

That alone was enough to get Kade and Killian to straighten up and keep quiet.

"I'm so sorry dear. They've always been like this. I hope they aren't embarrassing you?" Eloise asked me, her demeanor warmer now.

I shook my head in awe and replied.

"Not at all ma'am."

Eloise looked pleased with the answer and soon after that the dinner went on. Conversation flowed and I managed to laugh at the right moments while they spoke about whatever they spoke about. Frankly, my eyes drifted to Kade every few minutes. Looking at him felt like looking at my own survival from five years ago.

Dinner was going surprisingly well. That is until Killian refilled my glass and rested his hand on the back of my chair.

In the corner of my eye I could see Kade grimace before he became stoic and spoke up.

"So Mia." Kade called, cutting across whatever his mother had been saying. "How did you and Killian actually meet?"

"A hotel bar." Killian answered before I could say anything, his smile unbothered. "She approached me actually."

"I did not approach you." I said flatly. It was true. I approached him.

"You absolutely did. Not that I minded at all." He flirted while I tried not to roll my eyes at him.

"Killian."

"What? I am just telling the story."

"Children." Madden said quietly. One word and we all knew what that meant.

The table went quiet again but the quiet did not last because Kade reached for the bread basket at the same time I did and our hands brushed. We stayed there for a second and when he didn't move his hand, I pulled back, staring at my plate.

"You know, I'm pretty sure that I do know you from somewhere." Kade brought up again.

"You really don't." I responded. It's not like I didn't want to tell him about us but I wanted to do it in private. Not in front of his entire family.

"You keep saying that like you're sure."

"Because I am." I retorted, frankly getting a bit annoyed that he wouldn't let this go.

"Funny." He tilted his head slightly. "You said that like someone who has something to hide."

Killian set his glass down harder than necessary.

"Give it a rest Kade. Not everyone needs to be interrogated."

"I wasn't talking to you."

"It doesn't matter because she came here with me." Killian announced, raising his voice.

"She just told the whole table she isn't with you so I am not sure what your point is." Kade shouted back.

"My point is that you have been back in this city for five minutes and you are already doing what you always do."

"And what is it that I always do?"

"Try to take what isn't yours."

The room went cold in that moment and I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable with the way things were going.

"Killian." Eloise whispered, trying to keep her son from saying any more but Killian was invested now.

"I have not done a single thing tonight except have a conversation." Kade replied, his jaw set.

"You have been staring at her since you sat down."

"I was trying to figure out where I know her from."

"You do not know her. She's mine."

That was when I had enough. I slammed my napkin down on the table and huffed.

"I told you, I am not yours!"

All eyes settled on me again and this time all I wanted was to get out of here. It was too much. The arguing, the eyes, the insults. Just like my parents. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Excuse me." I whispered, already pushing my chair back.

"Mia." Killian started but I didn't want to hear it.

I turned to Eloise and Madden. "Thank you so much for having me. Dinner was lovely. I'm sorry but I have an early day tomorrow."

Eloise looked at me with something close to sympathy and nodded once.

I grabbed my purse and walked out from behind the privacy screen, through the restaurant and straight out the front door without looking back. The night air hit me and I exhaled for what felt like the first time in an hour.

I wasted no time in flagging down a cab, got in and stared out the window as the city moved past me.

I had walked into that dinner to get closer to Kade Carter. Instead, I was being used as a pawn in a war that I didn't start. I frowned and ran a hand through my hair.

This night couldn't have gone any worse.