The Deliverance of Dilan (The Syndicate #4) Read Online Free

holding mine, I falter in my confidence, because he’s not looking at me the same way he used to. No, he is most assuredly not. His mask is blank. Void, as if he doesn’t even know me at all. He’s full of shit. It may have been a while since we’ve seen each other, but he’s a liar if I’ve ever known one. And I’ve known a few in my short years. He wants me as much as I want him. Nevertheless, he’s here with someone else. And damn it, that hurts.

CHAPTER TWO
    DILAN
     
     
    Shit. Just my luck. The minute I walk through the door, my mom spots me. “Dilan.” She looks me up and down. Her disapproval of my attire is written all over her. I know my appearance is different from the last time she saw me. My hair is longer. I haven’t shaved in a week. At least I’m dressed up, a little. Black dress pants. Black button-up shirt. She hates black, unless it’s black tie. Which in this case, it is. This is as close to black tie as I’m going to get. She’ll have to deal with it.
    I’m practically choking to death on my own guilt now that I’m here. I should have worn a suit jacket. No damn way am I wearing a tie though. I’d hang myself with the damn thing by the time this night is over. Especially with this greedy, money hungry, powerful, and dangerous woman by my side.
    “It’s so good to see you.” She approaches, leans in for a hug. “I’ve missed you too, mom,” I say truthfully, wrapping her in my arms. “You look like hell, boy. Are you doing okay?” she whispers in my ear. “I’m good, mom. Just tired. It’s been a long drive,” I lie through my teeth. Jazmin lives here, about an hour out of the city. After our dinner date, I invited her to the wedding. She stuttered her answer of yes. Shocked, I’m sure. I’m sure the minute my friends and Roan have the chance to talk to me, I’ll get my ass chewed out. Like I said, they know where I’ve been. I’m surprised Roan hasn’t demanded I get my ass back here before now. He wasn’t happy when I told him I wouldn’t stand up with him. It killed me to tell him that. But my plan was already set. All I needed to do was find Jazmin, and then it started rolling.
    “Who do we have here?” She releases her hold on me and turns toward Jazmin. Fuck. Here we go. “Mom, this is Jazmin. Jazmin, my mom, Ginny Levy.” I decide not to tell Jazmin’s last name. Not yet anyway. The minute Roan, Cain, and Aiden see her, I may end up dead by the end of the night. Not to mention all the others who will more than likely be there. Each one of them will wonder what in the fuck I am doing.
    “It’s nice to meet you.” Mom sticks her hand out for Jazmin to shake. “You too,” Jazmin replies, taking a hold of mom’s hand. I want so badly to tell her to sanitize the hell out of her hand. I don’t. “You should really go take a seat, honey. We can talk at the reception.” Mom releases her hand, scrutinizing me as she does so. Fuck, she knows. I can see it. Her eyes are sending me that what-in-the-fuck-do-you-think-you’re-doing look. My mom normally speaks her mind. She’s not one to hold a damn thing back. I’m thirty-one years old, and if she feels like she has to crack me upside my head, she will. Her cheeks twitch. This is killing her not to call me out. But it isn’t the right place for her to say anything.
    “Where’s dad?” I ask, trying to lighten the disappointment coming from the only woman I’ve ever loved. Well, up until Anna walked into my life anyway.
    Jazmin doesn’t pick up on shit. She’s scoping out the place, her eyes flitting all over. I give the bitch credit. Hell, she could be walking into a trap for all she knows. She most assuredly is though. I put my arm around her, my insides balking at me, trying to claw their way out of my body. Even they can’t stand her. “He’s already in there. I came out to grab these.” She pulls out tissues from her hand.
    “Weddings are a joyous occasion. Why we cry at them, I’ll never