Married to the enemies son

neve

, dressed, and fixed her face into something unreadable. Her body moved on autopilot, th

sed rows of oil paintings, marble statues, and floral arrangements that probably cost more than her en

elbows, forearms dusted with ink she hadn't noticed before. He looked like the kind of man who'd been

good morning.

d that a

low. "My father wants you to visit the t

ke lead between them. N

them strangely intimate. Jace didn't press her with questions, didn't p

gain. "My father doesn't like s

fee slowly. "Then he sh

ade hi

be your enemy,"

, calm and steady

ing behind his eyes. It wasn't trust-not yet

ad memorized the layout of the estate. Three exits. Four cameras. One blind spot near the eas

lanning a

iron gates, her reflection in the tinted w

Smile when they expected it. Dres

e, she'd burn it all

the man who ru

... saving the one he

ine built on blood money and backroom deals. Celeste sat in silence, her eyes fixed on

, stiff and unreadable. They weren't for her protection. The

n't. No

didn't take walk-ins and never advertised. Inside, the air smelled like cashmere and old

We've been e

oo perfectly. Dresses that belonged in a magazine spread, not on a

n told, nodded when necessary. The p

or measured inches

security details passed between assistants like state secrets. She caught mention of an

d of event Vict

ind of event

ip behind the trees. Golden light pooled across the marble floor

d nearly collided with Jace at the top lan

ity?" he asked

y. Ho

hat. "You looked like

said. "And ne

just slightly. But before he could r

ac

ct

his back, eyes sharp and cold. Celeste straightened, not out of

," he said smoothly. "It's importan

ded once. "

n the hall, Jace looked a

kno

be car

lway

e closing in. The wedding was being planned like

she was the storm in

it all crashing dow

t like a p

ved silently along the edges of the room, serving food that looked more like art than nourishment. C

n, every pause in conversation, every clink of silverware

," he said, slicing into his l

litely. "Your tai

don't tolerate

ne untouched before him. He hadn't said much since Vic

s son. "You'll be accompan

nt, not a

t hesitate

e are people coming who will need to see

hallenged. That's what this dinner was. Wha

you understand the weight of your role now. This family

alm. "Loyalty isn't

. Brief

lightly. "I look forward

idn't earn anything. He bough

stairs, steps quiet. She could feel the tension in hi

ak up around him?"

you don't raise your voice to a

each day. He wasn't like Victor. Not completely. But he wa

ends. They were

op of the stairs. "You should

"Are you thr

ice soft but firm.

she wal

find himself caught between her vengean

like a second skin. The Ryker estate didn't just hum with secrets-it

painted lips, eyes lined like daggers, skin flawless and lying. She didn't look like

she

ached for the folded paper hidden beneath the velvet

who had played a part

nswer for wh

her thoughts. Not lo

ace. He stood with one hand on the frame, the other

to fight," h

y are yo

nders

brow. "Unde

war. You smile like it's a knife trick. And you lo

his gaze for

our enemy,

id. "But you

in the air, he

nodded once, slowly, and step

lick of the latch sounding

yet. But he'd seen somethi

e was s

r intentions, then she'd need to mov

e saw too mu

ve long enough

like a second skin. The Ryker estate didn't just hum with secrets-it

painted lips, eyes lined like daggers, skin flawless and lying. She didn't look like

she

ached for the folded paper hidden beneath the velvet

who had played a part

nswer for wh

her thoughts. Not lo

ace. He stood with one hand on the frame, the other

to fight," h

y are yo

nders

brow. "Unde

war. You smile like it's a knife trick. And you lo

his gaze for

our enemy,

id. "But you

in the air, he

nodded once, slowly, and step

lick of the latch sounding

yet. But he'd seen somethi

e was s

r intentions, then she'd need to mov

e saw too mu

ve long enough