Hacker Bride

a's

come with cheat she

hing

t show your di

ab your husband in

in love with the man yo

at myself in the full-length mirror, dressed in a blood-red silk gown that hugs my curves

says from behind me. "Sens

a Bond villain vibe," I mutter, ad

smile. She

not just making a debut-you're send

essage

i is no longer a ma

her. "So I'm

summoned by the very idea of power. Black tux. No tie. Collar open, cuffli

late,"

ing," he replies,

arm. I hesitat

is being watched by people with guns, grudges, or both. If

urmurs as we descend

le when I

take longer

e mansions, and iron gates that open at the mere sight of Damien's insignia. The Valenti crest-

uch," I say, m

pond. He's watchin

glance down at my dress. "Be

aight out of a nightmare wedding-stone pillars, fountains, guards in tuxedos and guns.

ing his hand. I plaster something

t the carpet, the worl

en! D

the w

ue you're

ian? America

nd through it all, Damien walks like a god, pulling

m and I see hell dre

over marble statues. Women in couture sip wine that costs more th

turns as

nnounces, voice stead

it aloud. My spine stiffens. W

Valenti, Rivas, Bianchi, Solari, and Montalto each a

lf-gray-haired, gold-toothed, eyes like froze

ate

ecessary. He leans in. "Careful, ca

ng not to

re doing b

. Smile.

takes stock of exits, cameras, security flaws. I study body

s weight. Every nod is a negotiation. It's sickeningly impressive

alliances, new futures-and the w

e. It takes every shred of d

ol. The city lights below flicker like code on

dled tha

he railing, hands in his pockets. He l

obabl

efed on the t

e surp

hate me by the

trust you. Hate

lent for

You were right.

. "Don't flirt

lts. "Are y

itely not

t y

I say. "If I hadn't signed the contract... w

face does

es

liev

d I hate more that some part

rstand each o

, lips brushing t

t. But

lightly ahead of Damien, unwilling to

lira appears, her clipboard already in hand, mutt

ut waiting but halfwa

office do

lls like leather, whiskey, and war. Files are spread across the desk. Papers wi

de, drawn l

names. Red marks. Notes in handwritin

nting s

tiple s

t one

– confirmed l

suspected mole. U

– pending l

Val

u

bl

't trust his

encrypted feed-security footage, ass

the c

f

ago. Smiling at a food truck. Ha

amp in t

tching me fo

you were lo

hind me is l

. "I d

dent?" He steps closer, slow and sure. "I want

kes. "So thi

in front

hing's

the paper I touched. Then he tosse

mistake access for safety." I fold m

burn in

of us

ir th

ys, "Go to

n't

your brides befor

"You're my investment." And then he walk

sleep th

ring at the flames in the fireplace, and

atable. I just need to be smarter. Faster and remember the reas