er's

ty venue. I wanted to sit comfortably, but the

low, afraid he might tal

he brakes suddenly, and I lunged forward from the momentum. A

across the road," the driver t

ssy hair and putting distance between

ery thing I dr

r, holding onto the handle, not want

, my phone in my purse vibrated

. Do you have some time today? I recently disco

e brightened my b

ould feel the gaze of the person next to me fix

explaining to Matthew what I was up

, see you at sc

y phone away, and the gaze

rived. Our vehicle rolled into a large estate, a

e wasn't a single familiar face. All I saw we

and came over. She greeted my mom with a kis

times that I hoped she'd bring you to visit. Now I understand why she hasn't.

ted so directly, and I felt my face heat u

few more words with my mom, an

n, with a hereditary titl

a duchess

rroundings, torn between feeling out

back. Confused, I turned around and found

politeness, I raised my glass to them from

g about me. But seeing how everyone turned to

ginally thought I wouldn't have to be near him at this event, but my mom brought me to my father'

presence, like a young panther in the jungle. I r

er, he turned and introduced me

. Their expressions were perfect, without an

intentions, so I jus

them. When that exhausting social formality was ov

ed away, deciding not to

co'

damned place, I realized just h

at home, but when she wore that sultry dress, I

omething else, anything that would avoid drawing the attention of more men. I

mn

to it all. Did she enjoy

er? I didn't get a clear look at her last ti

lance. David immedia

nt, too scared to talk about

nquet, there weren't many games or en

ome, my father call

miliar with the North Am

at his desk,

es

e your t

I assume you want to ally with their family. That way, we

can't get along with Harper, there's a way out now. Today, Jack Conti mentioned that his son Angelo will soo

to use women to secur

rrupte

sidering her marriage this soon. I just think Harper and Angelo are both young. They could get to know e

et out a si

er kissing that damn boy fl

Conti family. They betrayed us before-let's not forget that

oice, and my father lo

what happened twenty years ago. But you're right, even if we allied with the Contis, eventually we'd need

ll, F

ooms on the second floor, I paused,

nt to the balcony, l