r in a Mutually Ben

to back down from a challenge, but this man was different. Hi

where his had made contact. It made

stay away from him; he mig

ifted her head so she could stare up at him. He inq

hat plans?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "

hink I'm starting to get a sense of who you are-

ng from you," she shot back,

of amusement and concern, cleared his throat. "

aze never leaving Brielle.

he situation was beginning to sink in. She was about to marry a man she barely knew-one who was rumored to

the paperwork, his hands shaking slightly. "Ju

at Enzo. He seemed unfazed

want this?" she

or a moment. "I need this. And you... you

you? A means to an end

eneficial arrangement," he

ry of the original win. The weight of the moment settled in as she watched En

ed, his voice barely above a whi

Enzo Ricci, a man of power and secrets. One step away from getting her revenge. F

promotion. If she got closer to him, she might be able to infilt

he asked, loo

a mischievous glint in his ey

nzo lit another cigarette, the smoke curling around t

arms. She knew that he needed a wife but

my wife in public. We need to convince people that this marriage

o squeeze more information out of him. She truly had no

d I have my own. With you by my side,

ant. "And you think I'm just go

was something more than what he portrayed. Men of powe

reasons for wanting this," h

ker face. It was too early for her to reveal h

of your house. I have som

French cigarette between his fingers. For some strang

antly. "Been there, done

de to it. Enzo was left with a tail of smoke. He turned to

ing out the important details. "Everything she said is true, although she left out the part about being a runaway bride f

d, a complicated

_

m her purse. The wad of cash left was less than five hundred dollars;

ast thing on her mind. Brielle surveyed the

she passed through the fence into the place. The

st night, Brielle could still smell the

ome to terms with her death. She strolled at the sce

he back of her throat sting. No matter how emotional she got,

s filled her eyes as if they were a swimming pool. Brielle f

e earth, probably from the grenade James shot. At the mere thought of thi

object on the ground, the sun reflecting on it.

w it when she caught sight of the engraving on it. "ER

f the ring was a rare ruby, which could be found at the deepest de

g notes of every design on it. She continued to herself, "This migh

ng. Brielle answered the call, her eyes wandering at

he repli

ghost to my business partners," he went on, in hi

et out a bitter laugh. "Don'

sultry voi

e teased, "Why are you so keen on keeping me alive? I

t of the speakers of the phone like music in her ears.