Chapter 1

My father's face darkened at once.

I stepped in front of him right away and pressed down on his trembling hand.

He'd traveled a full day and night to get here, and his voice came out old and worn.

"Elena, didn't you tell me tonight was your engagement party? How did it turn into a celebration for that girl?"

"Father."

I cut him off gently.

"What happens at the dinner is the Don's call."

"It isn't our place to ask."

He wanted to say more, but he took in the cold looks sweeping toward us from all sides, and in the end he stayed quiet.

He was only a small-time boss out in the borderlands.

He'd gotten old, worn down by old wounds, and his word hadn't carried any real weight in years.

I had one of the servants take him off to rest.

Before he left, he turned back and looked at me once.

That look shamed me more than Julian breaking his promise had.

I turned and went back to the party.

Chloe was standing at Julian's side, taking in everyone's congratulations.

She was the Ross family's most doted-on daughter, and half a year ago the Ross patriarch had sent her to Julian himself, to learn the trade.

Now she'd taken East Harbor for the family, so of course no one could touch her.

I'd barely sat down when Julian came over.

He took the seat beside me and reached out to ruffle my hair, the way he always did when he wanted to smooth things over.

"Still angry?"

I turned my head away.

His hand stopped in midair, and his brow creased.

"Elena, tonight's not the time to act up."

"Our engagement party is going to be bigger than anything you saw tonight."

There it was again: next time.

For ten years I'd followed him, from a little border town all the way to the Sinclair estate, surviving one hail of bullets after another and collecting more scars than I could count.

And all I ever got in return was next time.

I looked up at him and said, quietly, "But I can't wait for next time."

His brow creased.

"My father is very sick."

"I want him to see my happiness for himself, within the week. So he won't have any regrets."

Julian was silent for a moment, then laughed under his breath.

"He's not that sick, is he? He looked strong enough to me tonight."

He reached out and ruffled my hair, his voice gentle but carrying that usual certainty.

"Stop talking out of anger. There's no way I can throw you an unforgettable engagement party in that short a time."

"Elena, don't push yourself so hard. Let's plan this properly."

He never once explained why he'd broken his word.

He just papered over tonight's humiliation with a bigger promise for later.

But he knew.

What I wanted had never been some grand engagement party.

I just wanted him to claim me, once, in front of everyone.

I suddenly thought of the trip back to my old home in the borderlands a few days ago.

When my mother heard Julian was finally going to make things official with me, she'd made me a pearl veil pin herself.

"The Don will give you the finest dress and jewelry, I'm sure of it."

"Your mother doesn't have much to offer. This is all I can give you."

When I got back to the estate that day, I showed the pin to Julian.

He was bent over the East Harbor accounts, and he only glanced up when I spoke.

"It's pretty."

And then his eyes dropped back to the papers.

Back then I thought he was just busy.

Only now do I understand.

From the very beginning, the only people who'd truly looked forward to this engagement party were me and my family.

When the party ended, Julian came to my side like always and slid an arm around my waist without a second thought.

"Let's go. Back to the estate."

I looked at his hand resting on my waist and let out a soft sigh.

"No. There's something I need to handle over in West Harbor."

Julian frowned.

"Now?"

"Word just came in. I won't rest easy unless I go see to it myself."

He was quiet for a moment, then his tone softened.

"Elena, you just love carrying everything on your own."

Then he turned his head and told the men behind him, "A few of you go with her. See her there safe."

I shook my head.

"That won't be necessary."

"After all these years at your side, I can look after myself just fine."

Julian's brow tightened as I turned him down again and again.

But in the end he didn't push it. He only left me with, "Be careful on the road."

I smiled, turned, and got in the car.

Not long after we drove out of the estate, I leaned against the window and saw Chloe's car, which had already left, turn around and come back.

The black sedan swept past the guards and drove straight for the Sinclair estate.

For one moment, I almost wanted to laugh.

But before the laugh could reach my lips, my eyes were already stinging.

In the end I looked at the driver. "Take me to the Vaughns."