Chapter 1

Leon saw that I wasn't responding and let go of Elena. He tugged at his tie, irritated.

"I told you, Elena fell apart tonight. I couldn't let something happen to her on Hall territory. We can get the license tomorrow. The county clerk isn't going anywhere."

Elena stood up and looked at me, her eyes rimmed red.

"Nora, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn't fought with Damian, Leon wouldn't have stayed with me and made you miss your appointment. Please don't be angry with him. I'll leave right now..."

She headed for the door, then made a show of stumbling. Leon caught her at once, his voice soft with concern.

"You've had so much to drink. Where would you even go? I told you, no one's going to touch you tonight."

When he turned to me, his expression went cold.

"Nora, Elena just got beaten. Do you really have to humiliate her right now?"

I said nothing. Five years. I'd heard this kind of thing too many times.

On my birthday, Elena had called saying the thunder scared her. He dropped everything and left.

When a high fever landed me in the Hall Family's private clinic, Elena said she was craving cheesecake from the Westside casino's pastry kitchen. He left me there to fetch it for her.

At my first Hall Family dinner, the old guard watched me so closely my palms went cold. Then Elena texted that she was afraid to be alone, and Leon walked out without a word.

Every single time, he acted as if he were in the right. Every single time, he told me I was being childish.

I thought that if I stayed quiet enough and gave him enough, I could warm a heart of stone.

I couldn't. Stone stays stone. I turned and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Leon called after me.

"Home." I didn't look back.

Leon seemed to breathe a little easier, his tone softening.

"Go ahead. I'll get Elena settled and come home. First thing tomorrow, I promise I'll take you to get the license."

I went back to the waterfront estate we'd shared for five years.

White-rose garlands I'd chosen hung in the living room, and favor boxes for the Hall elders covered the table.

I pulled down every garland and dumped it in the trash with the favor boxes.

When I was done, I took a shower and lay down in bed.

At three in the morning, Leon walked in reeking of alcohol and Elena's rose perfume.

He came to the bed without even taking off his jacket and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"Still awake?" His voice had taken on that coaxing note he used when he wanted me to give in.

I didn't move. I let him hold me.

"Come on, don't be upset. Elena is family to me. Damian is a violent drunk. Tonight he even sent men to block her car. You've always been understanding. You get why I couldn't leave her, right?"

I listened to his words and felt nothing at all.

"If Damian is abusing her, why not send the Hall Family's attorneys? Why not call the police?"

Leon froze, as if he hadn't expected me to push back.

His arms tightened around me, a thread of impatience creeping into his voice.

"Do you have any idea how many casino accounts are tied to their marriage? Going to the police would only blow things up. Elena is too fragile. She needs someone looking out for her."

I sat up and turned to face him.

"So you're going to look out for her for the rest of your life?"

Leon's expression darkened.

"Nora, do you really have to start this in the middle of the night? I said I'd take you for the license tomorrow. What more do you want? There is nothing between Elena and me. Keep this up, and even I'm going to get tired of it."

I looked at his self-righteous anger and almost laughed. He used that same denial to excuse every boundary he crossed.

Then he'd pin it all on me. I was the childish one. I was the petty one. I wasn't good enough to be a Hall woman.

I didn't argue the way I used to. I just said quietly, "I don't want to fight. Go sleep in the other room."

Leon stood up, walked out of the bedroom, and slammed the door behind him. I lay back down and closed my eyes.