Shortly after dinner, we go back into the living room with less awkwardness. Brandon sits next to me, and Cassius remains standing by the fireplace, holding a glass of liquor.“We’re just starting over again, I guess,” I say.Arianna sighs in awe. “Wow. I’m happy you found your love, Laynie. I wonder when I will find mine.” Her eyes flicker as she looks at Cassius and grins.“You can’t really say that with me here, A,” Jason counters.“Why not?” Arianna pats his brother’s arm. “I haven’t been able to date because you are scaring the guys away!” She looks at me again. “Do you perhaps know someone you can introduce to me?” she whispers, but loud enough for everyone to hear.“Shut it, A,” Jason says.“Kill-joy.” She rolls her eyes. “Fine, but we should really do this again, Laynie. I’ve missed our bonding, watching late-night shows, eating to our heart’s content!” Arianna says dreamily. “But the holidays are coming. Ever thought of coming home?”“I thought of that, of course.” But I’m no

ALAYNAI sit back in the living room, thinking about how I should tell Cassius. How am I going to explain to him that I can no longer give him an answer? That I’m sorry for making him wait? I’m only going to sound like a total bitch if I do, and I can’t hurt him like that. He’s been through a lot, too.But when Cassius lifts his head, his expression is both firm and disappointed. “What happened?”I shrug. It takes me a moment to reply. “I’m sorry.”He simmers under this breath as his eyes begin to fill with tears, though he’s preventing himself from revealing too much emotion. My knees turn feeble at the sight of him like this. Guilt eats at me for leading him on. Nonetheless, he has every right to know.My throat burns. “Um... We spoke, and...”“You still believed in him.” His voice cracks with resentment, sending shivers down my spine. He doesn’t even have to say anything. His expression already says it all.“Yes.”“You love him.”I nod.“You see, I didn’t even have to ask, but I did

It is after dinner when our guests arrive at the mansion. Two guys who look exactly alike were introduced to me as Carmelo and Constantine Katrakis, Brandon’s cousins who are Oliver’s age. The only difference I see is Constantine wears a semi-casual navy-blue dress shirt and his brother a black T-shirt. Both are blond and pale-skinned like Cassius. Jason comes in after them, and I stop by the door while Brandon ushers his cousins inside.“So, did you even think of telling me?” I ask J in a whisper. “Brandon told me about it.”“Right.” He nods. “Of course I was going to tell you, but I felt yesterday wasn’t a good time. We were catching up.”“Fair enough.” I wouldn’t have wanted any tension in our reunion either. “But wait.” I catch his arm.“What?” He bends to my height.“Did you tell Brandon about him?” I’m talking about the devil.He pauses, and his forehead creases. “Of course not!”“But he knows!” I murmur in his ear. “How would he know that?He straightens his back and scoffs. “L

BRANDONEleven years agoI smelled burning wood; it dried my throat.I was sure my eyes looked bloodshot. I might never see the blood, but I could feel it on my lids; the scent of the fresh wound was messing up my head. I felt fucking heavy-headed; the top of my skull was throbbing in inexpressible pain.And it hurt... everything fucking hurt so much that my limbs stopped functioning. I couldn’t move my body. I squeezed my eyes in my attempt to gather my wits, but to no avail. The excruciating ache in my chest drained the remaining strength from my body.What’s going on with me? Why can’t I move?Mom? Elga? Where are you?I cried inside, but as though I was paralyzed, even my voice was inaudible.Mom! Elga! I screamed mentally.Still nothing.Then there were blabbering voices that sounded unclear. I thought it was all in my head, but they got clearer as seconds passed. Men having conversations I could now hear plainly.“What should we do with the boy?” The voice was throaty and unfami

BRANDON“Huntress. Do you copy?” Wolf repeats the signal three hours later while in surveillance outside the Le Fiasco. In the driver seat of my car sits Cary, and Stan is in the back. I hold a tablet showing the events going on inside.We bugged and implanted a camera in Arianna’s purse. She’s fully aware of this, of course. The auction went on for two hours, and the party proceeded for another hour.But the Huntress is patient and skilled. She knows exactly what she is doing. From the moment she spotted Silvanus, she approached him as smoothly as only an expert could.She first introduced herself as Phoenix’s friend and built up some brilliant history about the items Silvanus was after. Spoke to him alluringly with come-hither lies and convincing compliments to pique his interest. She then challenged him to a bet and won some items, raising her bid to the minimal range so she would not draw attention. She fooled the evil cousin well, and when she had all his attention to herself, sh