Page 29

Ignoring my father’s eyes on me, I reach for the bottle and give myself another healthy pour.

“The gala at the manor next month would be a great time to show a united front and confirm your plans to marry.”

Fuck, Iforgot about that.

The first show of emotion from my father is a smile aimed at my mother’s brilliant suggestion.

I drain my second glass in a single gulp.

My breast pocket buzzes against my chest, so I reach inside to send the call to voicemail. Until the name on the screen catches my eye.

Silas.

It’s not a call, just a series of short texts.

Si: He’s awake

Si: Room 522

Si: Visitor badge at the usual spot

Adrenaline snuffsout my annoyance and I’m standing before I can get a rein on my actions. I only notice when my parents have to crane their necks to look up at me.

“I have to go. Something came up.”

My father nods and I ping pong between both their expressions, my last attempt at getting them to acknowledge the significance of this day. They don’t. They nod and go back to what they were doing before.

In the backseatof my Maybach, I wait until Victor pulls into traffic to check my phone again. As soon as I do, my dad’s name appears on the screen.

“Hello.”

Antoine skips a greeting. “If you want to have some funwith the girl, be discreet. Remember the long game. Don’t let what’s between her legs make you think you’re in love. She’s still a Rose.”

The disdain in his voice is warranted. Somehow, Delilahisa Rose, regardless of how removed she seems from the name.

A Rose wouldn’t go through the five stages of grief after losing a job that barely paid minimum wage. I’m ninety percent positive she knows nothing about the cameras throughout the house, so it couldn’t have all been for show if she didn’t know she had an audience. It lasted for a full week.

The Roses had always been gaudy and proud, so why was Delilah sharing a studio with another woman? Why does she spend her days studying for a certificate when Weston attended the best private schools in the state?

The woman turned me into a liar. I didn’t take Delilah to get an upper hand on Weston; I took her because I could. Because I wanted to know how a woman like her came from a house like that. I wanted to make her remember me and drop whatever shield she’d built to block out the version of her I met.

“You hear what I’m saying to you, Adonis?”

“Yeah,” I mumble, clearing my throat. “I hear you.”

A sigh escapes as I pinch the bridge of my nose. I need to get my shit together. I hadn’t heard a word, too caught up in thoughts of the woman I can’t figure out.

She fucking shot me. There’s nothing else to figure out. And still…

Victor catches my eye in the rear-view mirror, his brows dipping before he turns his focus back to the road ahead.

Again, a deep voice tugs me back.

“And son?”

“Yes sir?”

“Take care of Weston before I do. Nobody steals from this family and walks away. I don’t give a damn if it’s ten dollars. Anyone who fucks over a Samson will pay.”