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He pauses, and I think he’s not going to tell me, but then his countenance softens until he brushes his lips against my forehead. “We hate Olivia’s boyfriend, and he’ll be an issue for us.”

“You got an assignment to take care of Olivia’s boyfriend?

” I cast a worried glance around. The two of them are laughing with friends near the bar, looking perfectly happy.

When I stare longer, however, I notice Hunter’s eyes often dart to Ashlyn’s backside as she shifts her hips in time with the music.

“No. But I don’t care if I do or not.” Ryan’s jaw clenches as he swallows. “I can’t stand by and let her be appointed to him.”

“Is she?”

His inky black hair catches the light as he shakes his head. “Not yet. But I’m worried she will be.”

I reach up to stroke his cheek, and he closes his eyes as I do, then presses his face into my palm. “We’ll deal with it if it happens. Look how well you handled getting me.”

The smile that forms on his lips warms my skin until I settle into his hold and let him lead us into a broader step with the music. His body and mine fit better than any partner I’ve had. Despite his rudimentary talents, he’s athletic and understands how to lead. Naturally.

Everything in me heats up as we move together as one. Perhaps others are watching, but all I see is Ryan. The man who has a tight grip on me like he’s never letting go. He lowers his head and gazes into my eyes with his sparkly blues until I tingle all over.

When he gives me a slow blink and lets his chest expand with a deep inhale, I sense this may be it. He’s going to propose.

Am I ready?

I hate that I even have to ask myself that. Maybe it’s still my first instinct to run because I was afraid of being tied to an appointed who would force me into a life I didn’t want. But he won’t do that. I know that.

So why am I still hesitating?

“Pen, I don’t think you realize how much you mean to me.”

“How much do I mean to you?” I ask, my throat thick with anxiety.

“Everything. You’re everything .” He leans down to press his lips to mine in a simmering kiss that leaves me breathless. The tip of his wet tongue parts my mouth, and I let him plunge inside. I allow him to dive deep in my soul at the same time…

While still holding on to a little fear.

The silence around us breaks my concentration. What was once a busy rooftop party has become still. Ryan glances up at the same time as me until we find what everyone is looking at.

Apollo Griffin, the Delta president, strolls through the entrance, wearing a fancy suit.

Flanking his right side is Evie’s brother, Lex, and on the left is my twin.

My heart stutters at seeing them all here, wondering what the interruption could mean.

Surely, if my brother is with them, they won’t cause too much chaos.

Apollo grabs his belt and, in doing so, flashes his gun at his waist. Lex wears a terrifyingly demented smile as he scans the crowd, while Oz gives me a set of wide eyes, as if in a warning. I don’t like it one bit.

“Fuck. Stay here,” Ryan says as Aiden hurries to greet them, along with Landon.

Not listening, I scuttle just behind him. The three men make an impenetrable wall in front of me, however. More Thetas press in close to my back, surrounding the standoff.

“Can I help you?” Aiden asks without civility.

“Nice party. Figured if Beta were here, we were invited, too. Are we not?” Apollo shows no weakness as he and Aiden eye each other steadily.

“This is a private party,” Aiden responds with deathly eyes. “For friends only.”

“Oh, so Hunter Remington and Chase Warrick are friends of Theta now. Good to know. Perhaps we should even out our numbers if Theta and Beta are combining ranks.”

“We’re allowing a few here for now. Logan Locke is family. The rest are…inconsequential.” Aiden shakes his head slightly, seething aggravation coming through in his tone.

Apollo’s head tilts to the side as he gives a joyless smile. “I see.” He glances around the men behind us, as if making a count. With a sly glance at the white-blond man with sunken cheeks standing at his side, Apollo gives a brighter grin at Aiden, then Ryan.

Without so much as a change in his stoic expression, Lex Lynx lifts his gun tucked at his side, aims it into the crowd, and shoots twice: once into a Beta and another at a Theta brother I recognize from Red Night.

Oz holds his weapon like a baton in a parade. Like this is normal.

And maybe for him, it is now…

When did he become this ? A mafia heir. Not just my twin brother? Adal, I expected. It’s known he’ll follow in my father’s footsteps. But seeing a reflection of me there, acting like he’s a badass holding a gun…it hurts. A piece of me is torn apart at not knowing him intimately anymore.

Ryan shifts until he shoves his body into mine, and the men forming a line in front of me raise their pistols toward the newcomers, including my brother.

The atmosphere intensifies until a simple spark threatens to cause an explosion.

This wasn’t just disruption from Delta … It was a declaration. The Greek Games aren’t just pageantry anymore. This is war.

As I glance at my future Viscount, his family, and my friends, those hurt lying on the ground, I have no idea which side to stand on. And I’m starting to think there aren’t any safe ones left.

Aiden holds up his arms as Ryan walks us back toward an alcove, and I catch a peek at the two wounded men, both surrounded by their brothers.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Lex?” Evie screams and attempts to shove the crowd out of the way, but they hold her at bay.

Lex seems quite pleased with himself, his icy eyes lighting up with amusement.

Aiden sighs wearily and waves his arms in the air for his men to lower their weapons. “Not tonight. This is what the games are for.”

Apollo’s chin juts up as he considers Aiden. “So then it’s going to be that kind of game.”

“It is now,” Aiden says. “Perhaps your boy should work on his aim.”

Ryan bristles at his brother’s words. “Fucker. Just send them away,” he mutters under his breath, which heats my skin as he presses me against the wall.

“Would you like for him to try now?” Apollo asks with a smirk.

Sirens light up the night air, and for the first time, Apollo appears a bit rattled. Oz finds me and shakes his head with remorse. He doesn’t seem as if he wants to be here. But what if he tries to hurt Ryan or his family?

“I guess your backup has arrived. How boring,” Apollo tells Aiden, but he shrugs casually. It doesn’t bother him. With haste in his step, he turns and hurries toward the exit. Oz darts through just behind with one last apologetic glance at me, but Lex takes a small bow before departing.

Stilted cheers and yells of disgust erupt from the crowd. Some people clap wildly when they leave, and others hurry to the two guys who were shot. Neither appear in dire condition, but the paramedics arrive with the police and cart them away for care.

Most students, including all of Beta , disperse, but the Thetas continue the party, as if nothing happened. Seems to be typical for a big evening out at NU.

“I’m starving. Let’s eat!” Ryan slaps his palms together at the rows of gourmet dishes. Appetizers with delicate herb decorations. Meats with potatoes flared into flowers. Pastas with drizzled brightly colored sauces.

The meal is chaotic, with a cacophony of simultaneous conversations flowing around us. Everyone is discussing the events of the evening, plotting various forms of revenge. “No one will do anything until I say,” Aiden informs them.

“You think he missed on purpose?” Landon asks him.

Aiden’s jaw clenches. “Yes.”

“All they do is wreak havoc,” another Theta says, tossing back his drink.

Aiden says nothing, but the look on his face says he’s plotting something nefarious.

My eyes dart toward my boyfriend regularly, but he’s relaxed and enjoying his Scotch and food as well as his banter with Landon, who seems just as jovial.

I was nervous about Ryan popping the big question tonight, but now I’m more worried he isn’t. Has he changed his mind? Am I not worth a proposal at Luminescence? Maybe the mood was ruined by Delta’s interruption.

His fingers constantly play with my hair or the hem of my dress, my thigh, rub my skin as I shift on my hips.

Once the crowd gets riled up, doing shots and chanting about taking down Delta during the rest of the Greek Games, Ryan tosses his arm over my shoulders and whispers, “Want to get back home?”

“Home?” The word sounds so natural. And maybe I’m glad it’s starting to feel that way, too.

With an expression of confusion, he says, “Or we can stay here, but I thought you looked tired. Is something wrong? Do you want to talk about what happened…with Oz ?”

“What? No. Home is-is fine.”

He gives me a single nod, then we stand and bid everyone goodbye. As we situate ourselves on his bike, I wrap my arms around him and hang on tight. My world is cracked. And Ryan is the only thing that seems to have any stability, though I’m still shaken.

One doesn’t just ask their captor or stalker or appointed why they haven’t proposed. That would be rude. So, I zip my lips and focus on the relief that I didn’t have to make some production in front of a crowd on the rooftop of the same restaurant where Elina said yes. To my future Viscount.

The one I have to swear fealty to…whether he proposes or not.